The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is calling for a second year of globally distributed, community-organized “LibreLocal” meetups throughout May 2026, building on what the organization described as a successful inaugural run in 2025.
Last year, twenty-nine LibreLocal meetups took place across five continents, according to the FSF. Events were held in Brazil, Canada, the Canary Islands of Spain, China, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Kenya, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Organizers hosted events ranging from informal gatherings to multi-day conferences.
The FSF is offering support to those interested in organizing meetups this year, including a meetup guide, a template for a safe space policy, and accounts of successful events from 2025. The organization will as well promote events through its newsletter and on social media once details are submitted to the LibrePlanet wiki. FSF staff are available to join events virtually or, when feasible, in person.
Financial assistance is available, but the FSF noted that funding is limited. Applications for support must be submitted via the my.fsf.org platform by March 15, 2026. The FSF launched a call for meetup organizers in January, designating May as “LibreLocal Month.”
According to the FSF, the LibreLocal initiative is part of a broader effort to celebrate the organization’s fortieth anniversary and advocate for free software. The FSF encourages events that highlight the benefits of free software and its underlying philosophy of freedom.
Those seeking to connect with other organizers can add their names to an organizing page or email campaigns@fsf.org. A list of planned meetups will be maintained on the LibrePlanet wiki.
