How to Get the Most Out of PyCon US

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May 14, 2025
How to Get the Most Out of PyCon US
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Congratulations! You’re going to PyCon US!

Whether this is your first time or you’re a regular attendee, going to a conference full of people who love the same thing as you is always a fun experience. There’s so much more to PyCon than just a bunch of people talking about the Python language—it’s a vibrant community event filled with talks, workshops, hallway conversations, and social gatherings. But for first-time attendees, it can also feel a little intimidating. This guide will help you navigate all there is to see and do at PyCon.

PyCon US is the biggest conference centered around Python. Originally launched in 2003, this conference has grown exponentially and has even spawned several other PyCons and workshops around the world.

Everyone who attends PyCon will have a different experience, and that’s what makes the conference truly unique. This guide is meant to help you, but you don’t need to follow it strictly.

By the end of this article, you’ll know:

  • How PyCon consists of tutorials, conference, and sprints
  • What to do before you go
  • What to do during PyCon
  • What to do after the event
  • How to have a great PyCon

This guide contains links that are specific to PyCon 2025, but it should be useful for future PyCons as well.

What PyCon Involves

Before considering how to get the most out of PyCon, it’s first important to understand what PyCon involves.

PyCon is divided into three stages:

  1. Tutorials: PyCon starts with two days of three-hour workshops, during which you learn in depth with instructors. These sessions are worth attending because the class sizes are small, and you’ll have the chance to ask instructors questions directly. You should consider going to at least one of these if you can. They have an additional cost of $150 per tutorial.

  2. Conference: Next, PyCon offers three days of talks. Each presentation runs for 30 to 45 minutes, and around five talks run concurrently, including a Spanish-language charlas track. But that’s not all: there are open spaces, sponsors, posters, lightning talks, dinners, and so much more.

  3. Sprints: During this stage, you can take what you’ve learned and apply it! This is a four-day exercise where people group up to work on various open-source projects related to Python. If you’ve got the time, going to one or more sprint days is a great way to practice what you’ve learned, become associated with an open-source project, and network with other smart and talented people. If you’re still unconvinced, here’s what to expect at this year’s PyCon US sprints. Learn more about sprints from an earlier year in this blog post.

Since most PyCon attendees go to the conference part, that’ll be the focus of this article. However, don’t let that deter you from attending the tutorials or sprints if you can!

You may learn more technical skills by attending the tutorials rather than listening to the talks. The sprints are great for networking and applying the skills you already have, as well as learning new ones from the people you’ll be working with.

What to Do Before You Go

In general, the more prepared you are for something, the better your experience will be. The same applies to PyCon.

It’s really helpful to plan and prepare ahead of time, which you’re already doing just by reading this article!

Look through the talks schedule and see which talks sound most interesting. This doesn’t mean you need to plan out all of the talks you’ll see in every slot possible. But it helps to get an idea of which topics will be presented so that you can decide what you’re most interested in.

Getting the PyCon US mobile app will help you plan your schedule. This app lets you view the schedule for the talks and add reminders for those you want to attend. If you’re having a hard time picking which talks to attend, you can come prepared with a question or problem you need to solve. Doing this can help you focus on the topics that are important to you.

If you can, come a day early to check in and attend the opening reception. The line to check in on the first day is always long, so you’ll save time if you check in the day before. There’s also an opening reception that evening, where you can meet other attendees and speakers and check out the various sponsors and their booths.

If you’re new to PyCon, the Newcomer Orientation can help you learn about the conference and how you can participate.

Read the full article at https://realpython.com/pycon-guide/ »

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May 14, 2025 at 07:30PM
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