With TNC26 just around the corner, it is time to start browsing the programme and save your favourite sessions. Each day brings a whole different bunch of topics and formats, from presentations to workshops and screen-free sessions following the theme of Digital Sisu. Let’s take a look starting from Tuesday 9 June 2026, which marks the first official day of the TNC26.
What to expect on Day One
If you are new to TNC26, TNC101 (10:30, Exchange Theatre) is the perfect place to start. The session is designed to help you settle in, find your people and understand how to make the most out of the event.
While things will be up and running at the Helsinki Music Hall since 08:30, the official opening of TNC26 will take place during the Opening Plenary (11:00, Concert Hall). Everybody is invited to attend Maria Ritola’s keynote which will focus on “Successful teams and good work life in the digital age”. An awarded technology influencer, Maria is one of the founders of Iris.ai, where she has built AI-based applications to help researchers utilise scientific articles more quickly and comprehensively. She is a regular on the Finnish morning TV program Jälkidigi, where she discusses technological phenomena.
With over 100 programme items at TNC26, it will be impossible to list every single one of them, but a few strong threads tie the day together.
People and community sit at the heart of the event, with Supporting Our People (09:00, Community Hub) inviting an open conversation about hardship, solidarity and accessibility, including a dedicated look at how the war in Ukraine has affected the research and education community, and what we can collectively do to help.
Identity, trust and cross-border collaboration also feature prominently, with sessions touching on everything from cloud sovereignty (Global Cloud Café at 09:00, Auditorio) to the funding models that keep our community connected (Tuning into the Community: Cloud, Trust, and the Funding, 14:00, Camerata) Community tools get their moment too, with a session on FileSender (09:00, Paavo), the community-built, privacy-respecting file transfer service that many NRENs rely on daily.
AI moves from theory into practice with two complementary sessions: Network Troubleshooting with Generative AI (14:00, Terrace Foyer) – a hands-on workshop where participants work with a pre-built chatbot to query a live network lab, learning how LLM tool calling works before diagnosing real faults introduced during the session; and To Serve and Protect (16:00, Concert Hall) – with a more strategic lens, examining how AI-enabled operations and AI-aware defence strategies are converging into an entirely new operational model for NRENs.
The bigger geopolitical picture comes into focus at the Digital Global Gateway initiatives (09:00, Black Box), where NRENs gather informally to share updates on their roles in EU co-funded Global Gateway projects, swap lessons learned, and reflect on the challenges of global connectivity in a shifting landscape.
And for those who prefer an interactive and mostly unplugged session, What’s in a Name? (14:00, Community Hub) will a a genuinely open conversation about what it means to be an NREN today – a mostly screen-free format designed to spark real dialogue rather than passive listening.
There’s so much you can do besides attending sessions: snag giveaway from our partners at the TNC Exchange, catch a silent disco presentation at the Exchange Theatre, and take a break at the TNC Café (sponsored by Sparkle) or the Networking Lounge (sponsored by Nokia and Nomios).
As the day winds down, the social programme takes over. The Opening Reception brings everyone together, giving delegates the chance to meet speakers, connect with partners and catch up with familiar faces. Don’t miss out on the Open Mic Night at the Community Hub – a chance to share a hidden talent, a song, a story or whatever you love! We will then move to the TNC26 Kick-Off Party at club Maxine to close out the night.
Not registered yet?
Regular Passes are available until 5 June 2026 (midnight CEST). Please note that to attend side meetings you need a separate ‘Side Meeting Pass’. If you’d like to bring a guest to one of the Social Events, you can purchase a pass for them.
Joining remotely? No problem.
All conference sessions and plenaries will be livestreamed free of charge on the TNC26 website during the event days. There will be no online pass, registration, or access code needed; simply visit the website and be part of the action from wherever you are.
Whether you’re attending in person or online, TNC26 promises another unforgettable week of collaboration and community spirit.
Subscribe to the TNC mailing list and visit the TNC website at tnc26.geant.org for all conference updates.
