What type of presentations are we seeking?

We aim to feature sessions that engage, inform, and connect with our audience - Umbraco enthusiasts, for example:

• Developers
  Your talk targets .NET developers, DevOps with a strong focus on code and the technical part of working with Umbraco. The talk delves into Umbraco and will give any developer an edge in the fast-moving world of the friendly CMS.
  
  Your talk targets web designers and web developers. The audience can expect design-focused talks that might include innovative design narratives, inspiring user experiences, digital sustainability endeavors, improving accessibility, or insights into the life of a developer, and may contain HTML, JavaScript, or CSS, but none (or very little) .NET code.
  
  
• Doing business using Umbraco
  Your talk targets sales, marketing and project managers that might have little or no technical background. The presentation is focused on case-studies and enhancing client communication.
  
  
• Something new
  We welcome new ideas that you have for a talk you believe would be a great fit for the Umbraco US audience. There are, however, talks that we are unable to include in the program because they are too far out of the range of topics, including, but not limited to promotional talks and pitches, and proposals that violate the Umbraco US Festival Code of Conduct.

Session length

Session proposals for the Umbraco US Festival can be either 30 minutes or 15 minutes in length, including time for questions and answers. A 30-minute session provides the flexibility for a full presentation with the option to incorporate Q&A as part of the allotted time. A 15-minute lightning talk is a shorter, high-impact session designed to deliver key insights quickly, with the possibility of a brief Q&A if time allows. Speakers are encouraged to choose the format that best fits their topic and presentation style.

Event format

We are looking forward to welcoming you in-person this year at the Umbraco US Festival. At this time, no sessions will be recorded or live streamed.

How are the speakers selected?

A panel of reviewers with different backgrounds and perspectives will review all submitted proposals. Each reviewer will rate each submission and add a comment. Once the first review is finished, the next phase starts by discussing the top-rated proposals. The final decision is made based on the time slots available and the diversity of the topics.

As much as we would like to accept as many proposals as possible, we are not always able to confirm a time slot for each of the proposals that received a positive review.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

Each speaker can submit up to two proposals.

Co-speakers are limited to one per session.

Will it be possible to join as a remote speaker?

No, remote speaking is not an option at the Umbraco US Festival. We strive to provide the best experience for our speakers, which we believe comes from attending and presenting in person.

When can I expect to hear back from you?

Please note that all times for this event are communicated in Central Standard Time (CST).

• Call for speakers opens -- March 17, 2025
• Call for speakers closes -- May 9, 2025 (11:59pm CST)
• Communication of results -- June 27, 2025

*If you have already purchased a ticket for the Umbraco US Festival, and you get selected as a speaker, you can get your ticket refunded or choose to assign it to someone else.

Diversity pledge

We believe that a diverse environment fosters creativity, knowledge sharing, and innovation. To achieve this, we are actively seeking to increase the diversity of the Umbraco US Festival speakers and attendees with a diverse speaker lineup.

At the Umbraco US Festival we aim to feature speakers from different backgrounds, genders, and geographic locations. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds, abilities, and experiences to submit their proposals.

Furthermore, we are committed to creating an event that falls in line with our Code of Conduct providing a safe, inclusive, and hence, fun atmosphere for all who attend. Find more information on Diversity and Inclusion on our website.

Travel & Accommodation

We understand that attending a conference comes with costs, and while we’d love to help where we can, the Umbraco US Festival is a community-run event with limited resources. If you’re able to cover your own expenses, we kindly ask that you do so to help us support as many speakers as possible. However, if financial assistance is needed, please reach out, and we’ll do our best to help.

Other practical information

Please submit a speaker bio and speaker picture, as these will be displayed on the conference website, once the talk is accepted and confirmed.

The speaker bio should be around 600 characters and it should include your name, main job title (this will be used on your nametag), where you work or serve, your expertise or experience, and a personal touch. Please submit the speaker bio in 3rd person.

Make the session title and description shine, and keep in mind the main takeaways from the talk, so attendees know what to expect from your presentation.

The Notes field is meant for any special requirements or information which doesn't fit into the description of the talk.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know so we can work together on this.

Questions?

If you have any questions or uncertainties about your submission or your talk, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Umbraco Events Team at events@umbracousfoundation.org.