What an amazing conference … as expected! PGConf.EU 2026 in Valencia was once again a real highlight for everyone passionate about PostgreSQL. Engaging talks, interesting discussions, plenty of familiar faces, and lots of fresh ideas made this event an all-around fantastic experience for me.
A Community That Never Fails to Impress
What makes PGConf.EU so special to me every year isn’t just the technology – it’s the community behind it. It was great to catch up with so many friends, colleagues, and customers in Valencia. Some I’ve known for many years, while others I’ve previously only met through video calls, emails, or joint projects. These face-to-face interactions are incredibly valuable. Whether it’s over a coffee between sessions, during dinner, or simply in the hallway, some of the most interesting conversations happen outside the conference rooms. There was plenty of discussion, laughter, technical exchange, and, of course, lots of talk about PostgreSQL.
Great Talks and Fresh Perspectives
From a technical perspective, PGConf.EU 2026 also had a lot to offer. The presentations were excellent, providing a great mix of technical depth, practical experience, and fresh ideas from across the PostgreSQL ecosystem.
Two talks in particular stood out to me:
Nobody Gets to Be Superuser (Until I Broke In) by Mehmet Ince provided a fascinating look at how security mechanisms in managed PostgreSQL services can be bypassed. Particularly interesting were the different vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain superuser privileges and the lessons learned about securing PostgreSQL environments.
How to Contribute to the PostgreSQL Documentation by David Wheeler highlighted a completely different but equally important aspect of PostgreSQL: contributing to the official documentation. The talk provided practical insights into how anyone can help improve the documentation, demonstrating that valuable contributions to the community don’t necessarily have to involve writing code.
Two very different topics that perfectly illustrate just how diverse the PostgreSQL ecosystem really is. That’s exactly what makes conferences like this so valuable. You don’t just gain technical knowledge – you also learn from other people’s experiences. Often, a single presentation or a conversation afterward sparks new ideas that I apply directly into my daily work. And even after working with PostgreSQL for many years, there’s always more to discover and learn.
More Than Just a Technical Conference
Year after year, PGConf.EU demonstrates what open source is all about: people sharing their knowledge, working together to solve problems, and supporting one another. It doesn’t matter whether someone develops PostgreSQL, operates large database infrastructures, advises customers, or is just getting started with PostgreSQL. What brings everyone together is a shared passion for one of the most powerful open-source databases. Valencia provided a wonderful setting for all of this. The city, the atmosphere, and the many personal encounters made this conference even more memorable.
My Takeaway
I’m returning from PGConf.EU 2026 with plenty of positive impressions, fresh ideas, and, above all, great memories of meeting friends, customers, and members of the PostgreSQL community. A huge thank you to the organizers, speakers, sponsors, and everyone involved in making this event possible. And, of course, a special thank you to everyone I had the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas with, and spend time with in Valencia. PGConf.EU 2026 was simply fantastic – and I’m already looking forward to seeing the PostgreSQL community again!
If you missed PGConf.EU, head over to https://2026.pgconf.eu and take a look at the schedule where you can find the presentation slides and in a few days links to the recorded talks.
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