Overview of the Fedora Linux 44 Release
Fedora Linux 44 is on the verge of its official launch, marking another milestone in the project's history. While the release engineering team and packagers finalize the last details, the community is gearing up for a cherished tradition: the Global Virtual Release Party. This celebration, taking place slightly ahead of the actual release, recognizes the months of dedicated work from contributors worldwide—whether seasoned package maintainers, documentation writers, graphic artists, or first-time users exploring a Fedora Atomic Desktop. The event belongs to everyone who helped shape this release.
Event Details and Date
The Fedora Linux 44 Virtual Release Party is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026. The half-day event features a mix of live sessions, recorded deep-dives, and community socialization. Attendees can expect updates from the Fedora Project Leader, behind-the-scenes looks at new features like Nix integration and DNF5, and a sneak peek at the upcoming Flock conference.
How to Attend
The event is free and open to all, but registration is required to access the virtual venue. The chosen platform is Element Creations, a chat communication provider that has been consistently used for Global Virtual Release Parties. Thanks to Element and Matrix.org for providing the tools that unite the global Fedora community. To participate, register for the live event on Matrix.
Registration Instructions
Visit the official registration page to sign up. After registration, you will receive details on how to join the Matrix room where the party will unfold. Ensure you have a Matrix account (or create one) to participate in discussions and Q&A sessions.
Event Schedule
All times are listed in US Eastern (EDT, UTC-4) and UTC. Below is the complete schedule with session descriptions.
Opening Remarks (09:00 EDT / 13:00 UTC)
Speakers: Jef Spaleta, Justin Wheeler. Join the Fedora Project Leader and Community Architect as they kick off the celebration, reflect on the last release cycle, and share news from around the project.
FPL Update (09:15 EDT / 13:15 UTC)
Speaker: Jef Spaleta. Jef shares his reflections on Fedora Linux 44, what this release means for the project, and his vision for the future.
Packit as Fedora dist-git CI (09:30 EDT / 13:30 UTC)
Speakers: František Lachman, Laura Barcziova, Maja Massarini, Matej Focko, Nikola Forro. The Packit team discusses how Packit is taking over Fedora dist-git CI, the implications for contributors, and what's next.
Adding Nix to Fedora: we did a thing (09:45 EDT / 13:45 UTC)
Speaker: Jens Petersen. A behind-the-scenes look at bringing the Nix package tool to Fedora 44—what it took, what it unlocks, and what it means for reproducible environments.
PackageKit with DNF5 and KDE Integration (10:00 EDT / 14:00 UTC)
Speaker: Neal Gompa. Dive into the integration of PackageKit with DNF5 and KDE in F44, the under-the-hood changes, and their impact on the desktop experience.
Server WG (10:15 EDT / 14:15 UTC)
Speaker: Peter Boy. An overview of the Server Working Group's initiative to create a dedicated home server spin, driven by community home lab feedback.
Break (10:30 EDT / 14:30 UTC)
Take a screen break, grab some coffee, or merge any pending pull requests.
Schedule note: All times are approximate; sessions may run slightly over or under. The event will be recorded and available afterward for those who cannot attend live.
Why Celebrate Together?
Every Fedora release represents months of collaboration, testing, and innovation from a global community. The Virtual Release Party is a chance to honor that effort, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and learn about the latest advancements. Whether you are a long-time contributor or a new user, this celebration is for you.
Looking Ahead
Beyond the release party, Fedora continues to evolve. The sneak peek at Flock conference hints at future community gatherings. Attend this event to stay informed and engaged with the Fedora ecosystem.