The flagship global event for open source geospatial software, FOSS4G, will be held in Bristol from 23 August to 29 August 2027.
A long-awaited return
This will be the first time the global FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial) event has been held in the UK since the Nottingham conference in 2013. As you can tell, we’re rather excited about the news, especially as its Bristol location makes it easily accessible for many of our customers.
Why Bristol?
Bristol is a fitting choice for a global mapping event, as the city possesses a distinguished cartographic heritage. It is home to the oldest surviving city map in the United Kingdom, created by Robert Ricart in 1480. It’s also been the venue for several well-attended FOSS4G:UK events in recent years.
By hosting FOSS4G 2027, Bristol will bridge the gap between its historical roots in map-making and the cutting edge of modern, open-source geospatial technology. It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate how far the sector has come while looking toward the future of open data and software, not to mention a great chance for lots of us to talk shop over geobeers.
The event will mainly be held at the University of Bristol and accommodation will be available via the University.
What to expect from FOSS4G 2027
FOSS4G is the world’s largest gathering of geospatial software developers, GIS practitioners, and researchers. The event is known for its open-minded collaborative spirit, as geospatial breakthroughs are freely shared among developers, users, and organisations.
Attendees can expect a comprehensive programme, typically including:
- Deep-dive technical workshops
- Presentations from a multitude of sectors
- Collaborative code sprints and other community days
- Opportunities for networking, connecting and having fun
Whether you are a developer or a user, the sessions are designed to provide practical insights that can be applied directly to your work.
Astun’s involvement
We’ve always been advocates for open source geospatial solutions, such as our iShare in the Cloud (iSiC) and Managed Integration Service which are built on open source components. While our specific plans for 2027 are still being finalised, members of our team will certainly be attending to support the community and stay at the forefront of industry developments.
We look forward to seeing many of our colleagues, partners, and customers in Bristol for what promises to be a landmark event for the UK geospatial sector.
Stay updated
As this is an early announcement, more details regarding the agenda and registration will be released by OSGeo in the coming months. We recommend keeping an eye on the official OSGeo website for the latest updates. In the meantime, you can read our previous blog posts to see how we’ve supported FOSS4G events in the past.