The Free Software Foundation he said this week that “his global call for free software advocates to organize LibreLocals this May has resulted in forty-six LibreLocal events being organized by free software advocates on six continents so far.” 
The Free Software Foundation has invited free software advocates to organize in-person community meetings in their area during May 2026, or LibreLocal Month, to come together to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and celebrate free software.
Many were encouraged to organize freedom-based events to help spread the philosophy of free software.
“The success of these LibreLocals shows us how many people worldwide are interested in free software and are ready to build a community, and demonstrates the strength of our movement,” said FSF Executive Director Zoë Kooyman.
“People coming together like this also demonstrate how important people’s interest in computer freedom and digital rights is. When we reject software that restricts freedom and promote software that respects users’ rights, it helps advance many of our other fundamental rights…”
The FSF has financially supported some of the events, but notes that the organizers are doing everything they can to create remarkable events in every way and is impressed by the global network that is being formed.
“The energy we feel from all the organizers is extremely encouraging and we look forward to seeing LibreLocal events spread even further in the coming years! We want to support these initiatives even more, so we will be looking to build a network of sponsors for future events as we work towards May 2027,” says Heshan de Silva-Weeramuni, FSF Program Manager…
William Goodspeed, the organizer behind Beijing LibreLocal, said that their meeting was twice as large as last year's and many very rich collaborative projects have emerged from the participants.
Discussing the value of connecting people, de Silva-Weeramuni states:
“Free software advocates know that connecting with each other leads them to learn, experiment, and create great things that protect our individual and collective rights. The extraordinary contributions free software has made to the world were born from such collaborations between like-minded people towards a freer society. This same global spirit of collectively building a better future is one of the most inspiring things we saw unfold once again through this year’s many LibreLocals.”
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
