Wikimedia CEE Meeting/Bids/2026/Yerevan - Wikimedia Armenia

Logo of the CEE

Arshak Shahenyan, Yerevan, Armenia

Wikimedia CEE Meeting Yerevan 2026

Summary

Hosting the Wikimedia CEE Conference in Armenia again, ten years later, is both symbolic and a valuable opportunity to highlight our community's significant growth and development over the past decade.

Wikimedia Armenia has been a dedicated advocate for the free knowledge movement since its founding 12 years ago. Over the years, we have invested significant effort into building, empowering, and expanding a vibrant Wikimedia community across the country.

Today, we are proud of the strong, motivated, and growing network of Wikimedians we have cultivated.

Hosting the Wikimedia CEE Conference in Armenia would be a significant milestone for our community. It would allow local Wikimedians, especially those with limited opportunities to attend international events, to connect with the broader Wikimedia movement, share their work, and learn from others. It would be a unique opportunity to celebrate and spotlight the achievements of Armenian Wikimedians on a regional and global stage.

Armenia is home to an especially active community of young Wikimedians. Engaging youth has been a persistent challenge in many regions. Still, Wikimedia Armenia has made this a core focus, running diverse programs that successfully involve and empower the next generation of free knowledge contributors. Hosting the conference would give us the platform to showcase these successful initiatives and inspire other communities facing similar challenges.

Hosting such a significant event in Armenia will greatly enhance the visibility of the Wikimedia movement and highlight the ongoing work of Wikimedia Armenia within the country. While WMAM already collaborates with a number of local partners, the conference will open new doors for broader engagement. For the Armenian Wikimedia community, this event will be a unique opportunity to connect with peers from across the region and beyond. These interactions will lead to new collaborations, inspire shared initiatives, and ultimately activate and empower the local community, creating long-term benefits that extend beyond the conference itself.

Geographically, Armenia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Central Asia. Most CEE countries are concentrated in Europe and enjoy relatively easy access to regional events. By organizing the conference in Armenia, we hope to serve as a bridge, bringing together voices from both Europe and Central Asia, and empowering smaller or more remote communities with high potential but fewer opportunities for visibility and collaboration.

Our experience in successfully hosting the CEE Meeting in Dilijan in 2016 strongly supports our readiness to organize the conference again in 2026. That event had a lasting and transformative impact on our community, energizing local volunteers, strengthening connections, and inspiring new initiatives. Since then, Wikimedia Armenia has grown significantly in both capacity and experience, and we believe the time is right to bring the Wikimedia CEE Conference back to Armenia.

Affiliate

Wikimedia Armenia was founded in 2013 as a non-governmental organization and was recognized as a Chapter by the Wikimedia Foundation, being the only Chapter in the region. Wikimedia Armenia brought together the Armenian Wikimedia community, empowering it and creating opportunities for its development. Now, Wikimedia Armenia focuses on expanding the Wikimedia movement in Armenia and increasing the accessibility of free knowledge in the Armenian language. For this purpose, the organization initiates various activities, projects, and events, joins different global Wikimedia activities, edit-a-thons, and campaigns, and creates local projects.

Some of the most popular projects that WMAM is running are WikiCamps, WikiClubs, university collaborations/internships, annual edit-a-thons like Financial-Economic Wikimonth, CEE Spring, Wiki.հայ, Wikipedia for Women, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Monuments, etc.

All these projects and initiatives are aimed at creating quality content on Armenian Wikipedia, enriching Wikimedia Commons with pictures from natural and cultural-historical monuments of Armenia, engaging young people, and expanding and retaining the community.

To organize all these activities, WMAM has a professional and dedicated core team, as well as trainers, WikiClub coordinators, volunteers, and a vibrant community that actively participates in both organizing and taking part in those activities.

For over 12 years, Wikimedia Armenia organized 36 WikiCamps, engaging more than 2100 teenagers and young Wikimedians, hosting international participants from different countries - Georgia, the Czech Republic, Italy, etc.

Currently, Wikimedia Armenia has 10 WikiClubs in urban and mainly rural areas of Armenia, creating opportunities for 230 teenagers and youth to contribute to Wikimedia projects and work on their self-education, language skills, and development.

As part of a collaboration with universities, each year, Wikimedia Armenia hosts around 150 students from 4-5 universities who do their internships.

More than one affiliate in the proposed country

Citing Azniv's response to my email

Dear Arshak,
Thank you for sharing the exciting news about Wikimedia Armenia’s plans to host the CEE Meeting 2026 in Yerevan. We’re thrilled to hear that this important regional gathering may be taking place in Armenia.
We would like to confirm that we have no objections to your proposal. On the contrary, we strongly believe that this event would be a unique opportunity for collaboration among all Wikimedia affiliates based in Armenia. As an active user group within the Wikimedia movement over the past five years, and as a registered non-profit in Armenia, we would love to be involved as co-organizers of CEE Meeting 2026.
We trust that the involvement of all relevant local stakeholders will only strengthen the proposal and ensure a more inclusive and representative experience for regional and international participants alike.
Thank you, once again, for this email.
Warm regards, Azniv Stepanian
On behalf of the Wikimedians of Western Armenian Language User Group

Proposed event venue

The event will take place in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. For the Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2026, we suggest two venues - one for the opening ceremony and the main one for the whole conference.

The main venue will be the conference facilities at the Ibis Hotel, centrally located and fully equipped to host all sessions and activities. The opening ceremony will be held at the historic Matenadaran, the world’s largest repository of Armenian manuscripts, offering participants a unique cultural experience to begin the conference.

Following the opening, all sessions will continue at the Ibis Hotel’s conference rooms.

Proposed accommodation

Yerevan offers a wide range of hotels, both in the city center and in other areas. However, for the sake of sustainability and convenience, we have prioritized centrally located hotels. This allows participants to walk more and explore the city on foot, reducing the need for public transportation and minimizing the event’s environmental footprint.

The Ibis Hotel is located in the heart of Yerevan, which is very convenient for exploring the city center in the evenings and feeling the environment of the city. The hotel can accommodate more than 200 people in both single and double rooms. It is particularly suitable for the event as it also offers well-equipped conference rooms that can be used throughout the conference.

The second option is the Holiday Inn, also located in the center of Yerevan, which can accommodate the necessary number of people in both single and double rooms. It is within walking distance of the Ibis Hotel, which we are considering as the main venue. This makes it a feasible secondary accommodation option for additional participants, should the need arise.

Both accommodation options and the conference venue are fully wheelchair-accessible and designed to be inclusive for participants with diverse needs.

Proposed dates

Considering that September is typically quite hot in Yerevan, we propose holding the conference from October 2 to 4, when the weather is generally more comfortable for both outdoor and indoor activities.

Expected total budget

Link to the Budget

Budget for the CEE Meeting 2026

Description

As in previous years, the event is planned to last for three days. If there is interest, we are also open to organizing an additional Learning Day prior to the main conference.

The opening ceremony will be held at Matenadaran, the world’s largest repository of Armenian manuscripts, a truly symbolic and inspiring location to begin the conference. The main sessions will take place at the centrally located Ibis Hotel, which offers fully equipped conference rooms.

Given the size and enthusiasm of the local Wikimedia community, we are eager to create meaningful opportunities for interaction between our community members and participants from across the region. To encourage networking and informal exchange beyond the conference sessions, we plan to organize several social and cultural activities, including:

Joint dinners at authentic Armenian restaurants and taverns in Yerevan
A day trip to Garni and Geghard two of Armenia’s most iconic historical sites, followed by a group dinner in a scenic natural setting
Visit to the Wikimedia Armenia's office, which offers a spacious and welcoming environment where participants can connect and celebrate together. It is also centrally located, about a 20–25 minute walk from the venue.
And of course, a farewell party, the location of which we will keep in secret for now to surprise you.

To help visualize the venues and experiences described above, we have prepared a short video featuring all the locations that will be used or visited during the conference. We invite you to enjoy the beauty of Armenia through this visual preview.

Logistics

Wikimedia Armenia is prepared to manage various logistical aspects of the conference.

As mentioned, the venue and accommodation are foreseen to be in the same hotel, the Ibis Hotel, located in the center of Yerevan. In case there are many participants and they cannot be accommodated in one hotel, another hotel is also proposed, which is also centrally located (only a 7-minute walk). For arrivals and departures, Wikimedia Armenia’s team will provide airport pickups, especially for those who will be arriving late in the evening or at night. Volunteers will be ready to meet the participants at the airport and guide them from the airport.

The conference will take place at the hotel, which has several conference rooms of different sizes. All are well equipped with projectors, microphones, Wi-Fi; recording equipment and hybrid meeting participation will also be available.

The opening ceremony will take place in Matenadaran, which also has a spacious conference room equipped with everything needed for the conference.

Catering in the venue will be provided by the hotel, including coffee breaks and lunches. For the dinners, Wikimedia Armenia will organize them in different locations based on the agenda. All dietary requirements and needs will be taken into consideration, and all types of meals will be available accordingly.

Because some of Wikimedia Armenia’s active volunteers are medical students or doctors, we will have first aid kits and a doctor available at the venue for everyone in need. We will provide participants with emergency contact numbers and information about nearby medical centers.

For conference materials, Wikimedia Armenia will work closely with local printing houses for name tags, lanyards, and custom-branded stationery.

Sessions will be coordinated by conference room moderators; each room will have a group of volunteers who will support speakers and take charge of the time management. Having a big community of young Wikimedians, we will have volunteers involved wherever possible and needed.

For registration, travel, visa support, and scholarships, Wikimedia Armenia will follow the best practices of the WMF. We would like to outsource travel arrangements to the WMF to ensure that all processes are followed according to the standards. This doesn’t mean that we will not be actively supporting the process.

Organising team

Head of Organizing Team

Arshak Shahenyan (User:M.D. Shahinyan)

Program Event Manager

Davit Sargsyan (User:Dav Sargsyan)

Logistics, travel arrangements support

Mari Avetisyan (User:Մարի Ավետիսյան)

Scholarships

Mher Bekaryan (User:Beko), WMF liaison, CEE Hub

Program committee

Artashes Tadevosyan (User:23artashes), WMF liaison, CEE Hub

Social media outputs

Haykuhi Melkonyan (User:Հակուլիկ), a group of volunteer Wikimedians will support her.

Coordination of volunteers

Artur Khumaryan (User:AKB7)

Finance

Arshak Shahenyan (as well as outsource "T account")

Photographer

Sargis Melkonyan

Experience

The proposed organizing team for the Wikimedia CEE Meeting is highly experienced and has a long history of working closely together. This strong team dynamic ensures smooth collaboration, effective communication, and efficient execution of responsibilities.

Several members of the team were involved in organizing key Wikimedia events in Armenia, including:

Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2016 in Dilijan
GLAM Forum 2018 in Yerevan
WikiConferences in Yerevan in 2012, 2013, and 2015

In addition, the team has consistently and successfully organized Wikicamps, hosting between 180–200 participants each year. These camps require complex logistics and participant coordination, further demonstrating the team’s capability to manage large-scale initiatives.

Beyond Wikimedia-related projects, members of the organizing team also bring extensive experience from other event planning and implementation efforts, further strengthening their ability to deliver a well-executed and impactful conference.

In addition to the core organizing team, a large number of local volunteers will be actively involved in various aspects of the event. This presents a valuable opportunity for them to gain hands-on experience in organizing a large-scale international conference. By participating in the planning and execution process, volunteers will strengthen their skills in event management, logistics, and community engagement.

This approach not only enhances local capacity but also helps prepare the next generation of community leaders—individuals who will be well-equipped to take on key roles in organizing both local and global Wikimedia events in the future.

Accessibility

Visa

Citizens of EU member states, as well as many non-EU European countries - including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine, along with Central Asian countries, can enter Armenia visa-free and stay for up to 180 days per year.

For participants from countries that do require a visa, Armenia offers a convenient e-visa system. The e-visa is easy to obtain online within approximately 3 working days and allows a stay of up to 21 days. For those needing a longer stay, other visa options are available that permit up to 120 days in the country.

Citizens of Georgia can enter Armenia both with their passports and ID cards. All other citizens are required to have valid passports to enter the country.

Travel

The Zvartnots International Airport is located 12.7 km from the capital city, where the proposed venue is. The airport operates regular flights to and from major cities in Europe, including Vienna, Paris, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Chisinau, Athens, Rome, Milan, Brussels, Budapest, etc.

From October 1 of the current year, new direct flights from several European cities will be available.

There is also a possibility to take a bus/taxi from Tbilisi to travel to Yerevan, as it is very close and only a five-hour drive. There are daily buses and taxis commuting between the two cities.

Yerevan has a well-developed transportation system, with buses, metro, and taxis. The venue, being in the center of the city, makes it easier for participants to walk around the city center without even using transportation.

Safety

Armenia, and especially its capital city Yerevan, is considered one of the safest countries in the world. According to Numbeo, Armenia ranks 9th globally for safety. Each year, the country welcomes more than 2 million tourists.

Crime rates are low, though visitors are encouraged to take standard precautions with personal belongings, especially in crowded areas. Tourists can comfortably walk around even at night, as the streets—particularly in the city center—are well lit and safe. In other parts of the city, although the risk of crime remains very low, it is advised not to walk alone at night as a general precaution. The city has drinking fountains everywhere in the streets of the city. The water is safe to drink.