On 20 and 27 June 2026, Wikimedia Ukraine held a forum for Ukrainian Wikipedia’s administrators and patrollers – one day online, one day in-person in Kyiv. Around 30 people took part across the two weekends: about 20 joined the online day, 18 came to Kyiv, and a few did both.

It was our second such event after an online forum in 2021 – and the first one since we’ve launched a full-fledged program of support for users with extended rights. Here’s a brief look at how the forum came about and how it looked like.

Why we’re doing this

Ukrainian Wikipedia has around 50 administrators and around 600 patrollers – the volunteers who review incoming edits, revert vandalism, close deletion discussions and generally keep the encyclopedia reliable. Their job has not been getting easier, partly because of pressures the whole movement shares and partly because of ones specific to Ukraine under Russia’s military invasion.

The community is, of course, self-governed, and an affiliate does not tell it how to run itself. But there is quite a lot a chapter can do still: training, materials, awards, and simply getting people into the same room. Wikimedia Ukraine had done this occasionally for years – an admin forum, an award, training sessions – and in 2024 we decided to make support for users with extended rights (UWERs) a strategic priority for 2025–2026.

Before designing anything, we spent some time working out what was actually needed –  a community survey, 1:1 interviews, and analysis of international experience. This work helped design our program of support for admins and patrollers, and the forum was a part of it.

The online day

The online day on 20 June had eight sessions. It opened with networking and introductions, then moved to a discussion of Ukrainian Wikipedia’s most pressing problems, such as AI and undisclosed paid editing. 

A separate session dealt with the Arbitration Committee – its current problems and needs, and the fact that new ArbCom members get no onboarding materials or training at all when they take the job on.

The rest of the day was practical:

• Media skills, run by Wikimedia Ukraine’s press secretary. Administrators and patrollers regularly end up acting as “Wikipedia spokespersons” whether or not they signed up for it, so the session covered how to talk about wiki projects on social media and to journalists, and what the chapter can offer to people who want to build a public profile.
• How edit filters work – a walkthrough of the mechanics for people who deal with their output daily.
• A demo of a mass patrolling tool.
• How to “torment” new users in the right way training to discuss ways of communicating with the new users to find a balance of creating a safe space for them to make mistakes and learn, but also knowing when to stop investing in them

We also ran a blitz award for standout anti-vandalism work. It went to Mykola7, an Ukrainian Wikipedia administrator (and a global steward).

The offline day in Kyiv

On 27 June we gathered everyone who could travel in Kyiv, at the Ukrainian-Danish Youth House, which hosted the event.

Because a good part of the group had only ever met each other through talk pages, we started with a teambuilding activity led by Ukrainian Wikipedia editor Maryna Lebid, built around reading and reflecting on short literary texts.

The first substantive session was a general exchange of technical lifehacks: participants shared their own tips for patrolling, dealing with vandals and performing admin actions.

After that, Asaf Bartov of the Wikimedia Foundation ran a training on making hard decisions. This was developed at the request from the community in the past, as users with extended rights “are often expected to make difficult decisions under uncertainty: when evidence is incomplete, emotions are high, policies are imperfect, and inaction can itself cause harm”, and the session was not focusing on specific on-wiki rules, but on “exploring how to distinguish good decisions from lucky outcomes, how to act responsibly without becoming overconfident or isolated, how to make uncertainty explicit, and how to recognize when an individual case points to a deeper governance or policy problem”

The rest of the day went to a separate discussion of undisclosed paid editing, a long-running problem with few easy solutions.

What participants told us afterwards

In the post-event surveys, participants rated the forum highly and agreed that something like it should happen regularly – roughly once a year. The clearest point for improvement was raising attendance, especially in-person. Getting people to travel is genuinely difficult during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, but we think there is still room to do better next year.

Where the forum sits in the larger program

The forum is the most visible part of a broader program of support for users with extended rights. It runs along four strands:

• Training events and materials. Short online and hybrid events on topics like technical lifehacks and advanced copyright questions, plus asynchronous materials – text and video – for onboarding new patrollers and administrators.
• Motivation. We have long sent a “wiki condensed milk” award to the most active patrollers and administrators, and we now have a separate award for standout anti-vandalism work. Besides, thematic campaigns give people something to work on together.
• Networking. Short informal online events (such as a failfest), and now the larger hybrid forum.
• Bringing in new volunteers. Training in shorter and longer formats, and general promotion of the idea that community members can and should take on patrolling and adminship.

Next, we plan to keep the regular online events going, keep developing the asynchronous materials, and try to make the forum annual. 

Materials from the forum are available at https://w.wiki/Rwfz (in Ukrainian). If your affiliate runs something similar, or is considering it, we would be glad to share our experience and learn from yours.

Joining Wikimania Paris Virtually from Uganda

Although I attended Wikimania 2026 virtually from Uganda, I still felt connected to the global Wikimedia community. As the movement celebrated 25 years, the conference brought together Wikimedians, researchers, educators, and partners from across the world to exchange ideas and shape the future of free knowledge.

Uganda had a strong presence at this year’s conference, with five participants(Micheal Kaluba, Sandra Aceng, Brian Baluku, Geofrey Kateregga, and Ssemanda Will) attending in person in Paris and twenty of us joining online. While participating virtually was a different experience from being onsite, it still provided an opportunity to learn from experts, follow important discussions, and engage with the wider Wikimedia movement.

Every year, Wikimania brings together Wikimedians from around the world to celebrate the Wikimedia movement, share experiences, and explore new ideas for advancing free knowledge. Although I attended Wikimania 2026 virtually from Uganda, I never felt far from the conversations taking place in Paris. Through the livestreams on Eventyay and YouTube as well as the online discussions, I was able to learn from experienced Wikimedians, discover new perspectives, and reflect on how these lessons connect with the work we are already doing in our community.

As a member of the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda, I have had the opportunity to contribute to several campaigns and initiatives, including Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Africa, Art and Feminism and Wiki for Human Rights. I have also supported the organization of community initiatives such as WikiGap 2026 in Uganda and Wiki for Minorities in Uganda. These experiences made many of the discussions at Wikimania feel familiar, while also challenging me to think about how our local work can grow and have an even greater impact.

Celebrating Women in the Wikimedia Movement

I had the opportunity to participate in the Wiki Women Summit session, which was one of the highlights of my Wikimania experience. The summit celebrated the achievements of women across the Wikimedia movement while creating space for conversations about leadership, mentorship, inclusion, and closing gender gaps in knowledge.

Having supported initiatives such as WikiGap 2026 and participated in the Art and Feminism Project, I found many of the discussions especially meaningful. They reaffirmed the importance of creating welcoming spaces where women can contribute confidently, develop leadership skills, and support one another. The summit reminded me that improving gender equity on Wikimedia is not only about increasing content about women, but also about empowering more women to become active contributors, organizers, and leaders within the movement.

Learning through sessions

One of the sessions that stood out to me was “A Practical Guide to Working with United Nations Agencies and Their Resources“. The speakers demonstrated how Wikimedia communities can collaborate with United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations to access reliable, multilingual, openly licensed resources.

As someone who has participated in Wiki for Human Rights Campaign in 2024, I immediately saw the connection between this session and the work we do in Uganda. The session highlighted how trusted institutional resources can strengthen Wikimedia content while also creating opportunities for meaningful partnerships. It inspired me to think about how our community can make greater use of these resources in future campaigns.

Another session that resonated deeply with me was “Wiki for Minorities: From Representation to Empowerment“. Having helped organize Wiki for Minorities in Uganda, I understood many of the challenges discussed during the presentation. The session reinforced an important message: communities should not only be represented on Wikimedia platforms but should also have the skills, confidence, and leadership opportunities to tell their own stories.

Uganda is home to many languages and cultures, and ensuring that these communities are actively involved in documenting their knowledge remains an important goal. Listening to experiences from other parts of the world reminded me that although our contexts differ, many communities are working toward the same vision of knowledge equity.

The value of participating online

Virtual participation offered its own advantages. I was able to follow sessions from different tracks, take detailed notes, and reflect on how the ideas being shared could be applied within our local Wikimedia community.

While I missed the informal conversations and face-to-face networking that come with attending in person, the online format ensured that community members who could not travel still had the opportunity to learn from the conference and be part of the global discussions.

Seeing fellow Ugandans represented both onsite and online also reminded me that meaningful participation in the Wikimedia movement is not limited by location.

Looking ahead

Wikimania 2026 gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own Wikimedia journey. From contributing to campaigns like Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Earth, and Wiki for Human Rights to supporting community initiatives such as WikiGap and Wiki for Minorities in Uganda, I realized that every project contributes to the larger mission of ensuring that everyone can access, contribute to, and benefit from free knowledge.

The conference also reminded me that there is always more to learn. Hearing the experiences of Wikimedians from different countries encouraged me to think beyond local projects and consider how partnerships, innovation, and community leadership can strengthen our work in Uganda.

Although I attended virtually, I left Wikimania feeling connected to a global movement that continues to inspire people to document the world’s knowledge collaboratively. I look forward to sharing these lessons with my community and applying them to future Wikimedia initiatives, while continuing to contribute toward a more inclusive, equitable, and reliable knowledge ecosystem.

Maura Hametz is a professor of history at James Madison University. She first incorporated the Wikipedia Assignment in fall 2025.

Teaching is about knowledge acquisition.  AI is a tool for knowledge acquisition. So, why is generative AI the subject of so much angst for me and my students? 

In my undergraduate upper division history classes, the Wikipedia Assignment is a forum to explore how, why, and where we acquire knowledge and, hopefully, to contribute to expanding knowledge available to the public.  It has also become a launch pad for discussions about new and ever-expanding generative AI.  AI is a tool. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. AI emphasizes process. Wikipedia focuses on content. At their core, both AI and Wikipedia disseminate information and expand access to knowledge. 

Two student training modules “Using AI tools with Wikipedia” and “Large Language Models” on the Wiki Education dashboard address generative AI, explaining Wikipedia’s ban on using AI-generated content, but also opening the door to use AI for inspiration. The materials emphasize partnership, encouraging students to follow instructors’ guidelines and institutional policies to work effectively and productively to successfully publish their work to Wikipedia.  

The two modules quickly became an AI life raft for me and an inspiration for discussions of sources, research, writing, and research ethics in the classroom.  Wiki Education provides ethical guidelines and technical assistance that helped me to ground my thoughts as, along with my colleagues, I struggled to craft AI strategies and adjust assignments and teaching.  This guidance and support also helped me to navigate the waters of new institutional policies, procedures, and guidelines to encourage appropriate uses of AI.  Wiki Education’s videos, examples, policies, and review systems provide guardrails in a supported environment where professional assistance alleviates worry about lack of familiarity or discomfort with emerging technologies.  

This support system allowed me to focus on the aspects of my assignment important to classroom goals and learning objectives rather than on my own anxieties about unpreparedness or uncertainty in detecting or assessing the role played by generative AI in producing specific content. The materials offer simple, but not simplistic, discussions of AI chatbots and explain how Wiki Education uses an AI detector called  Pangram.  The automatic check on students’ work saved me from having to assess and learn how to use detection software.  It allowed me to focus on how, rather than when, to respond to potentially inappropriate use of AI.  Wiki Education communicated potential problems to me and to students, taking away the guesswork.  

While I recognized the piece of mind the Wiki Education resources gave me, I was not immediately aware of how the Wiki Education approach helped forge a community in the classroom, uniting me and the students as fellow travelers exploring the new technology rather than pitting us against each other trying to suss out how the technology could be deployed and what uses of it were appropriate. Headlines decry AI’s “invasion,” blaming the ready availability of generative AI for an increase in cheating, decrease in critical thinking, and cognitive off-load, conjuring dystopian visions of “professor” bots grading work generated by “student” bots.  Classroom discussions revealed that students were often as uncertain, insecure, and anxious as instructors about generative AI’s use.  What I found in the Wikipedia Assignment was a foundation for guided discussions of the use, abuse, or uncertainties of AI usage and practical suggestions for meeting the challenges it posed, not condemnation or unbridled praise of the technology.  

The explanation of LLM’s as “pattern completion programs” explains replications of information and errors in an accessible way, spurring discussion of “loops” of suspect information and engaging students in thinking about how to “set things right” through careful work in original sources and publication in relevant Wikipedia articles. In one class, the examples of AI “Hallucinations” led students into an impromptu competition to find and correct hallucinated content on the internet, learning along the way how information was processed and distorted.  Discussion of LLM’s lack of transparency related to proprietary technology and algorithms encouraged consideration of bias as well as authority and power in the dissemination of information.

Wiki Education’s fact verification messages, sent to both the student and the instructor, allowed us to figure out problems, inconsistencies, and errors in their work together, based not on my critical assessment, but on an “outside” query, presenting things to be explored and explained, not defended.  The process seemed less accusatory and more collaborative.  Why was the writing flagged?  What about the content triggered the review?  As use of the sandbox was optional for my students, in several cases the content reflected traces of use of Grammarly and other writing aids.  In cases where it signaled inappropriate attribution or generated content, the discussion of the “flag” focused on the use of sources and the processes of citation and attribution, rather than on an explanation of what made me suspect the use of AI.  The tools therefore provide greater accountability and verifiability, while at the same time decreasing potential for interpersonal tensions or misunderstanding.

The messages also provide concrete evidence to allow students to voice their anxieties, to share their interactions with generative AI and Wiki Education, and to discuss the benefits and limitations of technology in completing their assignments.  “Hey dude, chill out, I got the same message,” followed by some version of “and this is how Dr. H and I addressed it,” prompted several discussions about how to cite sources, use direct quotes, or incorporate new material.

In my classroom, the Wiki Education materials on AI helped students to collect their thoughts and approach generative AI use from an analytical, rather than emotional, perspective.  Using the materials as a foundation, they acquired a common language to discuss the advantages and limitations of AI and to share how they had used it successfully or unsuccessfully in other classes and in their daily lives.

Interested in incorporating a Wikipedia Assignment into your course? Visit teach.wikiedu.org to learn more about the free resources, digital tools, and staff support that Wiki Education offers to postsecondary instructors in the United States and Canada. 

During my participation in the CEE Wiki Peer Learning Exchange Program, one of my key goals was to discover new project formats that could inspire and energize the Uzbek Wikipedia community. That inspiration found its perfect match during my exchanges with the Wikimedia Czech Republic team, specifically around their ongoing Wiki Loves Film initiative.

While WMCZ has been successfully hosting this campaign since 2024, Uzbekistan had never participated before. Seeing the potential of this project, I reached out to Pavel Bednařík for advice and guidance. Together, we agreed to launch an edit-a-thon titled “Wiki Loves Uzbek Cinema” on July 14, marking Uzbekistan’s debut in the movement. Inspired by our discussions, I set to work on our local community platform:

• Created the dedicated Wiki Loves Film project page on Uzbek Wikipedia.
• Curated a targeted list of recommended articles on Meta-Wiki focusing on Uzbek cinema history, notable films, and filmmakers.

The live edit-a-thon kicked off with an engaging hybrid atmosphere. I opened the session by introducing Pavel to the active members of the Uzbek Wikipedia community and the TSUE Wiki Club. To set the context, I gave a brief overview of the history, evolution, and current state of Uzbek cinema. Pavel then took the floor to share the broader vision of Wiki Loves Film. He highlighted key outcomes from their 2024 campaign, lessons learned, and the goals set for this year’s edition. Hearing firsthand how another community scales culture-focused campaigns gave our participants immediate inspiration.

A major challenge we face is that information about Uzbek cinema, its classic masterworks, contemporary directors, and rich film history, is heavily underrepresented not just on Uzbek Wikipedia, but across all language versions of Wikimedia projects. To fix this, our immediate strategy is clear: build a strong foundation of articles in Uzbek first, which can later be translated into other languages. During the 3-hour edit-a-thon, our enthusiastic participants successfully created between 15 to 20 quality articles about iconic Uzbek films and cinema figures.

The success of this collaborative edit-a-thon sparked incredible interest within our community. Seeing the enthusiasm, we decided to take it a step further: Uzbekistan will officially host its first full-month Wiki Loves Film campaign from September 1 to September 30! What started as an idea during a virtual peer learning exchange has transformed into a concrete, nationwide initiative for our community. We are deeply grateful to Wikimedia Czech Republic and Pavel Bednařík for their mentorship, and we look forward to seeing Uzbek cinema shine on the global wiki stage this Septembe

This year marked an exciting milestone for our region with the launch of the CEE Wiki Peer Learning Exchange Program across the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia communities. Designed to move beyond traditional workshops, this program creates opportunities for peer-to-peer collaboration, bringing newer or developing communities side-by-side with experienced ones to collaborate on real-world projects.

The exchange kicked off with a warm introduction by the Executive Director of Wikimedia Czech Republic, Klára Joklová, who introduced me to their office, culture, and team. From day one, the atmosphere was genuinely friendly and welcoming. Right off the bat, I had the unique opportunity to attend a collaborative meeting between WMCZ and representatives from the Czech Academy of Sciences. Watching them discuss their upcoming challenge, the “Science Month on Wikipedia” edit-a-thon, was a eye-opening moment for me. In our local Uzbek community, we haven’t yet established formal partnerships with scientific academies, so seeing this synergy in action planted a powerful seed for future goals back home. As the exchange progressed, I had the opportunity to explore WMCZ’s internal processes, organizational documentation, and even their dedicated website, a resource structure I was fascinated to learn about.

The WMCZ team took great care to guide me through their core focus areas: Pavel Bednařík and Lucie Schubert introduced me to their framework for Programs for Partnerships, Educational Programs, and Programs for Community. Tadeáš Bednář shared detailed insights into the “Science Month on Wikipedia” campaign, equipping me with practical methodologies and fresh perspectives on running specialized edit-a-thons. One of the most rewarding parts of the exchange emerged from my discussions with Pavel Bednařík. While learning about their “Wiki Loves Film 2026” initiative, I was inspired to bring a similar contest to the Uzbek Wikipedia. Pavel offered fantastic guidance, which led us to organize a dedicated edit-a-thon: “Wiki Loves Uzbek Cinema”, launched on July 14.

The Wikimedia Czech Republic team spared no effort in sharing their knowledge, tools, and experience with complete openness. Words can hardly express how grateful I am for their generosity and willingness to help our community grow. A special debt of gratitude goes to Klára Joklová, whose leadership and coordination were essential in making this virtual exchange such a meaningful success. This exchange proved that physical boundaries don’t limit shared learning. Armed with new methodologies, big ideas, and strong international connections, I’m excited to bring these insights back to help shape the future of Uzbek Wikipedia!

Africa’s cultural heritage is one of the richest in the world. Its films tell powerful stories, its festivals preserve centuries-old traditions, and its cuisine reflects the diversity of its people. Yet much of this knowledge remains underrepresented on Wikimedia platforms. To help bridge this gap, the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group collaborated with African & Proud (AP), the organizers of the Culture Connect Africa 2026 project, to document and celebrate African culture through open knowledge.

Running from May to August 2026, the campaign empowered volunteers to create and improve Wikipedia and Wikidata content related to African film, festivals, cuisine, and travel. Through training sessions, edit-a-thons, and friendly competitions, contributors worked together to ensure that more of Africa’s stories are freely accessible to people around the world.

Building Knowledge Through Thematic Campaigns

Culture Connect Africa 2026 was organized into monthly campaigns, each focusing on a different aspect of African cultural heritage.

May 2026: African Film and Cinema

The first phase of the campaign celebrated the richness of African cinema and film heritage. African films have long served as powerful expressions of identity, history, creativity, and social change. Despite their significance, many African filmmakers, actors, directors, and productions remain underrepresented on Wikimedia projects.

Throughout May, participants received training and took part in edit-a-thons aimed at creating and improving articles related to African films, filmmakers, actors, directors, and the broader film industry across the continent. The campaign encouraged contributors to preserve the history of African cinema while making reliable information freely available to a global audience.

Beyond content creation, the campaign strengthened collaboration among Wikimedia contributors who share an interest in documenting African culture and preserving knowledge for future generations.

June 2026: African Festivals

In June, attention shifted to the vibrant world of African festivals. Across the continent, festivals serve as important expressions of identity, spirituality, history, and community life. They preserve traditions, celebrate cultural achievements, and strengthen social bonds.

The African Festivals edition invited participants to document these celebrations through Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. Contributors researched, created, and expanded articles covering traditional festivals, cultural ceremonies, historical events, and community celebrations from different African countries.

By improving the availability of reliable information about African festivals, participants helped preserve important cultural knowledge while introducing global audiences to traditions that are often overlooked.

July 2026: African Cuisine

The third phase of Culture Connect Africa 2026 focused on African cuisine, highlighting the continent’s remarkable culinary diversity.

Food is much more than nourishment. It reflects history, environment, culture, and identity. Every traditional recipe, indigenous ingredient, cooking technique, and food custom tells a story about the communities that have preserved these practices across generations.

Throughout July, contributors documented African dishes, ingredients, cooking methods, and food traditions on Wikimedia platforms. The campaign helped address knowledge gaps while celebrating the culinary heritage that continues to shape African societies.

Participants explored topics ranging from local delicacies to traditional preparation methods, ensuring that African cuisine receives greater visibility within the global knowledge ecosystem.

August 2026: Travel and Tourism (Wikivoyage Theme)

In August, the campaign expanded to include a focus on Wikivoyage, promoting African tourism and travel knowledge. This phase aimed to equip participants with the skills to create and improve content related to transportation systems, tourist attractions, and recreational centers on both Wikivoyage and English Wikipedia.

Through this initiative, contributors documented travel routes, parks, cultural sites, and leisure destinations across Ghana. By improving travel-related information, the project supports tourism development while making it easier for both local and international travelers to explore Ghana.

This theme highlights the importance of accessible and reliable travel information, ensuring that Ghana’s tourism potential is well represented within the Wikimedia ecosystem.

Encouraging Participation Through Friendly Competition

Each monthly campaign included prizes to recognize outstanding contributors and encourage active participation.

The awards were:

• First Prize: GHS300
• Second Prize: GHS250
• Top Female Contributor: GHS250

The winners for both the African Film and Cinema edition and the African Festivals edition were the following:

• First Prize: K. D. Nburidiba
• Second Prize: Maltima Rabia
• Top Female Contributor: K. D. Nburidiba

The winners  for  African Food Edition were the following:

• First Prize: Maltima Rabia
• Second Prize: K. D. Nburidiba
• Top Female Contributor: Maltima Rabia

These contributors demonstrated remarkable commitment to documenting African culture and enriching Wikimedia projects with high-quality content.

Strengthening Open Knowledge in Africa

Culture Connect Africa 2026 demonstrated the power of community collaboration in preserving African heritage through open knowledge. By bringing together experienced Wikimedians and new contributors, the campaign created opportunities for learning, mentorship, and meaningful contributions that will continue to benefit readers across the world.

For the Dagbani Wikimedians User Group, the initiative also reinforced its commitment to increasing the visibility of African knowledge, supporting local language communities, and empowering volunteers to share authentic stories about Africa.

Every article created, every entry improved, and every contributor trained represents another step towards ensuring that Africa’s history, culture, and traditions are accurately represented online.

This article presents—in two parts—the experiences of 13 Japanese Wikimedians who attended the ESEAP Conference 2026, held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from May 15 to 17, 2026. Eight of the 13 were first-time attendees, including three students. The group was diverse, spanning ages from the teens to the seventies and featuring an equal gender split; each contributor shared their experience from their own unique perspective. This marked the third time Japanese contributors attended an ESEAP event, following the 2024 Conference and the 2025 Strategy Summit, and the Strategy Summit is scheduled to be held in Japan next year.

Reason for contributing

Ezokomachi：I first learned about ESEAP when I contributed in a local edit-a-thon last year. Although I had never taken part in an international Wikipedia event before, I decided to join because I wanted to know what Wikimedians active in the same Asian region were thinking and doing.

Norimaki：Having been active on the Japanese Wikipedia for about twenty years, I decided to contribute in an international event because I wanted to experience firsthand what such gatherings are like.

Lin Xiangru : I had known about the existence of international conferences since I was in junior high school, so I had always wanted to attend one someday. I wanted to experience the atmosphere of the international Wikimedia community and see what kind of activities were taking place. I also wanted to see a different world, as I had never been abroad before.

Ga2by：Having started editing Wikipedia during an exchange program, I had a strong interest in international trends. I contributed in this initiative to learn about the activities and interests of Wikimedians from a wide range of countries and to deepen my understanding of the Wikimedia movement.

Koyomiya：I contributed because I was interested in international conferences in general. I also wanted to interact with Wikimedians from abroad.

Narumi.SBT：I had previously attended Wikimania in Poland and Kenya, but I had never contributed in a conference for the ESEAP region, so I wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere.

Miya.m：I have two reasons for contributing. Although I first learned about ESEAP when I attended Wikimania about a decade ago, I had not been involved with it until now; however, hearing that the Summit would be held in Japan next year prompted me to want to see what it was all about. The other reason was a sense of responsibility—a feeling that I needed to share Japan’s “Wikipedia Town” initiatives with the rest of the world.

Wadakuramon：What I looked forward to most was meeting my fellow ESEAP members and conducting sessions together.

Eugene Ormandy：I have attended several international Wikimedia conferences each year since 2023, and I contributed in this one as well with the intention of taking a “fixed-point observation.”

saebou：I participated because I served as a staff member for the Scholarship Committee this time.

Enoki：I contributed because I wanted to meet directly with people who are active in the ESEAP region and find out what kind of people and what they are doing. As a staff member of the Wikimedians of Japan User Group, I wanted to think about strengthening collaboration in the ESEAP region, and as one of the COTs for the ESEAP Summit to be held in Osaka next year, I wanted to understand the atmosphere and flow of the event and contribute in meetings.

VZP10224：As a member of the Wikimedians of Japan User Group and an administrator of the Japanese Wikipedia, I wanted to hear the perspectives of ESEAP members regarding the current state of the Japanese community; I also aimed to hold discussions concerning next year’s ESEAP Summit.

Nakayama：As a member of the Movement Communications team (within the Wikimedia Foundation), I help foster connections and deepen mutual understanding between the Wikimedia movement and the Japanese-speaking community. I attended the ESEAP Conference to support the contributors and further this goal.

Impressions from the first time contributing

Ezokomachi：It was a bigger event than I had imagined, and I was able to not only listen to the presentations, but also contribute in workshops and watch poster presentations, and I was able to learn a lot in three days. There were various activities such as guided city walks and karaoke, which was a lot of fun. Basically, I have only edited Wikipedia, but by contributing in this conference, I was able to hear everything from macro-level discussions on Wikimedia’s governance to micro-level issues for each language version, which deepened my understanding of Wikimedia as a whole. I think it was a good experience for me to think about how I want to be involved in the future.

Norimaki：I was immediately struck by the scale of the event, which was even larger than I had imagined. Seeing the efficient way the Taiwanese Wikimedia team managed operations made me feel that the Japanese community needs to step up its efforts, and I became motivated to contribute in my own way moving forward.

Lin Xiangru：I was thoroughly impressed by the attentive service and hospitality; there was nothing to complain about. I was initially anxious about whether I could get by given my poor English skills, but everyone was friendly, and I was surprised to find that quite a few people actually understood Japanese. They even accommodated Japanese-language presentations, demonstrating a clear intent to be inclusive of speakers of other languages. That said, the presentation itself was a real challenge; the other Japanese contributors were all very skilled.
　I had wondered if I might find time for sightseeing, but the conference presentations were so engaging that I ended up spending almost all my time at the venue. I exchanged Instagram and Facebook details with fellow Wikimedians from abroad and still chat with them occasionally. It makes me very happy that they often reach out to me in Japanese. We were even able to exchange souvenirs when we met again at Wikimania.

Ga2by：I was surprised by the sheer number of contributors—exceeding my expectations—and the vibrant atmosphere created by multiple sessions running concurrently. The conference covered a wide range of topics centered on the Wikimedia movement, spanning everything from technical discussions to social issues like gender; the program was so rich that I often found it difficult to choose which sessions to attend. I was also struck by the diversity of the contributors’ backgrounds; while many came from the ESEAP region, there were also Wikimedians with roots in Europe and beyond. Sharing a common connection through the Wikimedia movement made it easy to strike up conversations with international attendees.

Koyomiya：There were many interesting sessions, and I was able to contribute fully over the course of the three days. I also enjoyed the meals during breaks and the sightseeing time in the evenings. However, given my current English proficiency, I found it challenging to interact with international Wikimedians or fully grasp the content of the presentations; this motivated me to work harder on my language skills.

Enoki：This was my first time attending a Wikimedia international conference in person (excluding online events), and I found the atmosphere to be quite friendly. The themes and the vibratins varied depending on the track. I was particularly struck by the sub-tracks covering Wikidata, student activities, and ESEAP governance, as well as several of the workshops.

Continue to “ESEAP Conference 2026: Japanese Contributor Experiences (Part 2).”

One of the highlights of my Wikimania experience was taking an evening to visit the Eiffel Tower. Standing there and seeing the Eiffel Tower in all its glory felt surreal. I had seen countless pictures and videos of it before, but being physically present was a completely different experience. There is something special about encountering a place, an artefact, or a cultural moment in real life. Being physically present allows us to experience the atmosphere, emotions, and unexpected moments that surround it.

At the same time, not everyone will have the opportunity to visit every museum, landmark, or cultural site in person. This is where digitisation plays an important role. It creates pathways for more people to discover, learn, and connect with culture in ways that may not have been possible before.

This thought stayed with me as I reflected on the growing movement to digitise culture and knowledge. Museums, archives, libraries, and cultural institutions around the world are increasingly making collections available online, allowing people across the globe to discover histories, artworks, traditions, and stories that they may never have encountered otherwise. However, as conversations around digitising culture continue, questions have also emerged about ownership, sustainability, and who benefits from making cultural resources available online.Some people worry that digitising cultural heritage could reduce visits to museums or allow others to benefit financially from cultural resources without adequately supporting the institutions and communities that preserve them.

I see it differently.

Digitisation can create visibility, and visibility can create curiosity. A person may first discover a cultural object, historical site, or tradition through a digital platform. That discovery may inspire them to learn more, visit the location, support the institution, or engage with the community connected to that heritage.

My visit to the Eiffel Tower was a reminder of this relationship between digital discovery and physical experience.

While I went there to see one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks, I experienced something completely unexpected. I witnessed a proposal taking place. It was my first time seeing a proposal happen in person. My married friends usually only tell me about their proposals after they have happened, so most of my experience has been hearing these stories rather than actually being present for the moment. Seeing the preparation, the excitement, and the emotions unfold in front of me was something special. There were also live performances, people gathering, and countless small moments happening around the tower.

These are the kinds of experiences that cannot simply be uploaded or replicated online. A photograph can capture what a place looks like, but it cannot always capture the atmosphere, the emotions, or the unexpected stories that happen around it.

At the same time, our efforts to digitise culture and expand access to knowledge must come with responsibility.

While standing at the Eiffel Tower, I asked a fellow Wikimedian a question. I wanted to know whether he was familiar with the copyright considerations around photographing the Eiffel Tower at night.

I asked him:

“If I take a picture of the Eiffel Tower at night and upload it on Instagram, have I violated copyright?”

His answer was yes. He then went on to explain why.

The Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain because its original copyright protection has expired. However, the artistic lighting display that illuminates the tower at night has copyright considerations under French law.

This conversation was a good reminder that documenting and sharing culture involves more than simply capturing beautiful images. It also requires understanding the rights, permissions, and responsibilities connected to those images.

This is why licences matter in the world of open knowledge.

Open access does not always mean that every resource can be reused without conditions. Many cultural institutions and creators share materials under licences such as Creative Commons licences, which allow reuse under specific terms, including proper attribution. Other materials may have different restrictions depending on ownership and copyright status.

As users and consumers of digital cultural resources, we have a responsibility to respect these conditions.

Beyond simply following legal requirements, we should also think about how we can support the people and institutions that preserve cultural knowledge. If digital resources inspire research, creativity, education, or even commercial opportunities, there are many ways to give back. This could include donations, partnerships, volunteering, or amplifying the work of museums, archives, and cultural communities.

Digitising culture does not take away the magic of experiencing it in person.

Instead, it creates more opportunities for people to discover, learn, and connect.

Someone may first encounter the Eiffel Tower through a photograph online. That image may inspire them to visit one day. And when they arrive, they may discover not only the monument itself, but also the unexpected human stories, emotions, and experiences that exist around it.

That is the beauty of culture. It is not only what we preserve and share digitally. It is also what we experience, participate in, and pass on.

This year, Paris was the host city for Wikimania and just a direct train away, I was able to participate in person.

Overview

As usual, I used the learning pattern Documenting your event experience, continuously documenting what I was doing, and who I spoke with, along with notes of thoughts that I got (if you want all the details and not this me-centric overview, check out that last link; I have comments on almost every session). There were many side events and some not in the schedule, but it is safe to say that I partook in more than 20 sessions and was listed as a speaker for two others. During the main days, I spent all my time at the venue when there were sessions on the program and didn’t go on any tours. I have later watched another 26 sessions (but am still catching up on sessions that I missed), so I feel that I have really indulged in the conference. I will delve deeper into the different aspects of my Wikimania experience below.

Podcast

I managed to get hold of one of the organizers for the online parts and recorded a pre-conference interview. Per Wikipediapodden tradition, we did record one episode leading up to Wikimania and one episode summarizing it. These two are, as usual, only available in Swedish.

My sessions

Tabular data vs. structured data – How do we get to a win-win solution?

Early session in the main hall, but it got quite full anyway. Tiny struggle with tech before we got started, but then the panel really took off. Lots of good questions from the audience, both online and in person. I hope we managed to raise the conundrum and plant a few seeds for solutions and that this was a good revival of the discussion.

Putting CommonsDB into use

This was part of my consulting with Wikimedia Sverige and a workshop that got even more productive than I anticipated. I also blogged about the experience, so you can read even more details over at: CommonsDB gaining insights at Wikimania.

Govdirectory – collaborating for impact

A follow-up from the poster last year, this time trying to incorporate even more of the collaborative aspects of the WikiProject. Unfortunately, my poster was one of the ones farthest away from where people were passing by, but since they were up the entire conference, I think many people got a chance to see it. What was good this year was that they had made it easy to unmount and bring along home, so now I can still enjoy it.

Virtual room – lunch session

The organizers did some live streams where they invited speakers for a kind of after-match commentary/interview. It was quite fun, and I was also scheduled for a morning session, but that failed due to technical problems.

Wikimedians for Sustainable Development

While the user group Wikimedians for Sustainable Development didn’t organize any official user group sessions, many members were presenting, and even more people in the community had sessions related to the sustainable development goals. So once again, I created a subpage where I roughly categorized them by SDG goal and type of session. By a bit of a chance, I also managed to squeeze back in a lunch meetup (that had first been rejected due to limited space) that we called Climate change, environmental issues & sustainable development lunch. It was well attended, and I got positive energy from seeing so many in the movement working in the same topic space.

Overall impressions

This was my 18th Wikimania and I must say it was quite a solid one. The venue was good, the scheduling worked nicely, and the hallway track opportunities were perhaps the best so far. I still think there is more potential in connecting the online participants into the conference. Not everyone can go; this year it was attenuated by it selling out super quickly, so a huge part of the community is not there in person. The only big fail was the catering, as the labeling and knowledge by the staff made this, in my opinion, the second worst Wikimania food-wise.

P.S. Videos are still being uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, and after that all Eventyay content will be migrated to the Wikimania wiki, so expect a few link changes on this post (and possible glitches when there is work in progress).

When artificial intelligence comes up on Wikipedia, discussions can quickly become polarized. Should AI-generated content be allowed? Does it threaten quality? And can volunteers even spot it?

Over the past two years, questions like these have shaped countless debates in the German Wikipedia. In February 2026, the community wrapped up a Request for Comments and agreed on a restrictive framework for AI-generated content. The vote clarified the rules—but it also made clear that many practical questions were still open.

So instead of organizing yet another principles debate, Wikimedia Deutschland invited the community to spend a weekend tackling those practical questions together.

Creating space—without steering the discussion

Our aim wasn’t to influence the community’s position on AI. It was to create the conditions for a constructive, productive conversation.

Ahead of the event, participants suggested topics through a survey and received background material to help them prepare. This ensured that participants started from a shared foundation and helped address one of the challenges identified beforehand: varying levels of knowledge about AI within the community. During the weekend, Wikimedia Deutschland provided structure, facilitation, and technical expertise—but not the answers. Our role was to bring people together, connect perspectives, and enable the work.

Around 40 experienced volunteers met in Berlin for a structured co-creation workshop. Instead of long presentations, the weekend combined short inputs with self-organized working groups, open discussion formats, and collaborative documentation. Two facilitators helped keep conversations constructive, while leaving participants in charge of shaping the results.

To move beyond the familiar “pro AI” versus “anti AI” framing, the workshop was organized around four complementary perspectives:

• Wikipedia without AI – quality assurance, moderation, and policy implementation
• Wikipedia with AI – legitimate use cases, tools, and workflows
• Wikipedia on AI – improving encyclopedia content about AI itself
• Wikipedia despite AI – preparing for long-term developments for Wikipedia and its communities

From policy to practice

One of the biggest surprises was how much the conversation had shifted.

Only a few months after a highly emotional Request for Comments, participants spent very little time revisiting whether AI should be allowed at all. Instead, they focused on what implementation could actually look like:

• How can AI-generated content be detected?
• Which AI-supported tools could strengthen quality assurance?
• What kinds of AI use fit with Wikipedia’s principles?

The meeting produced a wide range of concrete proposals—ideas for review and monitoring tools, AI-assisted quality assurance, structured maintenance workflows, dedicated workspaces, and future research questions. Participants also suggested creating permanent spaces where AI-related issues can continue to be discussed and developed collaboratively.

One participant summed up their experience afterwards:

“As someone who generally supports the responsible use of AI, the meeting helped me better understand perspectives that are critical of AI. It also helped me clarify where I personally draw the line between appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI in an encyclopedic context.”

For us, that quote captures one of the weekend’s most valuable outcomes. Success wasn’t about reaching agreement—it was about creating a space where people with different perspectives could better understand each other, while working together on shared challenges.

Another important outcome was that the conversation broadened. Discussions about AI in the German Wikipedia had often been driven by a relatively small group of highly engaged contributors. The workshop created an opportunity for many more community members to join the conversation, contribute their own perspectives, and build a shared understanding of the challenges ahead.

Looking ahead

The discussions also showed that many community members are ready to engage with these questions in a nuanced way: rejecting unchecked AI-generated content while exploring carefully controlled forms of AI-assisted work. This pragmatic shift suggests that future progress will depend not only on policy decisions, but also on continued learning, shared processes, tools, and spaces for collaboration.

For the Wikimedia movement, the meeting offers a useful example of how communities can approach AI-related challenges through structured participation, open exchange, and a focus on actionable outcomes. As AI becomes an increasingly important governance issue across Wikimedia projects, affiliates can play a valuable role—not by deciding community positions, but by creating the conditions that help communities develop solutions together.

The project page and documentation are in German only. For further questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Verena.

• From the team: July and Wikimania Have Come and Gone
• Brazil report: Strategic Workshops, Academic Publications, and Bidding Farewell to NeuroMat
• Colombia report: Colombia at Wikimania 2026: panel on how the far-right affects open knowledge institutions
• Egypt report: From Al-Ahram to Zamalek: Exploring Archives and Art Galleries
• France report: GLAM Presentations at Wikimania 2026 + Wiki Fashion Show
• New Zealand report: Launch of Wikifying a Conference handbook; Wikipedia Workshop at Te Toi Uku
• Poland report: GLAM-Wiki partnerships continue opening collections
• Sweden report: At Wikimania and copyright process
• Switzerland report: Faces and Masks – the interwoven relation, Wikimania Paris
• UK report: Wikimania report + New articles in Hindi
• USA report: GLAM USA Report (Past & Upcoming)
• Biodiversity Heritage Library report: Updates on work by BHLWiki Working Group members
• Memory of the World report: Academic paper in preparation
• Wiki Knowledge Park report: Preserving Islamic Cultural Heritage: The GLAM and Metadata Impact of Wiki Loves Ramadan 2026
• Calendar: August’s GLAM events

30/07/2026-05/08/2026

Mapping campaigns

• Uber has proposed, on the OSM Community forum, an organised editing activity to improve pedestrian mapping in 21 countries. Various mappers criticise it due to a lack of details and because Uber has a poor track record in the UK.

Community

• Rphyrin made an Overpass Ultra script for viewing image=* tags in OpenStreetMap.
• MideaFind has used OpenStreetMap data to collect the locations of stores that might sell portable air conditioners.
• Andrea Grandi explained why Book Corners won’t sync contributions back to OpenStreetMap. Pieter Vander Vennet responded in his blog.

Imports

• Oscar Car Rental announced ► that they are planning an organised editing activity to add their 93 missing car rental locations in Germany, along with performing some data maintenance.

OSM research

• Marni Davis documented Atlanta’s immigrant population in the late 19th century, visualising their neighbourhoods on an OpenHistoricalMap basemap.

Maps

• ^[1] Victor Rotariu and his team are developing a live urban heat map that estimates street-level thermal conditions at a resolution of roughly 25 metres. This data will power a new ‘Cool’ routing mode. Rather than selecting only the fastest or shortest cycling route, Cool mode will identify the route with the lowest estimated heat exposure. The goal is simple: help cyclists avoid the hottest streets, enjoy a more comfortable ride, and arrive at their destination with less sweat on hot summer days.

OSM in action

• A 23-year-old student developer from South Korea has created a navigation app for finding shade covered areas, which has shot to the top of the App Store’s navigation apps. The app uses OpenStreetMap data to plot routes.

Software

• HeiGIT presented their latest update on the roadmap toward the new ohsome API 2.0, outlining the next steps in the evolution of the ohsome platform for analysing OpenStreetMap data. The update introduced planned developments, improvements, and future directions aimed at creating a more flexible, efficient, and sustainable API for OSM history data analytics.

Releases

• The CoMaps team published release 2026.07.16, which is now available via Codeberg, F-Droid, Google Play, and the iOS AppStore. This version adds a preview of turn-by-turn directions when creating a route, adds lane guidance and improved next turn descriptions for iOS/CarPlay, per-transport-mode routing options, support for more OSM tags, and many further bug fixes and improvements.
• Organic Maps July 2026 has been released, bringing a collection of bug fixes and general improvements.
• A note for mappers resolving notes: Organic Maps version 2026.07.15 has fixed a long-standing issue, where notes left inside large forest polygons and road lines would always move to the centre of the object. Notes are now added at the user’s click location.
• Tina announced that OsmAnd Astronomy, currently available in the OsmAnd Android 5.4 beta (on paid plans Maps+ and OsmAnd Pro), now includes tools for exploring solar and lunar events. Users can move through a timeline to preview upcoming astronomical events, check eclipse visibility from any location on Earth, and watch exactly how each solar or lunar eclipse will unfold before it actually occurs.
• HeiGIT reported the release of Ohsome-Planet version of 1.3.1, codename ‘Baarle-Hertog‘. This tool is designed to facilitate the transformation of raw OpenStreetMap history data into the geoParquet format, making it more accessible for spatial data analysis.

Did you know that …

• … the OSM Apps Catalog allows you to browse a list of thousands of various map apps?

OSM in the media

• BRUZZ, a local newspaper in Brussels, commented ► on the rise in recent years of private swimming pools in residential neighbourhoods. They praised OSM volunteers for having mapped them and showed maps with their locations.
• Heise’s c’t Open Source Spotlight newsletter reported ► on CoMaps and interviewed OSM community member Bastian Greshake Tzovaras about CoMaps, OSM and free software in general.

Other “geo” things

• Google had integrated its AI image generator ‘Nano Banana 2’ into Google Earth. They removed it two days later after people started abusing it, as the BBC reported.
• The Times of India explained how Polynesian navigators crossed the Pacific Ocean by reading the stars, ocean swells, winds, birds, and clouds to find their way.
• In response to the recent news about Moroccan migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, OpenCage reshared their previously published geo-trivia posts about Spain and Morocco.

Upcoming Events

Country	Where	Venue	What	When
		Online	Racha Mapping Party	2026-07-27 – 2026-08-09
	नई दिल्ली	Jitsi Meet (online)	OSM’s 22nd Birthday × OSM India Monthly Online Mapathon	2026-08-08 – 2026-08-09
	臺北市	國立臺灣科技大學研揚大樓412-1教室	COSCUP 2026 State of the Map Taiwan 2026 / Wikidata Community Summit 2026	2026-08-09
	New Delhi	Indian Coffee House, Connaught Place	OSM’s 22nd Birthday × OSM Delhi Mapping Party No.30	2026-08-09
	大阪市	11F, Urban Net Midosuji Building, 4-2-13 Awajicho	OpenStreetMap関西カンファレンス2026 / OSM Kansai Conference 2026	2026-08-09
	København	Cafe Bevar’s	OSMmapperCPH	2026-08-09
	臺北市	MozSpace Taipei	OpenStreetMap x Wikidata Taipei #91	2026-08-10
	Zürich	Bitwäscherei Zürich	190. OSM-Stammtisch Zürich	2026-08-11
	Hamburg	Voraussichtlich: “Variable”, Karolinenstraße 23	Hamburger Mappertreffen	2026-08-11
		temporärhaus	OSM-Stammtisch Ulm/Neu-Ulm	2026-08-11
			Missing Maps Online Mapathon von Ärzte ohne Grenzen	2026-08-12
	München	Echardinger Einkehr	Münchner OSM-Treffen	2026-08-12
			UN Mappers Mappy Hour	2026-08-13
		Hochschule Rhein-Sieg	OSM auf der FrOSCon 2026 in Sankt Augustin	2026-08-15 – 2026-08-16
	Hannover	Hannover Congress Centrum	OSM auf der Maker Faire Hannover 2026	2026-08-15 – 2026-08-16
		Stadt- und Waagenmuseum Oschatz	Kartenwerkstatt Oschatz	2026-08-16
	Magdeburg	Netz39 e.V. , Leibnizstraße 32, 39104 Magdeburg	3. OSM Stammtisch Magdeburg	2026-08-18
			Missing Maps London Mid-Month for Advanced Mappers (no training provided) (Online) [eng]	2026-08-18
	Chemnitz	Kaffeesatz, Chemnitz	OSM-Stammtisch Chemnitz	2026-08-18
	Bonn	Dotty’s	203. OSM-Stammtisch Bonn	2026-08-18
	Derby	The Brunswick, Railway Terrace, Derby	East Midlands pub meet-up	2026-08-18
		Online	Lüneburger Mappertreffen (online)	2026-08-18
	Karlsruhe	Vogelbräu Karlsruhe	Stammtisch Karlsruhe	2026-08-19
	Amsterdam	TomTom HQ	Maptime Amsterdam: 2026 Summertime Maptime	2026-08-20
	Potsdam	MachBar	Potsdamer Mappertreffen	2026-08-21
	Stadtgebiet Bremen	Online und im Hackerspace Bremen	Bremer Mappertreffen	2026-08-24

Note:
If you like to see your event here, please put it into the OSM calendar. Only data which is there, will appear in weeklyOSM.

This weeklyOSM was produced by HeiGIT, MatthiasMatthias, Nakaner, Raquel Dezidério Souto, Strubbl, Andrew Davidson, TrickyFoxy, barefootstache, derFred.
We welcome link suggestions for the next issue via this form and look forward to your contributions.

Wikimedia UK has been informed of a data security incident involving Beacon CRM, the platform we use to manage our contacts database.

Beacon detected the incident on 29 July 2026 and informed us on 3 August. Beacon’s current understanding is that compromised login details were used to access its systems and download copies of database backups. Their investigation is ongoing and, at this stage, we are not aware of the information having been published online or misused.

Beacon has secured its systems and is investigating the incident with external cyber-security specialists. It has also informed the relevant authorities.

Wikimedia UK has revoked and reconnected all Beacon integrations and security keys, including connections with forms, payment services and email platforms. We have also reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Following an internal risk assessment, we have decided that the information currently available and the type of data we hold do not warrant contacting all members, donors and other contacts directly. We do not store sensitive personal information, dates of birth, bank details or full payment-card details in Beacon. We have contacted our volunteers directly because their records may include information about their volunteering relationship with Wikimedia UK, as well as basic contact details.

There is no action that individuals need to take at this time. However as a general precaution, please remain alert to unexpected emails or messages claiming to be from Wikimedia UK or Beacon. 

Beacon is continuing its investigation and strengthening its security measures. We will monitor developments closely and will contact individuals directly if further information identifies a specific risk or action they should take.

We recognise that incidents of this kind can be unsettling. Please be assured that we are doing everything within our control to protect your information and maintain the highest possible standards of data security.

Anyone with questions or concerns can contact us at: info@wikimedia.org.uk.

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