OEGlobal26 Attendee Guide

OEGlobal 2026 Information Desk
1

It’s not long until we see you!

We’re so looking forward to welcoming you to the 2026 Open Education Global Conference, October 7–9, at the Samberg Conference Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and online wherever you are in the world.

The program is final and live on Sched: 153 sessions and four keynote conversations, with 263 presenters from 28 countries across five tracks.

You can start choosing between concurrent sessions now and get to know the venue before you arrive. This guide covers the practical details and a few tips for getting the most out of OEGlobal 2026. If you only read one section, make it the first.

Navigate the information below according to how you are joining us:

  • ALL ATTENDEES – information in sections 1, 2, 5 and 6 is for everybody regardless of where you are joining us from.

  • If you are joining us IN-PERSON, read section 1 first, then the information in section 3.

  • If you are joining us ONLINE, read section 1 first, then the information in section 4.

1. All Attendees: What to do right now

1.1 As an attendee…

Tell your networks you’ll be at oeglobal26, and why.

Cruise the program

  • On Sched, add or update your profile, photo and contact details so other attendees can find you.

  • Download the Sched app (Apple • Google Play) so the program is always in your pocket.

  • Build your personalised schedule by marking the sessions you plan to attend. Sched’s attendee guide explains how.

  • Most of the sessions will be available online only at the time in the program. There are exceptions. The Lightning Talks are available to watch at any time and the round tables and special activities are not available online.

  • Please note that with the exception of the Keynotes and Lightning Talks, no other sessions will be available for rewatch after the session is finished. Recordings will be posted to the OEGlobal 2026 playlist by the end of October.

1.2. OEGlobal 2026 on OEG Connect

OEGlobal 2026 happens in three places at once: in person in Cambridge, MA, online anywhere in the world, and at our satellite gathering in Vancouver.

The OEGlobal26 zone on OEGlobal Connect is where all three meet.

  1. Join using your invitation link. Use this link to join if you are new to OEGlobal Connect, or sign in. It adds you to the OEGlobal 2026 attendee directory. If you are new to OEGlobal Connect, start with An OEGlobal 2026 Participant Guide to OEGlobal Connect.

  2. Then dive right in! Head to the Hybrid Transit Map, which shows every stop in the conference space.

  3. Say hello in the Lobby.

  4. Reply to We Welcome You to OEGlobal 2026 and answer the first-timer or many-timer poll.

  5. Scout the program together. Share what’s on your list in Start Scouting the Program!, or adopt a session and share highlights from it during and after the session.

  6. Talk about sessions in Session Conversations. There’s a discussion thread for each track, and presenters can start a topic for their own session to share.

  7. Have fun in the Interaction Zone. Remix the digital postcard, add a patch to the conference quilt, share your OERigin story or show us your pets in Open Petagogy.

  8. Use live chat channels during the conference: Lobby Chat for meet-ups and logistics, Session Chat for ideas and resources from the room, and Vancouver Chat for our satellite community.

2. All Attendees: Navigating the Program

The full program is on Sched. You should have received a welcome email from Sched (the email and invitation will go to the email you used to register. Please use that email to sign in). If it hasn’t arrived, let us know. Use our random session suggestor for fun!

When planning your conference, please note that:

  • All sessions marked Keynote Plenary, Panel, and Presentation are available to both in-person and online audiences. However you join, be there early!

  • Round Tables and Special Activities are in-person only and cannot be “caught up” later.

  • The LIVE online sessions are an important part of the program. Please join them at the time on the schedule.

  • Lightning Talks are available at all times to watch, online or when you have a moment to yourself.

  • All recorded sessions will be published on the OEGlobal 2026 playlist by the end of October.

2.1 Five tracks

There are 5 fascinating and important threads that weave the program together. Before you choose which track to follow, read the track perspectives written by the OEGlobal 2026 team. They’re the quickest way to get a feel for each track.

A program like this depends on a lot of people. Thank you to our Program Chairs and the OEGlobal 2026 Review Committee for everything they’ve put into it.

2.2 Day-by-Day Moments at OEGlobal 2026

All times are EDT (Boston time).

Wednesday, October 7

Thursday, October 8

Friday, October 9

And watch these Lightning Talks at any time!

3. Attending IN-PERSON

3.1 Plan your trip to Cambridge

  • The venue: Samberg Conference Center, 6th and 7th floors, E52 Chang Building, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139 (google maps • venue and floor plans).

  • Getting there: The nearest subway (the “T”) stop is Kendall/MIT on the Red Line, a short walk from the venue. From Boston Logan Airport, take the Silver Line (SL1) to South Station, then the Red Line to Kendall/MIT. (Read more)

  • Weather: Early October in Cambridge is usually crisp and bright, with cool mornings and evenings. Bring layers and comfortable walking shoes.

  • Power: US outlets are Type A/B, 120V. Bring an adapter if you’re travelling from outside North America.

  • Lodging and travel sharing: See Lodging Advice and Questions, which explains how to join the private opt-in group for sharing rooms and travel.

  • Accessibility: If you’d like to plan or coordinate around accessibility needs, join the private opt-in Accessibility Connections space, or email us at conference@oeglobal.org. Read additional accessibility information about the venue here.

  • Local knowledge: Ask the community where to get good coffee and find the best bookstores.

  • Important For Travellers: Please don’t bring luggage to the venue. Consider using local hotels around Cambridge or luggage storage networks. (maps)

3.2 Join a Pre- or Extra- Conference Event

All sessions relating to OEGlobal 2026 are on the Program. There are a few that are outside of the Conference times and off-site from the conference venue.

Pre-registration for OEGlobal 2026

Date: Tues, Oct 6

Time: 2:00–6:00pm

Venue: 6th Floor, Cambridge Marriott

Get ahead of the game and claim your registration badge before the rush on the first day of the conference. Marcela and Igor will be there to welcome you!

Wikipedia as an Open Educational Project: Hands-On Workshop and Edit-a-thon

Date: Tues, Oct 6

Time: 1:00–4:00pm

Venue: 14S-130, The Nexus, Hayden Library (map)

Registration required (separate to OEGlobal26)

Legendary Wikimedians, Phoebe Ayers and Andrew Lih lead an introduction to contributing to Wikipedia, teaching with Wikipedia, and new tools for working with its content, followed by hands-on editing. Beginners are very welcome. Please bring a laptop. The workshop is free, but registration is required and there are 44 seats. More information.

Sparking Connection, Creativity and Curiosity

Join these off-site sessions organised by the Open Education Network

3.3 When you arrive at OEGlobal 2026

The venue

  • Take the elevators in the E52 Chang Building to the Samberg Conference Center on the 6th and 7th floors.

  • Accessibility matters: for those interested in accessibility features for the venue, please consult the Venue page.

  • Pre-registration fetch your badge and check in on Tuesday, October 6 between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on the 6th floor at the Cambridge Marriott.

  • Registration opens at 8:00am on Wednesday, October 7 at the venue’s welcome desk. The conference opens at 8:45am EDT sharp.

  • First OEGlobal Conference? Wondering where to sit at lunch? On Wednesday, Oct 7th, come find Heather Blicher (OEGlobal/CCCOER) on the 6th floor and join the table(s) with other first-timers.

  • Wi-Fi will be available throughout the venue. Log-in details will be shared on the day.

  • The conference venue is compact, with sessions across two floors. If you need help, ask at the registration desk or look for our wayfinder volunteers in yellow hats.

3.4 Look after yourself

  • Conference days are full; and can be both exhilarating and exhausting. Breakfast is not provided at the venue, please eat before you arrive.

  • If you need a quiet moment, a quiet room (Salon East) is set aside for you.

  • If you’re feeling unwell, please stay home. Nearly every session is available online, and you can join from your hotel room.

  • If you need help, find it here, or email conference@oeglobal.org.

4. Attending ONLINE

Wherever you are in the world, you’re part of this conference, not watching it from the outside. Online attendees can join every session except round tables and special activities, including all four keynote conversations. Look out for the special live Hybrid Connecting events scheduled just for online attendees.

Everything you need to take part is in two places:

  1. Sched for the sessions and

  2. OEGlobal Connect for the conversation.

4.1 How to connect to sessions

  1. Log in to Sched with the account linked to your registration (remember to use the same email you used to register). If you haven’t had a Sched welcome email, let us know.

  2. Open any session at its start time and click the Zoom button on the session page to join.

  3. Set Sched to your time zone using the option in the sidebar. The conference runs on EDT (Boston time, UTC−4), roughly 8:45am–5:30pm each day.

  4. Bookmark your sessions so they appear in your personal schedule, with the Zoom link one click away.

4.2 Before the first OEGlobal 2026 session

  • Update Zoom on the device you’ll use a day or two ahead, and try the Zoom test meeting.

  • Use headphones if you can, and a wired connection if your Wi-Fi is unpredictable.

  • Accept your OEGlobal Connect invitation (see above). It’s your way into the conference community.

  • Grab the OEGlobal 2026 virtual background from the Visuals Kit if you’d like to show your colours on camera.

4.3 The Online Program

You can view any session that is taking place at the venue, with the exception of the Special Activities and Round Tables.

Support these sessions specific for the online audience:

4.4 Taking part during sessions

  • Ask questions in the Zoom chat. A facilitator in each session will bring questions from online attendees into the conversation.

  • Share ideas across the whole conference in OEG26 Session Chat, which brings in-person and online attendees together.

  • Follow up with presenters on their session threads in Session Conversations. Many will post slides and resources there.

  • Be kind to yourself about time zones. You don’t need to attend everything live. Keynotes are recorded, and OEGlobal Connect keeps going around the clock.

4.5 Interacting on OEGlobal Connect

OEGlobal Connect is where online, in-person and satellite participants meet. If you only do a few things, do these:

  1. Join through your personal invitation link (sent to every registered attendee). It adds you to the attendee directory, where you can find and direct message anyone else attending.

  2. Introduce yourself in We Welcome You to OEGlobal 2026: who you are, where you’re joining from and what you’re hoping to find. Respond to a poll to share if you are a first or many time attendee of the OEGlobal conference.

  3. Set up your profile with a photo and a line about your work, so people recognise you in chats and threads. The Participant Guide to OEGlobal Connect shows you how.

  4. Adopt a session. Pick a session you’re attending and share its highlights for everyone who couldn’t be there. Online attendees make brilliant adopters.

  5. Join the activities for online participants in the Interaction Zone:

    1. Show us the view from where you sit

    2. 25 Steps: what you see from your front door

    3. How far are you from Cambridge?

    4. Remix the digital postcard and add a patch to the conference quilt

    5. What is your OERgin story?

  6. Use the chat channels: Lobby Chat to find people and arrange meet-ups, and Session Chat during sessions.

  7. Start your own space. Create a private channel for your team, region or language group.

5. Truly Hybrid: Bridging the In-Person and Online

Taking place everyday – add these sessions to your schedule!

(All times EDT)

  • OEGlobal26 Hallway Conversations: Join us online as the in-person attendees use the morning break time to connect and maybe share tea/coffee.

    • When: Thurs, Fri: start 10:00am over long breaks and Wed, Thurs, Friday 12:55PM lunch break

    • Who: whoever wants to join, with Alan Levine

  • OEGlobal26 Daily Recap – After a full day of conference activity, we gather for an online “show” to recap highlights and listen to reflections from participants.

    • When: Wed, Thurs: start 7:00pm, Friday 3:00pm run 15-30 minutes max.

    • Who: you … with Alan Levine

  • Satellite gatherings:

    • Colleagues in Vancouver are meeting together with support from Internet Archive Canada. Find out more. Follow #OEGlobalYVR on socials!

    • If you are organising a watch party of your own? Tell us at conference@oeglobal.org.

  • Look out for the daily emails each morning, sharing what’s happening and open to all attendees.

6. All Attendees: Be social

OEGlobal 2026 Navigator

:spiral_calendar: Program in Sched
:globe_with_meridians: OEGlobal 2026 Conference Web Site
:artist_palette: Visuals Kit
:megaphone: Communications Kit

:arrow_up_small: Main Space in OEGConnect
:right_arrow: Front Entrance public conversations “outside” the venue

For Attendees:
:right_arrow: The Lobby meet attendees
:right_arrow: Information Desk updates and help
:right_arrow: Session Conversations discussion and sharing
:right_arrow: Interaction Zone activities and things to do