EuroClojure 2027

Dear Clojurists,

Since the last newsletter about two months ago, we have had many inspiring conversations, but have also encountered exhaustion, doubt, and a creeping question.

Is the Clojure ecosystem still a top choice?

Would you start writing a new application in Clojure?

Programming language ecosystems are vehicles for people to achieve their goals. Whether you just have fun writing Clojure or it supports your livelihood, it needs to be practical. It used to be that this practicality resulted from people living in the ecosystem, using the tools and libraries, teaching others, and creating opportunities. This may be changing with “dark code” that no human has seen. The old concerns about a niche language are open questions again.

If we want to effectively address these challenges, we need to understand them and accept that they exist in the first place.

Building a thoughtful program

One of our goals for EuroClojure 2027 is to offer greater clarity on where Clojure and its ecosystem stand within the broader technology industry.

We hope to explore questions such as how we can build and operate reliable, secure systems in the age of AI; what we can learn from Clojure dialects and the platforms and ecosystems around them; what recent developments in databases mean for Clojure users; what tooling to adopt; and what inspiration we might draw from other technical communities.

The program will combine talks selected through the Call for Papers with a number of invited talks from speakers whose perspectives we believe will bring additional depth and insight to the conference. Our aim is to look beyond familiar assumptions and avoid becoming an echo chamber. We want to make room for difficult questions and differing, perhaps even opposing, viewpoints while keeping the conversation safe, constructive, and friendly.

Some worthwhile conversations will naturally continue in the hallway, over shared meals, and during the gatherings around the conference. Delicious catering, including lunch at the venue, and good coffee throughout the day will ensure a steady supply of energy and enough opportunities to chat.

Here are some of the questions we have heard so far.

These are not intended as rhetorical questions, nor do we expect simple answers. If they prompt a reaction, or if there are other questions you think EuroClojure should address, we would genuinely like to hear from you.

We are also pleased that EuroClojure 2027 will be held under the auspices of Karel Havlíček, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Zdeněk Zajíček, President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

We greatly appreciate this recognition of the conference and of the international technology community coming together in Prague.

The standard and business conference packages

We will offer two tiers of conference options, standard and business.

Both provide full access to the two conference days, including talks, a catered lunch on both days, other refreshments during the day, standard beverages, and a public transit ticket valid for the duration of the conference, including the day before and the day after.

The business ticket adds access to the Thursday evening business gathering at Červený Jelen, where the ticket holder may bring one companion. We also hope to reserve the observatory lounge and terrace at the top of OREA Hotel Pyramida, providing another, quieter setting for meeting peers and continuing conversations with a view toward Prague Castle and the city.

The preliminary prices, both including VAT, are:

We will not be able to offer a separate student ticket. We do not, however, want cost alone to prevent someone from attending. If the ticket price would make it difficult or impossible for you to join us, please contact us.

We cannot yet promise what assistance we will be able to provide, or that we will be able to help everyone. But we would much rather learn about such barriers early enough to explore financial assistance or another practical solution.

We have also arranged a limited allocation of rooms at OREA Hotel Pyramida, the conference venue, which attendees will be able to book directly through a dedicated reservation link at fixed conference rates. Depending on room category and occupancy, prices will range from CZK 3,200 (approx. €132) to CZK 3,860 (approx. €160) per room per night, including VAT, subject to availability. Accommodation will be booked and paid for individually by attendees.

The business evening

The EuroClojure business evening will take place on Thursday, May 20, in the restaurant lounges of Červený Jelen, inside the historic Špork Palace.

Located between V Celnici and Hybernská Street, close to the Czech National Bank and Masaryk train station, the building was once home to the Anglo-Czechoslovak Bank. Its interior brings together constructivist and Art Deco influences with thoughtful modern additions.

The lounges, food, wine, and draft beer should provide a memorable setting for meeting peers, comparing experiences, and building new professional relationships. Business ticket holders may also bring a companion, reflecting the fact that professional relationships often grow into lasting friendships, and that the people who matter to us are not always neatly divided into “work,” “community,” and “personal” circles.

Friday evening at Břevnov Monastery

The Břevnov Monastery will host the workshops on Wednesday, and the closing social event will take place on Friday evening in the spacious cellars of the monastery. You will enjoy a generous dinner, beer, wine, and other beverages, accompanied by live music from a cimbalom band.

The closing social event on Friday evening will be ticketed separately at €75 per person, including VAT.

Keeping the social event separate makes things easier for attendees whose employers pay for conference admission but not social activities. More importantly, anyone unable to stay on Friday evening will not have to pay for an event they cannot attend.

Getting between OREA Hotel Pyramida and the Břevnov Monastery is simple and easy, whether you take a five-minute tram ride (four stops) or a two-kilometer stroll on level ground.

Familiar faces in Prague

We are delighted that Kris Jenkins will be joining us to introduce and moderate one of the conference tracks.

Several other familiar and respected figures from across the Clojure community and beyond have already confirmed that they will come to Prague as well. We will share more names when the time is right, but it is already becoming clear that EuroClojure will bring together a remarkable group of people. We are looking forward not only to the talks but also to the conversations and unexpected connections that happen whenever this community meets in person.

Thank you to everyone who has already shared ideas, questions, encouragement, and constructive criticism with us. EuroClojure is taking shape through these conversations, and we hope you will continue to be part of them.

See you in Prague,

2027.euroclojure.org

The EuroClojure 2027 Team