Call for Speakers

The AutomationSTAR 2026 Call for Speakers is open!

AutomationSTAR is Europe’s largest test automation event, and this year we’re going to Antwerp, November 4th-5th. This is no ordinary conference – it’s a 2-day celebration completely dedicated to test automation.

This is your chance to submit your proposal to speak on stage and share your experience, expertise, and anything else you think the test automation community should know about!  We are looking for experienced speakers, first-time speakers and everything in between.

Please read through the submission details below, and start your talk proposal.

About AutomationSTAR 2026

The main focus of our conference this year centres on Future Skills. The process requires transformation rather than creating fear or resistance. The growing ability of AI to perform automated testing and generate test data and debug code raises questions about what will happen to human automation engineers. We need to level up. We concentrate on human abilities which cannot be replaced by machines while using AI systems to enhance our work efficiency and effectively.  

Our ‘Future Automation Skills’ theme encompasses: 

Human-AI Collaboration: 

• Working effectively with AI Agentic Agents and copilots 

• Context engineering for test automation and quality engineering 

• Vibe testing and the validation of AI-generated test code and AI engineering blueprints.  

• Understanding when to trust AI and when to override it 

Skills That Keep Us Relevant: 

• AI systems lack cognitive human abilities to solve complex problems and critical thinking.  

• New testing techniques and deterministic testing.  

• Strategic quality engineering lifecycle planning and risk assessment 

• Communication, stakeholder management, and building quality culture 

Adapting Our Craft: 

• Test automation in the age of AI-generated code 

• Maintaining and evolving AI-generated test suites 

• AI assurance for AI/ML systems and models 

• Testability and observability in AI-infused applications 

Futureproofing Your Career: 

• Skills roadmaps for the AI era 

• Learning strategies for rapidly evolving technology 

• Developing skills which work together with AI systems instead of fighting against their capabilities.  

• Case studies of teams successfully transitioning to AI-augmented workflows 

The AutomationSTAR team wants to hear about your automation work experience which includes test automation and all its subdomains and automation techniques. Share your experience with artificial intelligence or intelligent automation and the skills which will make you vital during the AI revolution.  

We have different talk types to suit your submission:

Half-Day Tutorials are 3 hour expert masterclasses. Popular tutorials can be large. To be effective, exercises should be easy to explain, understand and perform, but you can also consider tutorials with technical hands-on tasks that the delegates perform on their own laptops.

Workshops are 90-minute sessions. We prefer sessions that engage the class and have substantial workshop or hands-on content. These sessions are intended to be educational and experiential.

Track Talks are 45-minute sessions with 30 minutes of presentation/talk followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and audience discussion. 

This conference is a great opportunity for you to share your ideas and experience with a growing audience that have come  from Europe and all over the world.

We expect to receive a large number of submissions, but we will be selecting sessions depending on the quality of the proposal, not the experience of the proposer. If you have a good topic to share, maybe this will be your first public speaking session!

We can’t wait to receive your submissions for the conference. Are you ready?

Key Dates:

Here are milestone dates to keep in mind:

• Submission opens 11th November 2025
• Submissions deadline 6th February 2026
• Notice of acceptance April 2026
• Conference 4th & 5th November 2026

You can start your submission here.

The time has come for you to create the direction which will lead our professional development. The test automation community must take charge of discussing AI development progress to determine our future direction and maintain our ability to deliver value. Your viewpoint holds significance regardless of your current experience with AI because you work with them every day or you are beginning to understand their impact on your professional future.  

We expect to receive numerous submissions but remember we select sessions based on the quality and relevance of the proposal, not how well ChatGPT can write a submission. You have the opportunity to present your knowledge about automation future at this event even if you are giving your first conference presentation.  

We welcome your entry submissions while we invite you to experience Antwerp in Belgium. The future has arrived and it needs your response.  

Johnathan Wright

Programme Chair,

AutomationSTAR 2026

Speaker Benefits