You Need to Be at Common Europe Congress 2026 in Lyon!

The IBM i and Power Systems community is gearing up for one of the most exciting events in years: Common Europe Congress 2026, taking place in Lyon, France, from 15–18 June 2026. If you work with IBM i, AIX, Linux on Power, AI on Power, or the rapidly expanding world of IBM Storage, this is the event you simply cannot miss.

CEC has always been the beating heart of the European IBM Power community, but 2026 feels like a turning point. With Power11 on the horizon, AI workloads exploding across the enterprise, and a brand‑new IBM Storage track joining the programme, this year’s Congress promises to be one of the most forward‑looking gatherings the platform has ever seen.

Lyon: A City That Matches the Energy of the Platform

Lyon is the perfect host city for a conference focused on innovation. It’s a place where history and modernity blend effortlessly, Roman amphitheatres, Renaissance streets and cutting‑edge tech districts all within walking distance and yes, the food is every bit as good as people say. You’ll find yourself discussing RPG modernisation over a bouchon lunch or debating AI inference performance while sipping a glass of local Beaujolais.

CEC has always been about more than sessions. It’s about the experience. And Lyon delivers an experience worth travelling for.

Power11: The Future Is Coming Fast

While Power10 continues to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and security, the community’s eyes are firmly fixed on Power11 and CEC 2026 is where the conversations get real.

Expect deep dives into:

• What Power11 means for enterprise workloads
• How the architecture is evolving to support next‑generation AI
• Performance and energy‑efficiency improvements
• Roadmap insights directly from IBM engineers

CEC is one of the few places where you can ask the people who build the platform the questions you really want answered.

AI on Power: The Hottest Topic of the Year

If there’s one theme dominating the agenda this year, it’s AI on IBM Power.

With enterprises racing to operationalise AI, the Power platform has emerged as a serious contender for running AI workloads securely, efficiently, and at scale. Expect sessions covering:

• AI inference on Power and why it’s becoming a game‑changer
• Running LLMs and agentic workloads on‑prem with Power
• Integrating AI into IBM i and AIX applications
• Real‑world customer stories showing AI on Power in production
• How Power11 will accelerate AI even further

AI is no longer a side topic. It’s front and centre and CEC 2026 is where the community will explore what’s possible.

Introducing the New IBM Storage Track

For the first time, CEC includes a dedicated IBM Storage track, reflecting the growing importance of data resilience, performance, and hybrid cloud integration.

Expect content on:

• IBM FlashSystem and Power integration
• Cyber‑resiliency strategies for IBM i and AIX
• Storage modernisation for Power workloads
• Backup, recovery and ransomware protection
• High‑performance storage for AI and analytics

This new track is a major addition and will be invaluable for architects, administrators and anyone responsible for keeping mission‑critical workloads running smoothly.

Technical Content That Delivers Real Value

CEC is known for its practical, hands‑on, no‑nonsense technical content and 2026 continues that tradition.

You’ll find:

• RPG and ILE deep dives for modernising legacy code
• Db2 for i performance tuning and SQL optimisation
• Open‑source on IBM i sessions covering Python, Node.js, PHP, and more
• DevOps and CI/CD pipelines built for Power environments
• API, integration, and automation workshops
• AIX and Linux on Power sessions for mixed‑OS shops
• AI and hybrid cloud tracks that reflect where the industry is heading

And of course, the legendary Ask the Experts sessions return — your chance to get unfiltered answers from IBM’s finest.

A Community That Makes You Want to Come Back

CEC isn’t just a conference. It’s a reunion of one of the most passionate, collaborative and welcoming tech communities anywhere.

You’ll meet:

• IBM Champions
• Power Systems architects
• Developers and administrators
• CIOs and IT leaders
• Business partners and ISVs
• Long‑time platform veterans
• Newcomers discovering the platform’s depth

Conversations start easily, continue naturally, and often turn into long‑term collaborations. It’s networking that actually feels human.

The Exhibition Hall: Innovation You Can Touch

The expo floor is always a highlight, and 2026 promises to be exceptional. Expect:

• The latest IBM Power hardware
• IBM Storage solutions
• Modernisation and automation tools
• Cloud and hybrid integration technologies
• Security and monitoring platforms
• Open‑source tooling for IBM i
• Vendors who genuinely understand the platform

If you like seeing what’s possible — or what’s coming next — this is where you’ll spend a lot of time.

Why You Need to Be in Lyon

CEC 2026 is more than an event. It’s a chance to reset, recharge, and re‑imagine what’s possible with IBM Power, IBM i, and AI.

You’ll learn. You’ll connect. You’ll be inspired, and you’ll return home with ideas you can implement immediately.

If you care about the future of the platform, Lyon is the place to be!

See You in Lyon

Bring your curiosity. Bring your appetite. Bring your passion for IBM Power. Common Europe Congress 2026 is waiting, and it’s going to be unforgettable.