BelTech Returns to Spotlight a New Era of Software Engineering

Ireland’s leading technology conference, BelTech, will return on 5 March 2026, bringing together industry leaders, engineers and technologists from across Ireland and beyond.

The annual event at Titanic Belfast will focus on the new reality of software engineering in 2026, exploring how the profession continues to evolve in response to rapid technological change. BelTech 2026 will celebrate modern engineering in the age of AI, with a focus on principles that scale, end-to-end processes that turn ideas into impact, security that is built in from the outset, and AI systems in production that are observable, reliable and safe.

This year’s keynote will be delivered by Dave Farley, a globally respected voice on modern software engineering and an award-winning developer of software. Dave is the founder and Managing Director of Continuous Delivery Ltd, co-author of the best-selling book Continuous Delivery, and content creator behind ‘Modern Software Engineering’, his YouTube channel that has over a quarter of a million subscribers.

His keynote, Vibe Coding – Is This Really the Best We Can Do? The Future of Programming, exploring how AI is influencing programming in practice, why programming languages exist as they do, and what approaches may offer greater control and reliability in the future.

The keynote and talks throughout the day will examine what real value these tools can add, what risks to avoid, and what the evolving role of programmers may look like as the industry adapts. Dave will also be joined on stage by a panel of Northern Ireland’s top engineering leaders to explore the state of software engineering today and where it is heading.

The conference will bring the tech community together to share hard-won lessons from the front line. Attendees can expect practical success stories using modern tools and processes, alongside candid reflections on approaches that did not deliver as expected, and the insights gained as a result.

A key strand of the conference, BelTech EDU, will take place on 6 March as the second day of the event and will focus on inspiring the next generation of engineers and technologists by showcasing modern career pathways and real-world innovation.

Around 400 post-primary pupils and teachers are expected to attend, with a programme featuring engaging technology demonstrations and conversational sessions that give students the opportunity to explore the power of technology, experiment with cutting-edge tools shaping the future, and gain insights from leading industry experts and guest speakers.

Curated by Kainos and in partnership with Allstate, BelTech is supported by Options IT, Aflac Northern Ireland, Rakuten, Unosquare, Software NI, and Belfast City Council. This year’s event will feature an impressive line-up of speakers from across the technology sector, with further announcements to follow.

Curator of BelTech, Síona O’Reilly, Principal Architect at Kainos, said:

“Software engineering has entered a new reality. AI is no longer experimental – it is embedded in how teams design, build and secure systems every day. BelTech exists to bring the community together to share what is genuinely working in practice, as well as the lessons learned along the way.

“This year’s conference is about practical engineering in the AI era, focusing on real-world delivery, resilient systems and the skills engineers need to stay effective as the profession continues to evolve.”

Dr Stephen McKeown, Vice President and Managing Director at Allstate said:

“BelTech is more than a conference – it’s a catalyst for innovation. At Allstate, we’re harnessing AI-driven engineering, secure-by-design principles, and advanced automation to deliver resilient systems at scale.

“Partnering with BelTech allows us to share these breakthroughs, learn from peers, and inspire the next generation of technologists. Together, we’re shaping the future of software engineering and reinforcing Northern Ireland’s position as a global hub for technology excellence.”

Early bird tickets are available until 6 February 2026 at https://aisling-events.com/product/beltech-2026/