Registration open | Popular CodeStock conference returns to Knoxville after brief hiatus
The annual convention paused after 2022 and will resume this spring with more than on hundred speakers set to take the stage.
Whether you’re a first-time vibe-coder or seasoned corporate developer, the return of CodeStock to Knoxville is an event you’re going to want to pay attention to. It is Tennessee’s largest conference for regional developers, IT professionals, innovators, and technicians.
After a hiatus that began in 2022, CodeStock 2026 will take place on April 9 and 10 at the Knoxville Convention Center, and tickets are on sale now.
For years, the event attracted 500+ registrants, more than half of whom traveled to the Scruffy City from out of state. Michael Neel originally founded the conference, with the organization in recent years attributed to a board of volunteers, including Don “Denny” Uyl. They first toyed around with the idea in 2007, before really bringing it to life in 2008. For 15 years now, CodeStock has connected working professionals, emerging developers, and industry veterans in a spirit of genuine knowledge-sharing.
For its first year back, post-hiatus, CodeStock organizers are aiming for 400 attendees. They also have a robust lineup of more than 100 speakers for dozens of sessions throughout the two-day conference.
Why is CodeStock important to the Knoxville community?
The Knoxville Chamber is also taking an active role in the conference’s planning and marketing strategy for 2026. Amanda O’Dell, who is the Chamber’s Vice President of Investor Development and Experience, is also serving as CodeStock’s Marketing and Community Outreach Director. She said the conference is in direct alignment with the Chamber’s 2030 Protocol, which focuses on creating a computing-focused economic environment that positions the Knoxville area for the impending industrial revolution.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. About 377,500 openings are projected each year.
Notably, the median annual wage for this group was $100,530 in May 2022, which was higher than Knox County’s current median annual wage for all occupations of $47,900.
Registration for CodeStock 2026 is now open.
Tickets are available at codestock.org.
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