womENcourage™ 2026
Unmute Yourself, Grow Stronger Together. Listen to Your Inner Voice and Walk on Your Own Path for Well-being in Computing
ACM Celebration of Women in Computing
Nice, France, September 30 – October 2, 2026

The ACM Celebration of Women in Computing, womENcourage™ 2026, is coming to Nice, on the French Riviera, France, hosted by Polytech’Nice Sophia, IUT Nice Côte d’Azur and Laboratoire I3S at Université Côte d’Azur.

With the Mediterranean light outside and a vibrant computing community inside, we invite you to join us for an event where well-being is not a side activity but a strategic priority for our field.

 

This year’s theme, “Unmute Yourself, Grow Stronger Together Listen to Your Inner Voice and Walk on Your Own Path for Well-being in Computing”, invites participants to listen to their inner voice and walk on their own path in computing while staying grounded, healthy and connected.

Computing shapes every aspect of society, yet the people who build these systems often work under sustained stress, intense cognitive load and constant change. Research on software engineers shows that wellbeing influences attention, decision making, creativity and the quality of software systems, while supportive cultures and recognition are key factors that sustain people in the profession.

At the same time, studies of simple practices such as structured breathing and other neuroplasticity based interventions with computer workers have demonstrated improvements in calm, resilience and perceived productivity, even under challenging conditions.

Our vision is to connect these insights and position computing as a driver of wellbeing, not just a source of pressure.

What we will explore

Across keynotes, panels, workshops, posters and a hackathon style track, womENcourage 2026 will explore questions such as

  1. How can we design tools, platforms and socio technical systems that actively support mental, emotional and physical wellbeing for their users and their developers
  2. Which individual practices really help computer workers manage stress, maintain focus and stay creative over time, and how can organisations support them at scale
  3. How do inclusive cultures, mentoring structures and leadership behaviours translate into concrete improvements in wellbeing for women and gender diverse people in computing

We will bring together evidence from empirical software engineering, psychology, human computer interaction and sustainability research, alongside lived experience from academia and industry.

A space for connection and support

womENcourage is open to all genders and designed for students, early career researchers, educators, practitioners, managers and leaders who care about both technical excellence and human sustainability. The program will offer

  1. Opportunities for students and early career participants to present posters, gain feedback and build international networks
  2. Sessions that translate research on wellbeing, resilience and inclusion into actionable practices for teams, organisations and communities
  3. Spaces for peer mentoring, informal conversation and reflection, acknowledging that sometimes the most impactful insights start with one honest story

Throughout, we want participants to feel safe to unmute themselves, share challenges, celebrate successes and co design more supportive futures for computing.

Why now

Across the globe, software and data driven systems increasingly influence health, finance, mobility and democracy. We embed our values and attention into the systems we build, which means that the wellbeing of people in computing is not only a personal matter but also a question of societal responsibility.

By centring wellbeing and support for women in computing, womENcourage 2026 aims to

  1. Highlight the structural and cultural changes required for sustainable careers in computing
  2. Amplify research and practice that demonstrate practical ways to care for people without slowing innovation
  3. Inspire the next generation of computing professionals to design technology that supports flourishing lives, not constant overload

Join us on the French Riviera

Set in the unique environment of Nice and the French Riviera, the event offers a rare chance to combine deep professional exchange with a setting that naturally invites reflection, rest and connection. Between sessions, participants can enjoy the Mediterranean sea, local culture and food and a campus that embodies collaboration between academia and industry.

Unmute yourself, grow stronger together with a diverse community, and help shape a future where wellbeing in computing is the default, not the exception.

Previous womENcourage™ conferences: