Minnebar20 is coming together quickly, and with 135 sessions submitted as of April 12, it’s shaping up to be something special. But Minnebar has never been about filling every slot — it’s about building the right schedule for this community, right now.

So here’s a look at what’s in the mix so far, what’s getting traction, and where there’s still room to round things out.

Who will be in the room

Minnebar is always a mix — and this year is no different. 1,400+ are registered about 30% attending for the first time! Take a look at what the audience is looking like:

We’ve got a strong showing from devs and engineers, but also founders, students, consultants, product folks, designers, analysts, community builders, job seekers — and plenty of people who don’t fit neatly into any one box.

That’s the magic.

Different perspectives. Different entry points. Better conversations.

What people are curious about

During registeration, we asked what people wanted to explore. Here’s how the topics ranked:

AI came out on top — no surprise.

But what’s more interesting is everything right behind it: development, career growth, startups, design/UX, data science, cybersecurity, leadership, climate, and more.

This isn’t a single-track audience. It’s a wide, curious, “I want to learn something new” kind of crowd.

What sessions are showing up

AI is everywhere on this year’s schedule, with sessions on:

  • real-world builds
  • lessons from deployment
  • where things break
  • experiments and edge cases

That’s great. It reflects what people are working on.

But it also means something important: we’ve got AI covered.

What the votes are telling us

Voting is live on the sessionizer — and it’s already telling an interesting story.

Non-AI sessions are outperforming AI sessions in community interest, by a meaningful margin.

Here’s the breakdown (Shoutout to Dan Lew for crunching the numbers 🙌):

  • Median votes: 12 (non-AI) vs. 7 (AI)
  • Average: 13.2 (non-AI) vs. 8.1 (AI)
  • Top session overall? Non-AI, with 56 votes, compared to 22 votes for the top AI session

The takeaway: people are curious about AI — but they’re hungry for everything else.

A few patterns are showing up:

  • People gravitate toward sessions they can engage with
  • Clear, specific (or slightly bold) titles stand out
  • Real-world > abstract
  • A little weird goes a long way

Peak Minnebar

This is where things get fun. Wondering what makes a session feel uniquely Minnebar? It’s the mix.

Crafternoon is back. The indie arcade is back. Security CTFs and live builds are pulling people in. One presenter is bringing an injection molding machine, while another is walking through 50 years of gaming hardware.

And then there’s the range — sessions on passkeys, quantum computing, decentralized mesh networks, crop art, and even what happens when you combine Bad Bunny with AI and mental health.

It’s not one track. It’s all of it.

And it’s not just the technical side.

There are some strong sessions on the human side of the work too — executive hiring as a relationship problem, communication breakdowns in complex systems, and the “poisons” that quietly undermine teams. These aren’t soft topics — they’re the ones that don’t get enough airtime at most conferences.

That’s what Minnebar is all about: sessions that are participatory, practical, and a little unexpected.

Want to explore non-AI sessions on the schedule? Our friend Ian Young is working on something cool here.

Where there’s still room

At this point, the schedule is in a strong place. We’re not looking to add volume, we’re looking to round it out thoughtfully.

A few areas that are underrepresented relative to what registrants asked for: design/UX, data science & analytics, cybersecurity, accessibility, clean tech, and leadership.

If you work in any of these areas and have been on the fence: this is your sign. People want to hear from you.

Thinking about submitting?

If you’re thinking about submitting, ask yourself:

  • Does this add something new or different?
  • Does it bring a perspective or topic that’s missing?
  • Is it something you couldn’t get anywhere else?

If yes, we’d love to see it. Sessions are open through April 19.

If not, that’s okay too — there’s already a lot to be excited about.

Other questions? Check out the Minnebar Presenter Guide.

Not hosting? You still shape the day.

Minnebar is built by the people who show up — and that includes YOU.

Take a few minutes to explore the sessions and vote on the ones that excite you:

👉 sessions.minnestar.org/sessions

Voting helps us gauge interest and is used to shape room assignments and sizing — making sure sessions land in spaces that match demand.

Final thought

The schedule is taking shape, now it’s about making it feel complete.

  • A little more depth.
  • A little more variety.
  • A few unexpected additions.

That’s what turns a full schedule into a great one. Let’s build something interesting, together.

Sessions close April 19, Minnebar20 is May 2.