This is the organizing page for the Fedora Council 2026 Strategy Summit.
At a glance:
- Location: Tirana, Albania
- Time zone: Europe/Tirane (UTC+1)
- Dates: Monday, 2 February 2026 to Friday, 6 February 2026
- Working Days: Tuesday, 3 February to Thursday, 5 February
- Travel itinerary:
- Participants arrive on Monday, 2 February 2026
- Participants depart on Friday, 6 February 2026
Rationale
The annual Fedora Council Strategy Summit (formerly known as Fedora Council Hackfest) provides an essential, high-bandwidth setting for the Council to focus exclusively on the health, vision, and strategic direction of the Fedora Project. Because the Council is a global body with members from diverse parts of the project, it is difficult to achieve this level of focused, collaborative work in virtual meetings, which often stall on complex issues. Holding this dedicated event, separate from the public-facing and organizationally-focused Flock contributor conference, ensures the Council has the focused time needed for these critical governance discussions.
This 2026 summit is particularly critical as it will be the first for our new Fedora Project Leader (FPL), Jef Spaleta, the first FPL in over a decade. This event provides a prime opportunity for the new FPL to set his vision for the future of Fedora, invite collaboration from the Council, and build the trusted relationships necessary to execute that vision. To address past criticisms of unclear value, we are committing to a transparent communication plan following the Council Strategy Summit, which will include a public-facing report summarizing key decisions and action items, a public town hall meeting, and a presentation to FRCL (Fedora/RHEL/CentOS Leadership).
Agenda Topics
This section lists the primary strategic topics for the Council Strategy Summit. The agenda is published publicly for transparency and public engagement.
1. Strategy & Governance
The Council will focus on making the Fedora Strategy 2028 tactical, moving beyond discussion to generate clear outputs and actionable direction. A key objective is to operationalize this strategy, building on the concepts presented in the "Fedora Goals: Where Red Hat Can Help" presentation by Jef Spaleta. Another focus will be strategy toward resolving the fragmentation issues in the community, amid newer community tools like Matrix, Discourse, and Forgejo.
A significant part of the discussion will be dedicated to scoping out a nonprofit entity for sponsoring activities using Fedora trademarks. This includes setting governance requirements for trademark permissions and exploring integration with the Mindshare Committee for travel and event prioritization. Ultimately, the day seeks to establish concrete steps for utilizing an external entity, starting with travel grants for Fedora activities.
2. Initiatives & Engagement Metrics
One half of the day is focused on Community Initiatives. The goal is to strategically review the progress of active Fedora Initiatives. Initiative (Co-)Leads will provide concise 15-minute presentations, followed by 5-minute Q&A, focusing on current status, blockers, and necessary policy or resource changes.
The other half of the day is focused on Contributor Recognition and Engagement Metrics. We will discuss how to build better metrics around Initiative contribution impact to communicate value more effectively. This includes reviewing whether our current experiments are achieving desired results and exploring specific tactics—such as a structured approach to Fedora Badges, swag, and communications—to measure and encourage engagement.
3. Engineering
The Council will focus on key technical projects that will shape Fedora's future, starting with a deep dive into Konflux. The discussion will address the ambiguity between building RPMs versus composing images (e.g., Atomic Desktops, ISOs) and clarify the sustainability angle, noting that Konflux is not supported by Fedora Infrastructure.
Key objectives for the Konflux topic include:
- Support Commitments: Securing and defining support commitments from Red Hat for early adopters (e.g., Atomic Desktops and ELN).
- Contingency Planning: Discussing fallback scenarios if Konflux encounters issues.
- Communication Plan: Drafting a plan to honestly and openly address community fears regarding the future of RPM building versus image composition.
Finally, we will clarify the role of Flathub and Flatpak within the Fedora ecosystem, distinguishing between the oversight of the Council and FESCo.
Participants
| No | Name | FAS | Role | Origin location funded from/to | In-person? | Time Zone Offset from Europe/Tirane |
Day 1 (Tue, 3 Feb) | Day 2 (Wed, 4 Feb) | Day 3 (Thu, 5 Feb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Wheeler | jflory7 | Community Architect | CRL => TIA => HAM |  |
+0 | |
|
|
| 2 | Jef Spaleta | jspaleta | Fedora Project Leader | BRU => TIA => GVA | |
+0 | |
|
|
| 3 | Jona Azizaj | jonatoni | DEI Advisor | CRL => TIA | |
+0 | |
|
|
| 4 | Aleksandra Fedorova | bookwar | Elected Representative | TBD | |
+0 | |
|
|
| 5 | Miro Hrončok | churchyard | Elected Representative | -- |  |
+0 |  |
|
|
| 6 | Dave Cantrell | dcantrell | Engineering Representative | -- | |
-6 | |
|
|
| 7 | Akashdeep Dhar | t0xic0der | Mindshare Representative | -- | |
+4.5 | mornings only |
mornings only |
mornings only
|
| 8 | Ryan Lerch | ryanlerch | Git Forge Initiative Lead | -- | |
+9 | |
|
|
| 9 | Peter Boy | pboy | Fedora Docs Initiative Co-Lead | CRL => TIA => HAM | |
+0 | |
|
|
| 10 | Petr Bokoč | pbokoc | Fedora Docs Initiative Co-Lead | CRL => TIA => PRG | |
+0 | |
|
|
| 11 | Laura Santamaria | nimbinatus | Fedora Image Mode/bootc 2026 Initiative Lead | -- | |
-7 | |
afternoons only |
afternoons only
|
| 12 | Tomáš Hrčka | humaton | Red Hat Community Linux Engineering Team Product Owner | TBD | |
+0 | |
|
|
: yes
: no
: undecided/unsure
Schedule
All times in local time (Europe/Tirane / UTC+1).
Day 0: Arrival
Travel and arrival day.
Due to early-morning and late-night arrivals, no official plans. Rest up and get ready for the week!
Day 1: Strategy & Governance
Evolving the Fedora Strategy; Scoping the External Nonprofit Entity.
| Time | Session | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Welcome, Introductions, Summit Goals. | Justin Wheeler |
| 10:15 - 10:45 | Presentation: State of the Strategy. 15m presentation, 15m Q&A. | Jef Spaleta |
| 10:45 - 12:30 | Interactive: Brainstorming and Scoping the MVP External Nonprofit Entity. What are we comfortable experimenting with? What does an external entity need to have and need to do for us to be okay with attempting this? | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
| 12:30 - 14:00 | Offsite: Lunch | Jona Azizaj |
| 14:00 - 17:30 | Interactive: Cataloguing Fedora Contributions. A workshop to identify what it means to contribute to Fedora, what measures as a contribution, and how someone earns the title of a Fedora contributor. We are going to do a collective brainstorming activity on a Miro board to evaluate the actions that define Fedora contributions. | Allison King |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Day 1 Wrap-up & Action Items. | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
Day 2: Initiatives & Engagement Metrics
Git Forge 2025, Fedora Docs 2025, Fedora Image Mode/bootc 2026, Fedora Mindshare Committee update, Engagement Metrics.
Each Initiative presentation has 15 minutes to present on the state of their Initiative/Mindshare Committee, any perceived blockers to their progress, and requests for support on Fedora policy and resources. Each presentation is followed by 15 minutes of discussion time.
| Time | Session | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Day 2 Kick-off | Justin Wheeler |
| 09:15 - 09:45 | Presentation: Git Forge 2025. | Ryan Lerch |
| 09:45 - 10:15 | Presentation: Fedora Mindshare Committee update. | Akashdeep Dhar |
| 10:15 - 10:45 | Presentation: Fedora Docs 2025. | Peter Boy, Petr Bokoč |
| 10:45 - 12:30 | Interactive: Contributor Recognition & Engagement Metrics.
|
Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
| 12:30 - 14:00 | Offsite: Lunch | Jona Azizaj |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | Interactive: Contributor Recognition & Engagement Metrics, continued. Initiative Strategy. | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Presentation: Fedora Image Mode/bootc 2026. | Laura Santamaria |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Day 2 Wrap-up & Action Items. | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
Day 3: Engineering
Konflux, Flatpak/Flathub.
| Time | Session | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Day 3 Kick-off. | Justin Wheeler |
| 09:15 - 09:45 | Day 2 summary review and approval. | All Council members |
| 09:45 - 11:00 | Flatpak/Flathub. | Jef Spaleta |
| 11:00 - 12:00 | Follow-up on the "3 Walls" activity on Miro. | Allison King, Justin Wheeler |
| 12:00 - 13:30 | Offsite: Lunch | Jona Azizaj |
| 13:30 - 14:30 | Following up the Strategy Summit, Retrospective, 2027 Summit Planning. | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
| 14:30 - 16:30 | Format TBD: Konflux Negotiation Strategy.
|
Jef Spaleta, Aleksandra Fedorova |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Day 3 Wrap-up & Action Items. | Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler |
| 17:00 - 18:30 | Break! Take some well-earned rest. Or go exploring! | -- |
| 18:30 - 20:30 | Council Dinner & Cultural Experience | Jona Azizaj, Justin Wheeler |
Day 4: Departure
Travel and departure day.
Safe travels!
Logistics
- Local liaison: Jona Azizaj
- Co-working location: One Connect Hub
Where are we staying?
- Address: Sheshi Italia 1, Tirana, 1000 (Located within the Air Albania Stadium complex)
- Phone: +355 44 500 500
How to get there?
The best way to reach Tirana is via Tirana International Airport (TIA), the country’s only airport. From there, you can take a taxi or a local bus to reach the venue.
By taxi
Taxis are the fastest way to reach the city center (approx. 20-25 minutes, depending on traffic).
- Official Airport Taxis: These yellow taxis are parked directly in front of the Arrivals terminal. They operate 24/7 and typically charge a standard fare of roughly 2,200–2,500 ALL (~23–26 EUR) to the city center.
- Note: It is recommended to use non-official airport taxis. The fixed price for the airport route is 1500 ALL. Below are some recommended options. You can also share your flight details with Jona, and she can help book a taxi for you.
Trusted Taxi Companies & Apps:
Using a taxi app is highly recommended for non-Albanian speakers, as it allows you to set your destination on a map and see the price upfront. Blue Taxi and Black Taxi have fixed prices, and you can book your trip in advance (contact Jona if you need help).
- Patoko: A popular Uber-like app that lets you book rides and pay via cash or card. Download App
- Blue Taxi: Contact via WhatsApp at +355 69 444 4445 (cash only).
- Black Taxi: Contact via WhatsApp at +355 68 785 00 (card or cash)
Practical Tips for Taxis:
- Cash is King: While some companies accept cards, many drivers prefer cash. It is helpful to carry Albanian Lek (ALL), though Euros are widely accepted (usually at a 1 EUR = 96.55 ALL exchange rate).
- Avoid Touts: Ignore unlicensed drivers who may approach you inside the airport terminal offering rides; only use the official taxi stand outside or a pre-booked service.
- Money Exchange: Avoid exchanging money at the airport. If you really need to, the Iliria'98 exchange office offers reliable rates.
By bus
For an adventurous, budget-friendly option, the Luna Travel / Rinas Express shuttle bus runs 24/7, departing every hour on the hour from the airport to the city center (behind the Opera Palace at Skanderbeg Square).
- Cost: 400 ALL (~4.15 EUR)
- Payment: Cash only (paid to the driver).
- Duration: 30–40 minutes.
Note
- Cash is the most commonly used form of payment in Albania, so it’s recommended to always carry some with you, although many restaurants, cafes, and shops accept debit or credit cards. If you need to exchange money, use Iliria'98, which has multiple offices around the city and offers good rates. Avoid exchanging money at the airport if possible, as rates are usually lower.
- Public transport is affordable but can be a bit tricky to navigate. 😄 You can use Google Maps to check bus schedules, routes, and stops. Tickets are purchased in cash directly from the bus conductor, so keep small bills and coins handy.
- Language: Albanian (shqip) is the official language. Many people in Tirana speak English, especially in hotels, restaurants, and tourist areas. Some useful phrases include: Faleminderit (Thank you), Përshëndetje (Hello), and Mirupafshim (Goodbye).
Event Budget
This section contains the official Fedora Council budget proposal for the 2026 Strategy Summit. It is used for the administrative planning and tracking of our overall spend, including the budget forecast, actual spend, and event reports.
Forecast
The table below represents the forecasted budget for the Fedora Council Strategy Summit.
The Fedora Community Architect is responsible for maintaining accurate totals in the tables below, but anyone who modifies this table can help the Fedora Community Architect by double-checking the totals column adds correctly after entering in new data.
Please estimate all prices in USD. Use latest market rates for approximate conversions from EUR to USD or ALL to USD.
| Name | FAS | Airfare ($USD) | Hotel ($USD) | Total ($USD) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Wheeler | jflory7 | $0 | $1050 | $1050 | Airfare covered from separate budget |
| Jef Spaleta | jspaleta | $0 | $700 | $700 | Airfare covered from separate budget |
| Jona Azizaj | jonatoni | $0 | $525 | $525 | Airfare covered from FOSDEM 2026 travel budget |
| Aleksandra Fedorova | bookwar | $700 | $700 | $1400 | |
| Dave Cantrell | dcantrell | $500 | $0 | $500 | Last-minute cancellation |
| Peter Boy | pboy | $300 | $700 | $1000 | |
| Petr Bokoc | pbokoc | $110 | $700 | $810 | |
| Tomáš Hrčka | humaton | $0 | $700 | $700 | Airfare covered from separate budget |
| Totals | -- | $1610 | $5075 | $6685 | -- |
Actuals
This table compares the proposed budget spend with the actual budget spend for post-event accounting.
Write all prices in USD. Use latest market rates for approximate conversions from EUR to USD or from ALL to USD.
| Name | Budgeted Air/Rail/Bus ($USD) | Actual Air/Rail/Bus ($USD) | Budgeted Hotel ($USD) | Actual Hotel ($USD) | Budgeted Total ($USD) | Actual Total ($USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Wheeler | $0 | $0 | $1050 | $TBD | $1050 | $TBD |
| Jef Spaleta | $0 | $0 | $700 | $TBD | $700 | $TBD |
| Jona Azizaj | $0 | $0 | $525 | $TBD | $525 | $TBD |
| Aleksandra Fedorova | $700 | $TBD | $700 | $TBD | $1400 | $TBD |
| Dave Cantrell | $500 | $TBD | $0 | $0 | $500 | $TBD |
| Peter Boy | $300 | $TBD | $700 | $TBD | $1000 | $TBD |
| Petr Bokoc | $110 | $TBD | $700 | $TBD | $810 | $TBD |
| Tomáš Hrčka | $0 | $0 | $700 | $TBD | $700 | $TBD |
| Total | $1610 | $TBD | $5075 | $TBD | $6685 | $TBD |
Actual Budget Utilization: ~TBD% ($TBD spent of $TBD budgeted)
Places in Tirana
Looking for things to try or places to see during your trip to Tirana? Here are some options for things to do our off-days from the Strategy Summit, or to enjoy in the evening times when we are finished with the daily agenda.
To eat
Several of these options are near the coworking venue for Strategy Summit and/or the hotel.
- Artigiano Villa: A popular mid-to-high range Italian restaurant located in a renovated villa, known for its fresh pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and extensive wine list.
- Aty te Piramida: Located near the Pyramid of Tirana, this mid-range lounge and restaurant offers a modern Mediterranean menu featuring brunch staples, fresh salads, and creative cocktails in an artistic setting.
- Era Restaurant: A long-standing favorite among locals and visitors alike, offering traditional Albanian dishes and international favorites at very affordable prices.
- Mugo Tirana: A stylish mid-to-high range dining spot specializing in Asian fusion cuisine, including sushi rolls, tempura, and poke bowls.
- Salt Tirana: An upscale restaurant and lounge in the Blloku district, famous for its high-end seafood, sushi, and vibrant nightlife atmosphere.
- N'Mes: A charming and affordable traditional restaurant serving generous portions of classic Albanian home-style cooking in a cozy, rustic setting.
- Mullixhiu: Traditional Albanian restaurant with a modern twist offering local dishes.
To drink
Tirana has a vibrant café culture, perfect for coffee breaks, brunch, or evening drinks. Some popular spots include:
- Mulliri: A cozy café known for quality coffee and a relaxed atmosphere. They have several locations around the city, with the closest one near the Pyramid.
- Komiteti: A historic café with vintage décor, serving coffee, food, and cocktails.
- Radio Bar: Bar offering creative cocktails in the Blloku district.
- Hana Corner: Great for coffee, brunch, or cakes in a casual setting.
- Mimoza: Popular spot for coffee, brunch, and cocktails.
- NÖJE: Café with Nordic vibes, serving coffee, and baked goods.
- Dv8 to Art: Bar close to the venue, offering coffee, finger food and drinks.
- Nouvelle: Recognized as one of the 50 best bars in the world, offering a unique drinking experience.
- Vesper Bar: Great spot for cocktails, coffee, and food.
- Kino: Casual bar with a nice outdoor space, perfect for relaxing in the evenings.
To visit
National History Museum (Muzeu Historik Kombëtar)
This is Albania’s largest and most recognizable museum, distinguished by the massive "The Albanians" mosaic on its façade that dominates Skanderbeg Square. The extensive exhibits cover the region's history from ancient Illyrian times through the Ottoman era and into the 20th century. For guests staying at the Tirana Marriott, it is a straightforward 20-minute walk north along the main boulevard (Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit), passing the Prime Minister's office and the Pyramid (AKA, our Strategy Summit venue) along the way.
Bunk'Art 1 & Bunk'Art 2
These massive former Cold War bunkers have been transformed into fascinating museums that combine art with the history of the communist regime.
- Bunk'Art 1: Located on the outskirts of Tirana near the Dajti Ekspres, this massive 5-story anti-nuclear bunker was built for Enver Hoxha and the top government officials. It requires a 15-20 minute taxi ride from the Tirana Marriott but offers the most immersive experience of the regime's paranoia.
- Bunk'Art 2: Situated in the city center near the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this bunker focuses specifically on the history of the police and political persecution. It is easily accessible from the hotel via a 15-minute walk up the main boulevard toward Skanderbeg Square.
Dajti Mountain & Dajti Ekspres
Escape the city bustle by taking the "Dajti Ekspres," the longest cable car ride in the Balkans, which whisks you up to the mountain's "Balcony of Tirana" in about 15 minutes. The top offers panoramic views of the city, hiking trails, mini-golf, and a rotating restaurant perfect for a scenic lunch or dinner. You will need to take a taxi from the Tirana Marriott to the lower cable car station, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.
Grand Park & Artificial Lake (Parku i Madh / Liqeni Artificial)
This sprawling green oasis is the most popular recreational spot in Tirana, featuring a massive artificial lake, shaded walking paths, and numerous coffee kiosks. It provides a perfect atmosphere for a morning run or a relaxing sunset walk to unwind after Strategy Summit sessions. It is the most convenient location for guests, as the Tirana Marriott (located at Air Albania Stadium) sits immediately adjacent to the park's main entrance.
Tirana Castle (Kalaja e Tiranës)
Unlike a traditional defensive fortress, the historic Tirana Castle has been reimagined as a chic, open-air pedestrian zone lined with artisanal souvenir shops and modern restaurants. It preserves the ancient Byzantine walls while offering a vibrant, contemporary atmosphere for dining and drinks. It is located just off the main boulevard near the Toptani Shopping Center, a short 10-15 minute walk north from the hotel.
House of Leaves (Shtëpia e Gjetheve)
Once the headquarters for the Sigurimi (secret police), this museum of secret surveillance offers an eerie and deeply informative look at spycraft during the dictatorship. The exhibits include original bugging devices, cameras, and interrogation records used to control the population. Located opposite the Orthodox Cathedral, it is roughly a 15-minute walk from the Tirana Marriott.
New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri)
This revitalized market district is the culinary and cultural heart of the city, bustling with vendors selling fresh fruit, tobacco, and antiques during the day. By night, the surrounding plaza lights up with lively seafood restaurants and grill houses, making it a great spot to try traditional Albanian food like fërgesë. It is a bit further than the other sites; allow for a 25-minute walk from the hotel or take a quick 5-10 minute taxi ride.
