Attention Waze community! Exciting opportunities await as the 2026 Local Meetups have arrived! Be sure to mark your calendars!
We’re thrilled to kick off another year of exciting community gatherings, all thanks to your valuable input! This year promises to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow Waze users face-to-face and build lasting friendships.
The full list of Meetups is available HERE. Locations will be confirmed as we get closer to each Meetup.
Here’s a rundown of key details to keep in mind:
- Building a Thriving Community: Building a truly welcoming and vibrant Waze community is our priority. Community Coordinators and Staff Community Managers will partner to carefully curate the participant list, aiming to help our community flourish and strengthen the bonds between its members.
- Waze Cafe: Looking for a more intimate and casual way to connect with your local Waze editor community? The Waze Café format is ideal! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other editors, explore local mapping challenges, and exchange valuable tips and tricks. For more details, please see HERE.
- Travel Cap: For those getting to the Meetup by car, fuel expenses are capped at $300 for a round trip.
- Maximizing Participation: To ensure everyone gets a chance to participate, each attendee can join one Local Meetup per year in their country/region of residence. Exceptions may apply based on your Staff Community Manager’s discretion. If you’re an editor traveling outside your home country during a meetup weekend, flights originating from outside your region won’t be covered.
- Invitation-Only Meetups: To ensure the best possible experience for our registered attendees, these meetups are by invitation only. This allows us to manage logistics precisely and provide a comfortable setting for everyone involved. If you’re interested in attending but haven’t received an invitation, kindly contact your Staff Community Manager to request written approval.
- Hotel Accommodations: No need to worry about hotel arrangements—we’ve got you covered! Our production company will handle all hotel bookings directly, so you can focus on the agenda and get ready for an exciting meetup.
- Stay Informed: Watch your inbox! Approximately three months prior to your Local Meetup, Coordinators can expect to receive a comprehensive “Next Steps” email that will include the registration form and other important details.
- Virtual Meetups: For those who still desire virtual engagement, we offer a solution! If you’re interested in hosting a virtual gathering in conjunction with your local in-person meetup, please reach out to your Staff Community Manager. They can help coordinate the dates and content, and we’ll gladly assist with the registration process for your virtual event.
Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact romia@google.com or nirl@google.com.
We’re truly looking forward to a year filled with meaningful connections and collaborative success! Join us as we embark on this exciting journey together in 2026.
Romi, On behalf of the Waze Communities Group
