Debra Cerda Blog Posts

Call for Proposals and Sponsors: Postgres Conference 2026

The Call for Proposals to present at Postgres Conference: 2026 is open!

Postgres Conference 2026 needs your voice. We're seeking speakers who can educate, inspire, and engage with the PostgreSQL community. Our six tracks span technical deep dives, operational best practices, career development, and yes, even your non-database passions. Share what you know, what you've learned, or what matters to you.

Join us April 21-23, 2026, in San Jose, California, for three days of learning, networking, and celebrating everything that makes the PostgreSQL community exceptional.

Six Tracks, Unlimited Possibilities at Postgres Conference: 2026

  • Postgres Extensions Day: Dedicated to developers building and maintaining PostgreSQL extensions. Share your work, learn from others, and connect with the extensions community.
  • Dev Track: Application development with PostgreSQL. Topics include using extensions like pg_vector for enhanced search performance, creating custom data types, building applications, and leveraging PostgreSQL features in your development workflow.
  • Ops Track: Operational practices for PostgreSQL and related technologies. Covers deployment, monitoring, performance tuning, backup strategies, high availability, replication, and infrastructure management.
  • Essentials Track: Deep dives into core PostgreSQL functionality. Explore data types, built-in features, query optimization, indexing strategies, and fundamental concepts. If it's in the documentation or should be, this track explores it thoroughly. Core PostgreSQL knowledge that provides long-term career value.
  • Life and Fun Track: Non-technical topics that make us human. Share your hobbies, side projects, and interests outside of databases. Topics include beekeeping, gardening, homesteading, solar projects, IoT experiments, mountain biking, camping, and anything else that brings you joy.
  • Professional Development & Wellness Track: Career growth and personal well-being. Topics include career advancement, managing burnout, work-life integration, mental health, communication skills, leadership development, and building sustainable careers in technology.

Choose Your Format

We offer four session formats to match your content and presentation style:

  • Talk (50 minutes): The standard conference format with time for depth and detail. Ideal for comprehensive technical topics, case studies, architectural overviews, or storytelling that needs room to breathe. Includes time for audience questions and discussion. Plan for 40-45 minutes of content to allow for Q&A.
  • Presentation (20 minutes): Focused, fast-paced format for specific topics or techniques. Perfect for introducing a new tool, sharing a specific solution to a common problem, or delivering a concentrated dose of knowledge. Get in, deliver value, get out. No time for Q&A during the session, but speakers should make themselves available afterward for an impromptu hallway session
  • Mini-tutorial (90 minutes): Hands-on learning sessions where attendees follow along on their own laptops. Best for teaching practical skills, walking through implementations, or guided problem-solving. Assumes attendees will have their development environment ready. Include setup instructions in your proposal and plan for troubleshooting time.
  • T3D Session (10 minutes): Tips, Tricks, and Deep Dives. Lightning-fast knowledge bombs. Share one powerful technique, one crucial insight, or one problem-solution pair. No fluff, no long introductions. These sessions are scheduled back-to-back, so timing is strict. Perfect for that one thing you wish everyone knew about PostgreSQL and related open source technologies.

Why Speak at Postgres Conference?

Speaking at Postgres Conference connects you with hundreds of PostgreSQL professionals, from developers and DBAs to architects and business leaders. You'll share your expertise, build your professional network, and contribute to the community that makes PostgreSQL thrive.

First-time speakers and conference veterans alike are welcome. We're committed to diverse voices and perspectives across all our tracks.

Submit Your Proposal

Sponsorship Opportunities

Interested in supporting the PostgreSQL community and connecting with decision-makers in Silicon Valley? Download our sponsorship prospectus or contact us to discuss partnership opportunities

We'll see you in sunny San Jose in April 2026. Let's build something great together.

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Early bird registration is now live for Postgres Conference 2026, and the savings are significant. Lock in your ticket at just $299 before January 31st—a $300 discount off the regular general admission price of $599.

What to Expect in San Jose

Join us April 21-23 at the Hilton San Jose for three days dedicated to the Postgres community. Since 2007, Postgres Conference has been more than a technical event—it's been a gathering place where hundreds of thousands of people have advanced their skills, built lasting professional relationships, and contributed to strengthening the entire Postgres ecosystem.

This year's conference theme, "Energizing People with Data and Creativity," reflects our core belief that community drives innovation. We've designed the experience to be intentionally focused and professional, creating space for meaningful connections alongside world-class technical education.

Six Tracks for Every Interest

Whether you're a Postgres power user or new to the technology, we've structured tracks to meet you where you are:

  • Postgres Extensions Day dives deep into the ecosystem of extensions that expand PostgreSQL's capabilities
  • The Dev track focuses on advanced development practices and optimization
  • The Ops track covers deployment, scaling, and operational excellence
  • The Essentials provides foundational knowledge for those getting started
  • Life and Fun celebrates the human side of technology—networking, culture, and community building
  • The Professional Development & Wellness emphasizes career growth, leadership, and well-being

Plan Ahead for Training

Beyond the main conference, specialized pre-conference training sessions will be available as add-ons for Monday, April 20th. Training tickets are sold separately, allowing you to customize your experience with expert-led workshops.

Why Early Bird?

The early bird pricing is a limited-time opportunity. At just $299, you're investing in three days of education, professional growth, and community connection—all while supporting the events that have shaped the Postgres ecosystem for nearly two decades. After January 31st, the general admission price increases to $599, so now is the time to register.

Location Details

Hilton San Jose
300 Almaden Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95110
United States

Stay Tuned

We will be sharing more updates in the coming months on what's in store for 2026! We're excited to see you in San Jose. Whether you're looking to deepen your technical expertise, connect with colleagues, or discover what's possible with Postgres, we've built an experience designed for your growth.

Register Now for Early Bird Pricing

Debra Cerda     November 20, 2025     postgresql training conference

Just a few of our organizers from Postgres Conference 2025 in Orlando: Sweta Vooda, Onsite Session Coordinator; Malcolm McLean, AV & Registration Coordinator; Debbie Cerda, Talk Selection Committee & Speaker Liaison; Lloyd Albin, AV Logistics & Registration Coordinator (Photo Courtesy of Sweta Vooda)

Postgres Conference is built and supported by people who care deeply about the Postgres community. We're looking for individuals who want to go beyond volunteering and help shape the conference and the community’s future.

What Organizers Do

Organizers are community stewards who help lead and sustain the conference. This role involves:

  • Ongoing collaboration: You'll work with other organizers to plan, execute, and optimize the conference year-round.
  • Flexible contributions: Step in where you're needed, whether that's logistics, community outreach, programming, or day-of coordination.
  • Building community: Help create a welcoming space for learning and connection.

Time Commitment

Involvement varies by role and season. Most of the year requires lighter engagement. Activity increases during planning phases and peaks during the conference itself.

Who Should Apply

 We welcome both first-time contributors and experienced community leaders. If you believe in open collaboration and want to strengthen the Postgres community, this role is for you.

Get Involved

Contact us at organizers@postgresconf.org to learn more about becoming an Organizer.

Debra Cerda     January 19, 2026     volunteer
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Postgres Conference 2025 in Orlando, held March 18–21, brought together PostgreSQL professionals from around the world for a week of deep technical learning, professional development, and intentional networking. With expanded tracks and thoughtfully curated sessions, this year’s gathering balanced core database expertise with a growing focus on holistic professional growth.

Event Highlights

  • Expanded Tracks: In addition to the core DevOps, and Essentials tracks, the conference introduced Professional Development and Variants & Cloud tracks. These additions reflected the complexity of today’s tech environments and the evolving needs of those who manage them.

  • Keynote Address: Malika Boukhelifa’s keynote, “Code Your Way Out of Burnout,” addressed the role of mental health in sustainable tech careers and provided attendees with strategies for long-term success.

  • Technical Deep Dives: Popular sessions on pg_vector, analytics with DuckDB, and PostgreSQL partitioning strategies demonstrated the community’s interest in advanced features and real-world applications.

  • Professional Development: The new track featured sessions on leadership, communication, and soft skills. Certified Wellness Coaches were also available onsite, offering support and tools to help attendees prioritize mental wellness alongside technical growth.

  • Community and Networking: Conversations flowed freely in workshops, hallway meetups, and evening events like the tropical-themed buffet. The size and format of the event allowed for stronger peer connections and genuine knowledge exchange.

This year’s more focused format was intentional. The smaller scale fostered deeper discussion, better engagement, and more actionable takeaways. Whether tackling database replication or burnout prevention, attendees walked away with tools they could apply immediately. We would not be able to accomplish this without the generous support of our sponsors and partners.

Looking ahead, we plan to cap attendance in future years to preserve the quality and depth of the experience. Postgres Conference is no longer designed to be the largest event. Its goal is to be the most effective.

Want to stay updated on future Postgres Conferences and community news?
Subscribe to the PostgresWorld Substack for first access to upcoming events, announcements, and insights from the PostgreSQL ecosystem.

Debra Cerda     April 17, 2025     #community #postgresconf

 

Pavan Deolasse is a PostgreSQL consultant for 2ndQuadrant, one of our Platinum Sponsors for PostgresConf US 2018. Learn more about Pavan in this Community Profile:

Pavan Deolasee is a contributor to the development of PostgreSQL and related technologies. He holds a Masters of Technology in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and has several publications to his credit.

Pavan was introduced to PostgreSQL in the year 2006 when he started working for a PostgreSQL company. Hacking PostgreSQL was a completely new experience, but by accepting help from the community -- especially Simon Riggs, his mentor -- he began working through the code and was soon working on a very important project (Heap-Only-Tuple aka HOT). It was a very complicated piece of work, yet one of the landmark features in PostgreSQL and to this day remains one of his most important contributions to the project. Pavan has since contributed several patches to PostgreSQL. 

HOT was committed to PostgreSQL in 2008 and Pavan has continued to stay fully engaged with the project. In 2009/2010, alongside other colleagues, Pavan started work on Postgres-XC, a distributed, shared-nothing, clustering solution based on PostgreSQL. He was involved in designing the high-level architecture of the solution, and later wrote many important pieces of the code such as the GTM, the GTM Proxy, the 2PC transaction controller at the coordinator, changes required to guarantee global consistency of the data, and many distributed planner and executor pieces.

When Postgres-XL, a fork of Postgres-XC, was released to the public in 2014, Pavan once again became involved with the project and has been leading the development of Postgres-XL ever since. 

Pavan joined 2ndQuadrant not long after in April 2015, and once again started working with long time colleagues and friends; he and 2ndQuadrant have continued to actively work on the development of Postgres-XL. The focus area of development has been stability and performance of the product while keeping the fork as close to open source PostgreSQL as possible. The most recent release (Postgres-XL 10) supports intra-datanode query parallelism, thus taking distributed query processing to the next level.

In 2013, Pavan and two of his colleagues started the India PostgreSQL User Group. They started conducting small meet-ups, in order to promote the technology in India and bring the local community together. These small gatherings have now expanded with a membership of over 600 members, and into a full scale conference: PGConf India, Asia's largest PostgreSQL conference with more than 250 people in attendance each day in 2018. 

As part of the 2ndQuadrant team of PostgreSQL developers, Pavan continues to work on many interesting new features. He is an active part of the production support team and also has the opportunity to investigate interesting customer problems, often leading to important and critical bug fixes to the open source project.

Pavan had this to say about his involvement with the project:

“I love PostgreSQL and the PostgreSQL community, so you will continue to see me around.”

 

The month of January is just about over and we are coming up on the end of our Early Bird registration window for PostgresConf US 2018, which takes place in Jersey City, New Jersey from April 16th to April 20st at The Westin Jersey City Newport.

You have until tomorrow to purchase your tickets for $200 off for the largest PostgreSQL conference in the world. Early Bird tickets are on sale here through January 31.

We are excited to announce that we received over 170 proposals for PostgresConf US 2018, with an impressive range of high quality content and speakers. On April 16th and 17th, we are pleased to offer a choice of 15 different training sessions so you are sure to have the chance to dig deep into a topic that interests you. Some of our training classes are:

  • Mastering PostgreSQL Administration
  • Tutorial on Modern PostgreSQL High Availability
  • Deep Dive into PostgreSQL Authentication Methods
  • Digging into Advanced SQL
  • The postgresql.conf from A-Z: Includes Postgres Performance and Maintenance

For a complete list, check out the events page for all of our training classes. 

Also during PostgresConf, you will also have an opportunity to meet our great sponsors, including:

  • Diamond: Amazon Web Services, Pivotal
  • Platinum: Compose, OpenSCG, 2ndQuadrant, Microsoft
  • Gold: Cybertec, JetBrains, Citus Data, EnterpriseDB, Linode, Timescale, Cockroach Labs

At the Westin Jersey City Newport, we have negotiated a discounted conference room rate of $260/night + applicable taxes for attendees. Be sure to book prior to March 26, 2018 - the conference rate is not guaranteed after this date. Rooms may be booked via our dedicated Westin booking page, or via telephone (888) 627-7148. If booking via telephone please mention "PostgresConf US 2018" to receive the group rate.

For more information, please visit the PostgresConf US 2018 website

Stay tuned for our presentation and breakout sessions announcement. We look forward to seeing you in April!

P.S. Looking for a discount code? Check your local Postgres User Group mailing list.

Debra Cerda     January 30, 2018     postgres

Call for Speakers: Join Us at Postgres Conference Seattle 2024!

We are excited to announce that the Postgres Conference Seattle 2024 is accepting speaker submissions! This is your chance to share your knowledge, insights, and experiences with the global PostgreSQL community in one of the world’s most innovative tech hubs. Whether you're a seasoned PostgreSQL expert or have unique insights on emerging trends, this is the perfect stage to amplify your voice and make an impact.

Why Speak at Postgres Conference: Seattle

As the largest PostgreSQL gathering in the U.S., Postgres Conference: Seattle 2024 brings together users, developers, DBAs, and thought leaders from diverse industries including FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, and more! Here’s why you should consider submitting a proposal:

  1. Expand Your Reach: Presenting at the conference will allow you to connect with hundreds of like-minded professionals, influencers, and companies shaping the future of data management.
  2. Share Your Expertise: Whether you're a PostgreSQL guru or a curious learner with unique insights, your contribution can help others grow in their own Postgres journey.
  3. Professional Recognition: Gain visibility and recognition within the Postgres community and broader tech industry. Being a speaker enhances your profile and can open doors for future collaborations, partnerships, or even job opportunities.
  4. Contribute to the PostgreSQL Ecosystem: PostgreSQL continues to evolve rapidly. By sharing your experiences, you contribute to the collective growth and innovation of this incredible open-source database system.

Tracks for Every Interest

We’re looking for speakers across various areas of expertise. If you work in development, operations, or the essential aspects of PostgreSQL usage, we want to hear from you! Here’s a quick overview of our three main tracks:

Development (Dev) Track

Do you have cutting-edge insights on PostgreSQL development? This track is for talks focused on building, optimizing, and scaling applications using PostgreSQL. Some of the topics you could cover include:

  • Query optimization and performance tuning
  • Building and deploying PostgreSQL-based applications
  • Best practices in database schema design
  • Case studies of innovative solutions using PostgreSQL

Whether you're diving into PL/pgSQL, extending Postgres with custom functions, or exploring advanced indexing techniques, this is the perfect platform to share your expertise with fellow developers.

Operations (Ops) Track

If you’re working behind the scenes, ensuring that PostgreSQL environments are secure, scalable, and high-performing, the Ops track is for you. This track seeks submissions from database administrators, SREs, DevOps engineers, and anyone involved in the operational side of PostgreSQL, such as:

  • Scaling PostgreSQL for high-traffic applications
  • Backup and recovery strategies
  • Monitoring and observability tools
  • Managing multi-region or cloud-based Postgres instances

Share your experience on how to keep PostgreSQL running smoothly, even under the most demanding conditions.

Essentials Track

The Essentials track is perfect for those who want to speak about the core foundational aspects of PostgreSQL. It’s an ideal opportunity to present content geared toward people who are new to PostgreSQL or seeking to deepen their understanding of its key concepts. Suggested topics might include:

  • Introduction to PostgreSQL for beginners
  • SQL best practices and optimization
  • Setting up a robust PostgreSQL environment
  • Security fundamentals for database management

This track encourages first-time speakers and practitioners who want to help others navigate the essentials of working with PostgreSQL.

How to Submit Your Proposal

Submitting a proposal is easy! Simply prepare an abstract that describes your talk, its relevance to the conference tracks, and what attendees will take away from it. We encourage submissions from individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience. Diversity of thought and experience enriches the conversation, and we welcome fresh perspectives.

Create a user account and submit your abstract, title, and description for review consideration.

Take this opportunity to shine as a thought leader in the Postgres world. Share your journey, inspire innovation, and connect with a vibrant community that’s as passionate about Postgres as you are. Submit your proposal today and join us in Seattle for an unforgettable experience!

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: Monday, September 30th, midnight Pacific Time/ 3 am ET

Event Dates: November 6 - 7, 2024

Ready to Submit?

To submit your proposal and find more details, head to our submission page. Questions can be directed to organizers@postgresconf.org. We look forward to seeing you in Seattle!

We can’t wait to hear from you. Let’s shape the future of Postgres together!

Debra Cerda     September 26, 2024     seattle postgres open source conference

 

As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Relevant Logic President/CEO Guyren Howe is a web developer, trainer, database expert, technical writer, and more specializing in PostgreSQL, Flutter, and Rails. Guyren will present “Postgres’s Type System” at Postgres Conference 2024. Read what Guyren has to say about Postgres and why to attend his session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024?

What would you like for them to take away from your session? Learn the important details of Postgres's type system: the built-in types, extension types, domains, arrays and custom types.

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?

My talk :)

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?

Follow the pgsql-general list. Learn relational theory. Don't listen to the database haters.

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?

I foresee an open source boom as AI technologies can work with open source much better than closed.

 

Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here and buy your tickets soon!

As part of the countdown to Postgres Conference 2024, learn more about the engaging content and our speakers for this year in our Speaker Spotlight Series.

Shayon Sanyal is a Principal PostgreSQL Specialist at Amazon Aurora, with over 15 years experience, and crafts resilient applications, leveraging PostgreSQL's advanced features.

Shayon will present Enhancing OLTP Systems with pgvector: Best Practices in Database Design. Read what Shayon has to say about Postgres and why to attend their session:

Why should attendees come to your talk at Postgres Conference 2024? What would you like for them to take away from your session?
The integration of pgvector into existing Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems represents a significant advancement in leveraging vector search capabilities within traditional database environments. This presentation is designed to educate database professionals on the thoughtful integration of pgvector into OLTP applications powered by PostgreSQL, ensuring enhanced functionalities without compromising the core transactional integrity and performance. Attendees will learn how to adopt pgvector to unlock new application features while maintaining reliability, performance and scalability of their PostgreSQL databases. The presentation provides a roadmap for practical pgvector integration regardless of the hosting environment.

What is your favorite aspect of Postgres Conference?
For me, the most amazing aspect of the Postgres Conference is the opportunity to learn from and engage with some of the most brilliant minds in the PostgreSQL ecosystem. The lineup of speakers and contributors is always exceptional, offering invaluable insights and perspectives that can shape the future of this powerful database management system. The depth and breadth of technical discussions from advanced database internals and performance optimizations to cutting-edge features and real-world use cases, the conference provides a platform for exploring the full potential of PostgreSQL. It's a true feast for those who crave technical excellence.

What advice would you have for a Computer Science graduate or entry level developer who are interested in learning and engaging with Postgres and other open source technologies?
My advice would be to dive in headfirst and immerse yourself in the open source community. Start by exploring the official documentation and resources provided by the PostgreSQL project. Don't be afraid to ask questions on forums, mailing lists, or community channels – you'll be amazed at how welcoming and supportive the community is, especially towards those eager to learn. Attend local meetups or online events focused on PostgreSQL and open source technologies. These are excellent platforms for networking, learning from experienced professionals, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

How do you see the use of open source technologies evolving over the next five years?
Increased adoption across industries: Open source technologies have already gained widespread acceptance in the tech industry, but I expect their adoption to accelerate across various other sectors, such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. As organizations recognize the benefits of open source, including cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and community-driven innovation, they will be more inclined to embrace these technologies in their mission-critical systems.
What considerations should be taken for the adoption and use of Postgres and related open source technologies?
If I had to pick 2 then - 1/ Community Support and Documentation: Evaluate the size and activity level of the community surrounding the open source project. A vibrant and engaged community is often a good indicator of the project's long-term sustainability and the availability of support resources, such as documentation, forums, and mailing lists. and 2/ Scalability and Performance: Thoroughly assess the scalability and performance capabilities of the open source technologies you intend to use, especially if you anticipate handling large volumes of data or high-traffic workloads. Conduct performance testing and benchmarking to ensure that the technologies meet your specific requirements. Then there are other considerations such as security and compliance, integration and interoperability etc.


Check out the full schedule for PostgresConf US 2024. Learn more about our conference here and buy your tickets soon!

Debra Cerda     April 16, 2024     speaker spotlight