Meet Our Keynote Speakers : PyCon JP 2026

Hello, this is Ben Allen from the PyCon JP 2026 Program Team.

We are thrilled to announce that Carol Willing and Takashi Kitao will join us as keynote speakers at PyCon JP 2026!

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Introducing Carol Willing, PyCon JP 2026 Keynote Speaker

Carol Willing

Carol Willing is a three-time Python Steering Council member, a Python Core Developer, a PSF Fellow, and a Project Jupyter core contributor. For over twenty years, she has enjoyed developing software and electronics while inspiring others to blend technology with their unique interests. Her exceptional work has been recognized with the Python Community Service Award, the Frank Willison Award, and as a member of the Jupyter core team, the prestigious ACM Software System Award for Project Jupyter’s lasting influence.

Carol is a deeply dedicated leader in open-source governance and open science, serving on both the Quansight Labs Advisory Board and the pyOpenSci Advisory Board. She is driven to make open science accessible through open tools and learning materials, and actively supports Python communities, including as co-organizer for PyLadies San Diego and the San Diego Python User Group.

We look forward to welcoming Carol to Hiroshima as a PyCon JP keynote speaker. As a true pioneer in the Python and open science communities, hers is a keynote session you do not want to miss.

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Introducing Takashi Kitao, PyCon JP 2026 Keynote Speaker

Takashi Kitao

We are delighted to welcome Takashi Kitao as a keynote speaker for PyCon JP 2026 in Hiroshima!

Takashi is the creator of the open-source game engine “Pyxel,” which was built to make programming easy and fun. Today, it is loved worldwide and serves as the official tool for “Nuit du Code”—an international programming event spanning 49 countries with over 10,000 participants. It is also used widely for indie games released on Steam, making a massive impact on both education and game development.

He is also a veteran game developer who previously worked at Konami, where he served as the main programmer and game designer for the ZONE OF THE ENDERS series. Today, he focuses on cutting-edge research and development in XR and AI at Sony. He is also the author of a popular book on learning Python through retro game programming.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from his unique journey spanning professional game development, advanced tech research, and global open-source software!

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Join us at PyCon JP 2026 in Hiroshima!

PyCon JP 2026 will be held on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the International Conference Center Hiroshima. The conference will feature keynote sessions, talks, and opportunities to connect with the Python community.

Conference: Friday, August 21 – Saturday, August 22, 2026
Venue: International Conference Center Hiroshima
Address: 1-5 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access: About a 10-minute walk from Chuden-mae, Genbaku Dome-mae, or Fukuro-machi tram stop on the Hiroshima Electric Railway
Official Party: Planned during the conference period. Details will be announced later.
Sprint: Sunday, August 23, 2026

Early Bird tickets are available until Sunday, June 14, 2026.

View the PyCon JP 2026 ticket page

Please check the connpass page for ticket details and the latest updates.