What’s new at Red Hat Summit 2026

This year, Red Hat Summit 2026 is headed to Atlanta for an experience that’s more hands-on and interactive than ever! Whether you’re a long-time attendee or joining us for the first time, this year’s event promises new ways to move from “what if” to “what’s next.” We’ve designed 2026’s program to help every attendee—from IT leaders to hands-on practitioners—sharpen their skills and bring open source innovation to life.

Explore the expo hall 

The expo hall is your hub for 1-on-1 access to the experts building the future of IT. This year, we’re introducing lightning labs: 20-minute self-service sessions right in the hall that cover our four pillar products—Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat AI, Red Hat OpenShift, and Red Hat Ansible. While you're there, you can visit our expanded product booths, explore our new AI quickstarts (ready-to-run, industry-specific use cases), or find a spot to refuel in one of our dedicated networking lounges.

Don't forget to save room in your suitcase! Head over to the Cool Stuff Store for exclusive merch or visit the Swag Station to customize your very own t-shirt with event-exclusive patches. You can even stop by the Community Garden to build gardening kits for kids, giving back to the local Atlanta community while you network.

Introducing product spotlights 

New for 2026, our product spotlights are 60-minute sessions for anyone who wants to go deeper than a keynote but isn't ready for a full-day lab. We’ll skip the high-level fluff and dive straight into architectural build-outs and real-world customer stories, so you can walk away with a clear understanding of how to implement the latest Red Hat features in your own environment.

When life gives you AI, make lemonade

Be sure to stop by the lemonade stand in the lobby for a hands-on demonstration of how Red Hat OpenShift AI can help you deploy secure, LLM-based applications. It’s a unique way to see guardrails-as-a-service in action to protect your models from prompt injection and safety violations—and cool off with a refreshing glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade while you do it.

New ways to engage

Late-night labs 

For engineers, sysadmins, and developers who prefer a terminal window to a traditional mixer, we’re introducing late-night labs. On Tuesday night, May 12, you can trade the small talk for a cold drink and a technical challenge. These labs are designed specifically for our intermediate and advanced technical attendees, offering a self-paced environment where you can complete labs, verify your work with Red Hat instructors, and earn raffle tickets for exclusive prizes.

An evening at Georgia Aquarium

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate at the end of the event, you won’t want to miss our closing party at Georgia Aquarium. We’re taking over the Western Hemisphere’s largest aquarium for an unforgettable night. This is the perfect setting to connect with the community and celebrate the week’s innovations alongside the whale sharks and manta rays.

Make it yours 

Customize your agenda with the sessions, labs, and product spotlights that will align with your goals and maximize your experience. While lightning labs are available for drop-in learning in the expo hall, you’ll want to register early to secure your seat for all the other sessions, as those popular opportunities fill up fast.

Be part of the open source future 

If you’re a Red Hat customer, partner, or contributor, join us May 11–14 in Atlanta to build new skills and unlock what’s next.

Register now