On February 24th and 25th, we will be attending Axe-Con 2026, the virtual conference organized by Deque Systems focused on digital accessibility. It’s one of the most relevant global events for professionals in design, development, accessibility, and business who want to build truly inclusive digital experiences.
Official schedule (by track and time): https://www.deque.com/axe-con/schedule/
Event page (general information): https://www.deque.com/axe-con/
Why Axe-Con is such an interesting event
Axe-Con stands out for three reasons:
A multi-track format with technical and strategic sessions (from accessible design to testing and inclusive leadership).
Highly practical learning, designed for real product teams.
Accessibility built into the event itself, with resources like live captions and ASL (American Sign Language) to ensure the content reaches broader audiences.
In addition, the program includes very “real-world” sessions: AI applied to accessibility, responsible automation, and regulatory frameworks (especially relevant in Europe).
Key topics covered in 2026
Without diving into an endless list, Axe-Con 2026’s official agenda and content revolve around four very real-world areas:
Accessible design: how to prevent barriers through UI/UX, components, and design systems.
Development and testing: from front-end best practices to automation and meaningful test coverage.
Compliance and trends: how to align products with global standards and frameworks.
Organization and leadership: how to build culture, processes, and ownership to sustain accessibility over time.
- AI + accessibility keynote (Rana el Kaliouby)
- EAA update (compliance in Europe)
- Quick keyboard testing
- Forced Colors Mode
What we’re taking away (to apply in projects)
Attending reinforces a clear idea: accessibility isn’t an “extra”—it’s part of the user experience, product quality, and compliance.
If you’re building or improving a website/app, these are key focus areas:
- Integrate accessibility from the start (not at the end),
- Take care of components and forms (focus, keyboard support, clear errors),
- Combine automation + manual review,
- Maintain an ongoing monitoring routine so things don’t degrade over time.
Axe-Con 2026 reinforces a simple truth: accessibility isn’t a standalone checklist—it’s a working system that spans design, development, content, QA, and product decisions. When it’s integrated well, the outcome is clear: more inclusive, more robust experiences that are easier to maintain.
If you’d like us to review your website/app and propose an accessibility improvement plan (prioritized by impact and effort), we can help turn it into concrete actions.