Sloss Tech 2026 draws regional founders + tech talent to Birmingham

The energy in downtown Birmingham is alight with ideas and new connections. Sloss Tech 2026 kicked off its first full day today, Thursday, June 25, transforming the city center into a massive hub for founders, developers, tech enthusiasts and ecosystem builders from across the Southeast and beyond.

The day’s events perfectly captured the conference’s dual focus on groundbreaking innovation and community connection, proving why it remains the Magic City’s premier technology flagship.

Sloss Tech main stage keynotes + tech breakout sessions launch at Lyric Theatre

The morning kicked off early with plenty of networking opportunities followed by the Main Stage opening at the historic Lyric Theatre. Tech leaders and innovators headed to the theater to hear from global tech icons and dive into industry trends.

By afternoon, the programming expanded across downtown into specialized workshops and deep-dive breakout sessions. Topics ranged from regional talent development to practical strategies for AI data readiness.

Tonight, attendees will make their way to the Sloss Tech Street Party at City Walk to celebrate the local tech community.

Why attendees are at Sloss Tech this year

Beyond the packed schedule of events taking place across town, you can find the real energy behind Sloss Tech on the streets of Downtown Birmingham. We caught up with three attendees today to see what brought them to the Magic City.

For Birmingham native Sara Hix, a speaker at this year’s conference, the event is a testament to the growth of her hometown’s tech footprint.

“In general, I’m excited to be at Sloss Tech because it’s a great place for developers, founders, everyone to come and learn about Birmingham technology, learn about anything from a professional perspective. I’m just excited to be here and connect with a lot of locals and see something this great in my hometown of Birmingham.”

Sara Hix, Watershed Health

Hix will take the stage tomorrow, Friday, June 26, as a speaker in the Dev Track.

The conference’s reputation as a knowledge-sharing powerhouse drew attendees from across the state, including Alex Bodenheimer, the front end house coordinator for Innovation Portal, a business incubator and co-working space based in Mobile.

“I’m hoping to learn and be able to give back to my own community back home.

“I’m new in this industry. I started working at Portal back in October. So, coming in and kind of being thrown into the fire of it all, but with so much support from my team. I’ve learned so much and hope to take that back home.”

Alex Bodenheimer, Innovation Portal

Sloss Tech also serves as the ultimate welcoming committee for businesses establishing a physical presence in Alabama.

Max Joseph, a tax advisor specializing in startup entity formation, tax incentives and cash flow planning, recently relocated from Philadelphia to help open a new local branch for top-50 accounting firm Grassi Advisory.

“We are opening a Birmingham office, so I’m really looking to network and kind of get brand awareness down here.”

Max Joseph, Grassi Advisory

What to expect next at Sloss Tech 2026

Today’s momentum builds right into tomorrow, Friday, June 26, when the conference continues its full schedule of panels, workshops and specialized tracks, including the Dev Track, main stage fireside chats and deeper dives into AI and emerging tech.

Tap here to see a full schedule of events.

Some of the talks, panels + events we are most looking forward to:

• Tonight’s Sloss Tech Street Party on City Walk!
• 9AM at Sidewalk Cinema: From Individual Contributor to Executive: Navigating the Leadership Leap in Tech sponsored by Birmingham Women in Tech
• 9AM at Alabama HQ: Choose Your Future: How Rural Alabama is Rewriting Talent Pathways sponsored by Innovate Alabama
• 10:30AM at Innovation Depot: The Leadership Playbook I Wish I’d Had (And How I Wrote It the Hard Way)
• 11:40AM + 12:25PM at Lyric Theatre: Keynotes with Amanda Sabreah and Jimmy Wales
• 2:45PM at McWane Science Center: The Empathy Gap in Product Teams sponsored by Motion Industries
• 5PM at Lakeview Marina: Sloss.Tech Sounds Official Finale

Stay tuned to Bham Now for continued coverage of Sloss Tech 2026!