Open Knowledge: Wikimedia & Research in the CEE Region/FAQ
About the event
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What is Open Knowledge: Wikimedia & Research in the CEE Region?
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| It’s the first research-themed Wiki conference in the region, supported by a Wikimedia Foundation grant. It brings together researchers and the Wikimedia community. It’s a space to highlight recent Wikimedia research in the region and beyond, exchange ideas and explore ways of working together. |
Is the conference an annual event or part of a series of events?
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| The conference is exploratory, it is not planned to become a regular event. |
When and where will the event take place?
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| The event will take place on 8-10 October 2026 in Katowice, Poland. The main event is planned for 9-10 October, and some events (welcome dinner, workshops) are planned for 8 October. |
Will the event be in person, virtual or hybrid?
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| The conference will be largely hybrid, both in person and online. We plan for a large part of the sessions to be livestreamed with live chat, and recordings publicly available later. Workshops and more interactive sessions might not be available online, but we are exploring the option to organise online sessions in parallel, depending on the interest. |
What is the main language of the event?
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| General communication will mostly happen in English. The conference will be held in English, Polish and Ukrainian (translation across languages will be available). |
Who is organising the event?
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| The event is co-organised by Wikimedia Polska and Wikimedia Ukraine, in partnership with the University of Silesia and with communications support from the Wikimedia CEE Hub. It is funded by a Conference Fund grant from Wikimedia Foundation (WMF). |
Who is this event for?
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| This conference is for Wikimedians, researchers, students, PhD candidates, librarians, and professionals working with data who are interested in Wikimedia projects and research.
It will be especially relevant for people interested in Wikidata, open science, digital humanities, and research collaborations with Wikimedia projects and community. The event is primarily aimed at participants from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region, but participants from other regions are also welcome. Scholarships will be available for attendees from the CEE region. |
What are Wikimedia projects?
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| Wikimedia projects refer to Wikipedia and other sibling projects such as Wikimedia Commons or Wikidata. They are run by a community of volunteers to help millions of people around the globe discover information, contribute knowledge, and share it with others. |
How can I learn more about Wikimedia research?
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| A good place to find out more is the Wikimedia research site which describes the work of the WMF research team, or the community-run Wikimedia Research Newsletter which covers research of relevance to the Wikimedia community. If you’re interested in education, the Wikipedia & Education User Group covers this subject. |
Participation
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How can I register?
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| You can register by going to this website
Registration is open between 1 May and 31 August 2026 (extended). |
Is there a fee to attend?
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There is a regular registration fee of 100 PLN (or 25 EUR) or the discounted registration fee (for students and PhD students, and for presenters) of 50 PLN or 12.50 EUR. This covers:
If this is a barrier for you, you can ask to participate without a fee, through the scholarships scheme. |
Are scholarships available?
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| A limited number of scholarships are available for participants from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Community: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey.
Additional information and the application form can be found at this page. |
Who can apply for a scholarship?
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| Scholarships are available for participants from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Community: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey. To be eligible for a scholarship, you need to be of legal age (18+). |
What does a scholarship cover?
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The scholarship can cover any of the following:
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How can I apply for a scholarship?
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| Please submit your application via the form found on this site by 24 May 2026.
In the form, we will ask for your Wikipedia username and the motivations for your application. We will also ask what kind of support you are applying for. |
Can I propose a session, workshop, or panel? How can I do it?
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| Yes, you can submit a session to the programme, we really encourage it! We are especially looking for presentations and posters. Programme submissions are open until 30 June (UPDATE: deadline extended until 7 July). Click here for more information. |
Can I volunteer at the event?
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| Yes, information about volunteering possibilities will be shared closer to the event. If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact the organising team to let them know. |
Will there be translation or multilingual support?
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| General communication will mostly happen in English. The conference will be held in English, Polish and Ukrainian (translation across languages will be available). |
Will there be support for people with children?
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| The organisers are unable to provide childcare, but if you have other requirements, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate. |
Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?
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| Yes. Please contact the organisers if you require specific adjustments and we will do our best to accommodate. |
Will there be photographers?
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| Photos will be taken during the event. If you do not wish to be photographed, please indicate this in the registration form. People who don’t want to be included in photos will receive a red ID lanyard, clearly indicating their preference. |
Will the list of participants be published?
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| Yes, when registering you will be asked if you want to be included on the participants list, which will be published on the conference website. |
Trust & Safety
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Will this conference follow the Wikimedia Friendly Space Policy?
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| Yes, everyone registering to the conference will agree to follow the Wikimedia Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly spaces policy, as described here |
What security measures will be taken at the event?
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| All participants will undergo Wikimedia Foundation’s Trust & Safety checks before the conference. During the event, there will be a “no badge, no entry” policy. There will be dedicated people you can contact in case of any issues around safety. |
Programme
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What are the main themes of the conference?
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Topics include, but are not limited to:
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What formats of sessions can I expect?
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Participants can expect:
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Will there be social events?
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Yes! We are planning:
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When will the full schedule be published?
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| Programme submissions close on 30 June. The programme committee will then need a few weeks to prepare the programme. |
Will there be online or hybrid sessions?
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| Yes, many sessions will be livestreamed on Zoom, with the option to participate in the Zoom chat. Workshops and more interactive sessions might not be available online, but we are exploring the option to organise online sessions in parallel, depending on the interest. |
Travel & Accommodation
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Where will the event take place?
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| The conference venue is spinPLACE at University of Silesia.
Address: Bankowa 5, 40-007 Katowice |
What is the weather like in Katowice at this time of year?
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| Early October in Katowice is usually mild and autumnal. Typical daytime temperatures range from 12–17 °C, with cooler evenings around 6–10 °C. Rain is possible, so bringing a light jacket or umbrella is recommended. |
Do you know good places to stay in Katowice?
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| Participants funded by scholarships will be staying in Mercure Katowice Centrum. The hotel is also offering a discount to other participants. You can find more information and examples of other hotels recommended by University of Silesia in this tab. |
Contact & Partnerships
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I’m interested in partnering with the conference. Who should I contact?
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| Great! We appreciate your interest. Please email us at open.knowledge.cee@wikimedia.pl. |
I still have questions. How can I reach the organisers?
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| Email us at open.knowledge.cee@wikimedia.pl. |