[Funding request] Fedora at FOSDEM 2026 + CentOS Connect 2026

ffmancera commented

2026-01-11 19:31:53 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

About you

Name: Fernando Fernandez Mancera
FAS username: ffmancera
How do you primarily contribute to Fedora? (2-3 sentences): I am a packager, FOSDEM event owner and Fedora Mentored projects admin (Outreachy and GSOC). In addition, I contribute to Linux kernel networking professionally.

About the event

Event name(s): FOSDEM 2026 + CentOS connect 2026
Event dates: from 29 January to 1 February, 2026
Event location(s): Brussels, Belgium
Event URL(s): https://fosdem.org/2026/ and https://www.centos.org/events/connect/
Event description(s) (2-4 sentences per event):

FOSDEM is a free event for software developers to meet, share ideas and collaborate. Every year, thousands of developers of free and open source software from all over the world gather at the event in Brussels.

CentOS Connect is the contributor conference for CentOS, focusing on CentOS Stream, Special Interest Groups, and the entire Enterprise Linux ecosystem.

Requested support

Support requested: hotel | travel—air | travel—rail
Budget estimates:
- Travel expenses: 540$
- Hotel expenses: 3686.33$

For more details check: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FOSDEM_2026#Budget_proposal the budget is required to sponsor the people listed there.

Accessibility needs & requests: None
Other needs: None

This event & Fedora

Are you a speaker or presenter? If yes, give the title and description of your presentation: Yes, although I am sending as an event owner so I don't think that is relevant.
Are you an organizer or volunteer? If yes, explain your role: No.
Why is it a good idea for the Fedora Project to have a presence?: Is probably the biggest FLOSS event in Europe.
Why do you want to represent the Fedora community here?: Same as above.
Are there others in the Fedora community who could help this event be successful? If yes, name any key individuals, teams, or SIGs in the Fedora community needed for success: Many SIGs/teams are contributing currently, Fedora design, badges, Mindshare, CommOps..

Other

Is there anything else the Fedora Mindshare Committee should know when reviewing your request?: No.

## About you * **Name**: Fernando Fernandez Mancera * **FAS username**: ffmancera * **How do you primarily contribute to Fedora?** (2-3 sentences): I am a packager, FOSDEM event owner and Fedora Mentored projects admin (Outreachy and GSOC). In addition, I contribute to Linux kernel networking professionally. ## About the event * **Event name(s)**: FOSDEM 2026 + CentOS connect 2026 * **Event dates**: from 29 January to 1 February, 2026 * **Event location(s)**: Brussels, Belgium * **Event URL(s)**: https://fosdem.org/2026/ and https://www.centos.org/events/connect/ * **Event description(s)** (2-4 sentences per event): FOSDEM is a free event for software developers to meet, share ideas and collaborate. Every year, thousands of developers of free and open source software from all over the world gather at the event in Brussels. CentOS Connect is the contributor conference for CentOS, focusing on CentOS Stream, Special Interest Groups, and the entire Enterprise Linux ecosystem. ## Requested support  * **Support requested**: hotel | travel—air | travel—rail * **Budget estimates**:  * **Travel expenses**: 540$ * **Hotel expenses**: 3686.33$ For more details check: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FOSDEM_2026#Budget_proposal the budget is required to sponsor the people listed there. * **Accessibility needs & requests**: None * **Other needs**: None ## This event & Fedora * **Are you a speaker or presenter? If yes, give the title and description of your presentation**: Yes, although I am sending as an event owner so I don't think that is relevant. * **Are you an organizer or volunteer? If yes, explain your role**: No. * **Why is it a good idea for the Fedora Project to have a presence?**: Is probably the biggest FLOSS event in Europe. * **Why do you want to represent the Fedora community here?**: Same as above. * **Are there others in the Fedora community who could help this event be successful? If yes, name any key individuals, teams, or SIGs in the Fedora community needed for success**: Many SIGs/teams are contributing currently, Fedora design, badges, Mindshare, CommOps.. ## Other * **Is there anything else the Fedora Mindshare Committee should know when reviewing your request?**: No.

ffmancera commented

2026-01-11 19:31:54 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

set status to To do

set status to **To do**

gridhead commented

2026-01-12 06:17:31 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

I notice a stark drop in the total estimate from the 2025 edition of FOSDEM (and CentOS Connect) (approximately 52 percent drop from the previous year, based on a cursory comparison of both the Fedora Project wiki pages), while the number of attendees is the same. I will refrain from commenting on whether it is a good thing or a bad thing from the FOSDEM (and associated events) conference's contained purview, but this definitely helps with retaining the budget for other events that we are yet to see in 2026.

The one thing that I would ask for is for the proposal to be opened a little sooner, and that way, we would not have to resort to providing a decision when the event is barely a week out. Mind you that with the next Mindshare meeting being on 22nd January 2026, and with CentOS Connect 2026 starting off from 29th January 2026 onwards, we are cutting it uncomfortably close to the event with an exact one week of lead time, with the committee not having enough time to request more information, should we need any.

We discussed this at length in the Fedora Mindshare chat, and I will repeat the same here for the record too - we need to have as much representation as possible about the event post its occurrence. This happens with the use of event reports that help us evaluate just how useful their presence has been at the event. While I do not necessarily see an event report placeholder section in the Fedora Project wiki page, I trust you that you would pursue folks regarding this and that way, we can get all the information we need.

Besides the event reports themselves, the one thing that we have started doing recently from events like SCaLE 23x and DevConf.IN 2026 onwards is the introduction of the Rationale section. This is a useful inclusion from the future editions of FOSDEM (and associated events) as it helps draw a picture detailing why a certain event is important from the event owner's perspective. This ultimately helps build the case of why the Fedora Project could use more money to spread the word on what our contributors have been up to.

With all the aforementioned remarks, +1 from my end. FOSDEM 2026 and CentOS Connect 2026 are important for Fedora Project.

I notice a stark drop in the total estimate from the 2025 edition of FOSDEM (and CentOS Connect) (approximately 52 percent drop from the previous year, based on a cursory comparison of both the Fedora Project wiki pages), while the number of attendees is the same. I will refrain from commenting on whether it is a good thing or a bad thing from the FOSDEM (and associated events) conference's contained purview, but this definitely helps with retaining the budget for other events that we are yet to see in 2026. The one thing that I would ask for is for the proposal to be opened a little sooner, and that way, we would not have to resort to providing a decision when the event is barely a week out. Mind you that with the next Mindshare meeting being on 22nd January 2026, and with CentOS Connect 2026 starting off from 29th January 2026 onwards, we are cutting it uncomfortably close to the event with an exact one week of lead time, with the committee not having enough time to request more information, should we need any. We discussed this at length in the Fedora Mindshare chat, and I will repeat the same here for the record too - we need to have as much representation as possible about the event post its occurrence. This happens with the use of event reports that help us evaluate just how useful their presence has been at the event. While I do not necessarily see an event report placeholder section in the Fedora Project wiki page, I trust you that you would pursue folks regarding this and that way, we can get all the information we need. Besides the event reports themselves, the one thing that we have started doing recently from events like [SCaLE 23x](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/SCaLE_23X_Event) and [DevConf.IN 2026](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/DevConf.IN_2026) onwards is the introduction of the Rationale section. This is a useful inclusion from the future editions of FOSDEM (and associated events) as it helps draw a picture detailing why a certain event is important from the event owner's perspective. This ultimately helps build the case of why the Fedora Project could use more money to spread the word on what our contributors have been up to. With all the aforementioned remarks, **+1 from my end**. FOSDEM 2026 and CentOS Connect 2026 are important for Fedora Project.

ekidney commented

2026-01-12 15:58:04 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

+1 from me too! 😄

+1 from me too! :smile:

lbazan commented

2026-01-14 16:09:17 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

+1 from me too!

justwheel commented

2026-01-21 03:03:43 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

There were some changes to the budget proposal since this ticket was opened. One traveler had a change of personal emergency and had to cancel their travel plans. After this cancellation, the current proposed cost for the event is $3374 USD. This is pretty low, and it does not account for the fact that there is about $767 for an unfilled hotel room in our group block, because of how we had to plan the hotel.

It would be helpful if we could find someone to fill that empty hotel from 28 January to 2 February. I am going to help @ffmancera and @dmellado explore options to fill that unfilled hotel room and make sure we are getting a strategic use out of our physical space at FOSDEM.

There were some changes to the budget proposal since this ticket was opened. One traveler had a change of personal emergency and had to cancel their travel plans. After this cancellation, the current proposed cost for the event is **$3374 USD**. This is pretty low, and it does not account for the fact that there is about $767 for an unfilled hotel room in our group block, because of how we had to plan the hotel. It would be helpful if we could find someone to fill that empty hotel from 28 January to 2 February. I am going to help @ffmancera and @dmellado explore options to fill that unfilled hotel room and make sure we are getting a strategic use out of our physical space at FOSDEM.

justwheel commented

2026-01-21 03:04:03 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

changed start date to January 12, 2026

justwheel commented

2026-01-21 03:04:18 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

changed due date to January 23, 2026

justwheel commented

2026-01-21 03:04:25 +00:00

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changed health status to on track

changed health status to **on track**

justwheel commented

2026-01-21 03:04:39 +00:00

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assigned to @ffmancera

gwmngilfen commented

2026-01-22 11:15:12 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

Seems we have plenty of approval, but a +1 from me too, for what it's worth. I also agree with @gridhead about trip reports, these help a ton with justifications.

justwheel commented

2026-03-26 02:05:30 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

set status to Done

set status to **Done**

justwheel (Migrated from gitlab.com) closed this issue

2026-03-26 02:05:30 +00:00

justwheel commented

2026-03-26 02:05:31 +00:00

(Migrated from gitlab.com)

Discussed in 2026-03-19 Mindshare Committee meeting.

📊 FOSDEM 2026: Post-Event Execution & Financial Summary

As we wrap up our Q1 event reconciliations, I want to provide a high-level snapshot of our FOSDEM 2026 execution.

1. Overall Event Health

FOSDEM remains one of our highest-impact community anchors in Europe. The booth traffic was steady and significant, and our presence successfully bridged conversations across multiple upstream communities. A massive thank-you to everyone who staffed the booth, presented on a Fedora topic, and helped organize the logistics on the ground. The on-site execution was another success. @ffmancera @dmellado Kudos on running excellent event execution.

2. Final Spend Profile & Budget Utilization

Financially, this event was highly efficient. We closed out the FOSDEM budget at an approximate 81.3% utilization rate. This is an excellent metric—it shows we accurately forecasted the necessary travel and operational costs without leaving an excessive amount of allocated funds on the table. (Between 90%-100% utilization is the "gold" area, but 81.3% is pretty great too.)

3. Pending Action Items (Administrative)

While the financial books for FOSDEM are officially closed, we have one final administrative hurdle before I can close this ticket:

We successfully received and logged the post-event report from @fedora-mwinters.
Pending: We are currently waiting on the final post-event report from @p.boy.

I am following up with Peter to get this submitted. I will update the Wiki page once it is uploaded.

Great work, everyone! Thanks for putting in all the work to pull this off. 🚀

_Discussed in [2026-03-19 Mindshare Committee meeting](https://meetbot.fedoraproject.org/meeting_matrix_fedoraproject-org/2026-03-19/mindshare.2026-03-19-11.04.html)_. --- ## 📊 FOSDEM 2026: Post-Event Execution & Financial Summary As we wrap up our Q1 event reconciliations, I want to provide a high-level snapshot of our FOSDEM 2026 execution. ### 1. Overall Event Health FOSDEM remains one of our highest-impact community anchors in Europe. The booth traffic was steady and significant, and our presence successfully bridged conversations across multiple upstream communities. A massive thank-you to everyone who staffed the booth, presented on a Fedora topic, and helped organize the logistics on the ground. The on-site execution was another success. @ffmancera @dmellado Kudos on running excellent event execution. ### 2. Final Spend Profile & Budget Utilization Financially, this event was highly efficient. We closed out the FOSDEM budget at an approximate **81.3% utilization rate**. This is an excellent metric—it shows we accurately forecasted the necessary travel and operational costs without leaving an excessive amount of allocated funds on the table. (_Between 90%-100% utilization is the "gold" area, but 81.3% is pretty great too._) ### 3. Pending Action Items (Administrative) While the financial books for FOSDEM are officially closed, we have one final administrative hurdle before I can close this ticket: * We successfully received and logged the post-event report from @fedora-mwinters. * **Pending:** We are currently waiting on the final post-event report from @p.boy. I am following up with Peter to get this submitted. I will update the Wiki page once it is uploaded. Great work, everyone! Thanks for putting in all the work to pull this off. :rocket: