The ACCU Conference is one of the longest running developer conferences in the world. Established by the ACCU organisation in 1997 it has always been open to the whole community and at the forefront of what's happening in the world of software development.

Originally focused on C and C++, that community has expanded to include other language ecosystems, and you should expect to be exposed to content on C#, D, F#, Go, Javascript, Haskell, Java, Kotlin, Lisp, Python, Ruby, Rust, Swift and more. There are always sessions on TDD, BDD, and how to do programming right.

The tagline for the ACCU is "Professionalism in Programming", which captures the whole spectrum of programming languages, tools, techniques and processes involved in advancing our craft.

The ACCU Conference is a conference by programmers for programmers about programming.

News: ACCU on Sea : A joint production of ACCU and C++ on Sea


28th July 2025 at 15:05

Two great UK software developer conferences come together in one great venue for a week just above sea level.

The ACCU conference has been a staple of the UK software developer community for decades, and for the last of those decades has been hosted in Bristol, in the spring. In the past we have also had additional events, such as the series of ACCU Security events around the early 2010s and most recently, the ACCU Autumn event in Belfast in 2019.

But times change. Following the pandemic, (for a number of reasons) attendance remains significantly down at most of the major conferences in our community. Meantime expenses relentlessly spiral up! We have reached the point where the event is no longer sustainable in its current form.

But the ACCU Conference is run and managed by people who are passionate about the ACCU community and this great event! We want to preserve everything that has made it great over the years.

With this in mind, we’re excited to announce that in 2026 ACCU will be joining forces with C++ on Sea to present a single combined event!

The ACCU conference has always had a core of pure C++ content - from its roots in the 90s and early 2000s as a C and C++ focused event - through the 2010s where there were always at least 3 tracks of mostly C++ content. So simply ring-fencing those tracks as having a pure C++ focus and branding them “C++ on Sea” gives us a near perfect intersection of what has made these two events so great and much loved!

But part of C++ on Sea’s identity is its location - it’s right there in the name! Well, as part of this arrangement, we’ll also be relocating to C++ on Sea’s venue in Folkestone, Kent. If you have not been there, it’s a great venue, with a lot of character, and stunning views across the English Channel. There’s a reason C++ on Sea has built its brand around it - and now that comes to ACCU, too. We’ll miss Bristol, which has served us well, but there is much to look forward to, too.

The other big change will be the dates. Traditionally, the main ACCU event has run in the spring. But to take full advantage of the new location, we’ll be running later in the year - in June.

The format will remain largely unchanged (and returning to our Wednesday - Saturday schedule for the main conference - with pre-conference workshops on Monday and Tuesday). The three C++ tracks will be more explicitly called out as being C++ tracks - as part of the C++ on Sea sub-event - but that is little more than a naming exercise.

Of course, all this is possible because both events are now managed by Shaved Yaks Ltd. But the conference with still be chaired by Guy Davidson, who will also continue to be the primary MC. The ACCU Conference Programme Committee will remain engaged in assembling the programme. Other traditions, such as the conference dinner, are also preserved - but now with views over the sea!

So, exciting times. We’re really looking forward to seeing how this all works out. See you at next year’s event.


View from the balcony at C++ on Sea 2022

ACCU on Sea : Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
15th-20th June 2026.


At its core the ACCU Conference is about developers who want to share their experience through presentations and interactive workshops with other developers. To reach as many as possible we plan, again, to run a hybrid conference in 2025. All sessions will be onsite at our venue in Bristol. but most will be live-streamed for remote attendees.

Location

"ACCU on Sea" - the combined ACCU and C++ on Sea conferences, will be held at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone, Kent, UK. This historic seaside town is also home to the channel tunnel and, as such, has excellent links to the rest of europe. It's also very accessible from London with the UK's (currently) only high speed link, the HS1. For more comprehensive travel information, see the page, Getting to C++ on Sea

The Leas Cliff Hall is a working theater that also has a dedicated conference suite. Built into the cliffs, and with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the sea on three sides, the views are spectacular!

The venue is about a 15 minute walk from Folkestone Central station, or ten minutes walk to the bustling town centre. As well as the modern town the old quarter, home to art galleries, curio shops and bohemian cafes and restaurants, extends down to the picturesque harbour. It's no wonder The Times voted it one of the best places to live in 2023.

Although the venue is split across three floors, connected via staircases, it is also fully accessible via elevator.

Accommodation

Accommodation can be booked directly with nearby hotels in the area.

The ACCU on Sea conference is run by Shaved Yaks Events in partnership with the ACCU Conference Committee.