• 7 min read
• Events, SmashingConf

We’ve been passionate about design & UX for years. We’ve published articles on design systems and usability, inclusive design and product design, UX research and enterprise UX. Now it’s time to bring it all together: In-person. In a new location. With a new spirit of curiosity and community. And it’s happening this April!

Meet the first SmashingConf Amsterdam 🇳🇱 taking place on April 13–16, 2026! A conference for designers and UI engineers all around UX and front-end: design systems, accessibility, Figma, UX writing, modern CSS and AI.. all while enjoying the best views, fun and gezelligheid that Amsterdam has to offer!

“Gezelligheid” Meets Modern Tech

Perhaps one of the most difficult Dutch words to translate directly into English is the Dutch word Gezelligheid (pronounced guh-ZELL-uhk-hyde). It’s a foundational concept in Dutch culture that translates loosely to coziness, conviviality, and a warm, social, or inviting atmosphere — and that’s exactly what SmashingConf Amsterdam has to offer! 🙌

What Should You Expect?

Ever since launching our first-ever SmashingConf back in 2012, each one has always focused on how folks in the industry work, how they fail and how they succeed. We kindly encourage our speakers to share lessons learned and show how they work. Don’t be surprised by speakers sitting down and showing their design process, or setting up a Figma board and designing live with the audience!

SmashingConf Amsterdam is a premier, single-track conference curated for front-end developers, UI engineers, and UX designers. Unlike traditional conferences that rely on polished slide decks, SmashingConf is distinguished by its “live-work” philosophy. Speakers are encouraged to show their actual workflows—coding live, designing in Figma, and troubleshooting in real-time—to provide actionable insights rather than high-level theory.

All of our Smashing conferences are friendly and inclusive. In fact, we know many attendees by names, and we love friendships emerging as people get together and learn together, during the talks as well as in the workshops. Plus, we design our side events to help everyone take part in meaningful, respectful conversations.

Already convinced, but need to convince your manager? We’ve got your back! Download the Convince Your Boss PDF to tip the scales in your favor. We’ve prepared a “letter to the boss” template for you as well. Good luck!

Meet the Speakers

Expect 10 practical talks from friendly, knowledgeable and approachable speakers who are bound to inspire you. See schedule →

Meet Kevin Powell, Nick DiLallo, Sara Soueidan, TJ Pitre, Calvin Robertson, Christine Vallaure, Nathan Curtis, Nadieh Bremer, Chris Kolb, and of course the Mystery Speaker.

Our speakers are very approachable and there is enough time for you to ask all your questions and get all the answers, in 1:1-conversations or in round tables.

Full-Day Workshops: Immersive, Hands-On Learning

If you attend a conference, why not join a practical workshop as well? Beyond the main stage sessions, the event offers a curated selection of seven full-day workshops. These are designed for deep-dive practical learning, allowing you to spend an entire day mastering a specific topic of your choice under the guidance of a world-class expert.

On April 13 and April 16, we run two full-days of training focusing around tangible, applicable insights that you can use right after the workshop. That way, you can dive even more into design systems, accessibility testing or complex interface design patterns. Plenty of topics to choose from, and bundle discounts are available, too: You can save €100 when signing up for the conference and a workshop →

Smashing In-Person Workshops

• Figma Deep Dive with Christine Vallaure.
• Building Context-Based Design Systems for AI-Driven Product Teams with TJ Pitre
• Front-End Accessibility Workshop with Sara Soueidan.
• Designing For Complex UIs, 2026 Edition with Vitaly Friedman
• The New CSS Toolkit with Kevin Powell.
• Architecting Component Anatomy, Props and Slots with Nathan Curtis.
• How To Measure UX and Design Impact with Vitaly Friedman.

The Venue: Pathé Tuschinski

We definitely don’t choose venues randomly. We love the contrast of beautiful historical venues and digital craftsmanship, so for Amsterdam, we’ve chosen the magnificent Pathé Tuschinski — an unforgettable venue that will make quite an impression on you! (Pathé Tuschinski will be our home for both conference days.)

Walking into Pathé Tuschinski feels like stepping into a living masterpiece. Opened in 1921, the legendary cinema contains so much detail — from the ornate ceilings to the glowing wall sconces.

The main auditorium is designed with comfort in mind. Plush, spacious seats ensure that you’ll be able to enjoy a perfectly unobstructed view of the stage or screen — no craning your neck, no dodging tall heads!

Side Events Before, During and After

While in Amsterdam, Why not explore the neighborhood and the city itself? At the end of the day, it’s about the fringe experiences that transform into something unforgettable!

• Friedman’s Fabulous Fries Feestje 🍟
  Join the one-and-only Vitaly for a little feestje (that’s Dutch for “small party”) through a few cool neighborhoods of the city, sharing his best tips on bitterballen, fries, ice cream, and more. It’s a great way to connect with fellow attendees before the main event even begins, and bond over cones of perfectly crispy Dutch fries!
• Smashing Sloep (Canal Tour) 🚤
  Enjoy a chill, 2-hour cruise through the Amsterdam iconic canals, navigating past historic canal houses and under low stone bridges. You’ll share a sloepje with 6–7 fellow attendees, and choose your own route. The fee of €30,– is not included in your conference ticket, so make sure you register separately (friends and family are welcome to join in, too!).
• Jam Session 🎤
  Lightning talks, drinks and snacks: it’s the perfect setting to meet fellow attendees and “geek out” the night before the conference. This event is for attendees only, and you can pick up your badge early and skip the registration lines on Tuesday morning. The atmosphere is open, friendly and energizing, so make sure to join in!
• Sports & Morning Rituals 🧘
  It’s all about keeping the energy high and clearing your head. Whether you’re a runner or more of a yoga cat, we’ve got just what you need. You can join speakers and attendees for a 5k run, and then if you like, join a mindfulness session with a few minutes of functional stretches followed by guided meditation and stillness. You do you!
• Bitterballen & Beer 🍺
  You can’t be in the Netherlands without embracing local flavor. Breaks come with bitterballen — the iconic Dutch crispy meat snacks — paired with cold beer. It’s not just catering; it’s culture.

Together, these side events turn a conference ticket into a full experience — part learning, part adventure, part community. Inside Pathé Tuschinski, you get the “back to the future” inspiration. Outside, you get the human connections that make it all more meaningful!

Team Tickets? 👫👭

Bring the entire team to SmashingConf, and save some of your training budget along the way as well. With our friendly bundle tickets and team discounts, we’ve got your back! If you want to come with a large team, or are interested in something special, please send us a short email and we’ll get back to you right away!

We Can’t Wait To See You!

As we are getting ready for the event, we couldn’t be more excited to meet you in Amsterdam. Let’s boost our design and UX skills, together, and create memorable experiences that will last for a while. 🧡

Ah, perhaps your manager needs a little bit convincing? We’ve got your back! Download the Convince Your Boss PDF to tip the scales in your favor. And we’ve prepared a “letter to the boss” template for you as well. Good luck! 🤞🤞🏼🤞🏾

(il)