We are looking forward to welcoming you to Dataharvest- The European Investigative Journalism Conference 2026 on May 28-31 in Mechelen!
How can I register for the conference and can I still buy a ticket?
The first batch of conference tickets has sold out! But don’t worry – the second batch of tickets will be released for sale mid-February! You can buy the tickets here.
Can I still send you a proposal for the session?
Our first call for proposals closed on 18 January 2026 – thank you for all your ideas! We’re now reviewing the pitches. We’ll also open a second call for proposals in April.
What does the conference fee include?
It includes full conference attendance, coffee breaks and lunches. The conference fee doesn’t include a ticket for a full-day masterclass (on Thursday, 28 May 2026). The masterclass tickets need to be purchased separately.
When does the conference start?
The official programme of the conference starts on Friday, 29 May 2026, in the morning, and ends on 31 May 2026 around lunch. The conference doors open each day at 09:00 am. Please arrive on time and enjoy a coffee or tea before the first sessions begin at 9:30/10:00 am (depending on the day, please check the programme).
All the participants will need to check in upon arrival, so please have your ticket ready for scanning. If you are in Mechelen early, you can also come by the school on 28 May and register until 4 pm, to avoid waiting in line on Friday morning. All other attendees can register upon arrival at the Thomas More Journalism School on 29 or 30 May.
Master-class participants should register on the morning of 28 May.
The programme will be published online, but we recommend using the Sched app (iOS, Android) to be able to follow any changes during the event.
Can I volunteer at Dataharvest?
If you wish to volunteer at the conference, please apply via this form. We will let you know if your application has been successful by mid-February (2026).
What if I need a visa to enter Belgium?
If you are a speaker or a ticket-holding attendee and need to apply for a visa, please immediately contact jelena@journalismarena.eu. We will provide you with an invitation letter for you to use as part of your visa application.
How to get to Mechelen?
Information regarding arrival and departure logistics for Mechelen, along with general information about the city, can be found here.
Where is the conference taking place?
The venue is the Thomas More Journalism School, Campus De Ham, Raghenoplein 21, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium.
Do you have a code of conduct?
Arena for Journalism in Europe, the organisation behind Dataharvest, is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and safe work environment for its staff and for participants in all events. Please read the code of conduct before attending the conference.
I can’t attend the conference. (How) can I cancel my ticket?
You can cancel your ticket up to ten days before the conference starts (Monday, 18 May 2026). This applies to both conference tickets and masterclasses. Cancellations are subject to a fee (25% of the registration price) to cover administrative costs. If you paid with a credit card, the refund will be automatically transferred to your account in 7-14 days. If you paid with a bank transfer, please send your bank account number (including SWIFT/IBAN code) and the order number to info@journalismarena.eu, so that we can initiate the refund.
If you cancel less than ten days before the start of the event (after 18 May 2026), we will unfortunately not be able to refund you. However, we will be happy to transfer your ticket to a colleague of yours at no extra cost. Just get in touch, and we will help you out!
Will the event be live-streamed?
Dataharvest is a fully in-person conference. No sessions will be live-streamed or recorded. Participants can, in principle, share their insights and impressions from the conference on social media, but they should be mindful of other participants’ privacy. Also, some speakers might not want you to share the content of their sessions online – please respect that!
Let’s keep in touch!
If you have further questions, please contact info@dataharvest.eu. If you want to sign up for our newsletter, please click here.