T3CON25 took place from November 25 to 27, 2025 at the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. I was there as a participant and, as a member of the TYPO3 Education Committee, gave a talk as part of the recertifications. I was also able to attend the award gala as a guest. In this article, I share my personal impressions and thoughts on the event.

First impressions: Business event instead of barcamp

Although T3CON has already taken place several times at Areal Böhler, it was my first time at this location. To be honest, I had imagined the site to be larger based on the photos from previous years. However, the size turned out to be suitable for the event.

As someone who regularly attends barcamps, the impression was naturally more that of a trade fair or business event. But that was the intention. T3CON has a different target group and focus than a TYPO3camp. Despite the business character, the atmosphere was informal, especially on the Community Day, where the recertifications also took place.

What I missed was a kind of chill-out zone where you could retreat or just sit down in between. Most TYPO3camps and also the Developer Days offer such an opportunity. At events lasting several days, it's sometimes good to be able to withdraw from the hustle and bustle for a few minutes.

My talk: Recertification for TYPO3 integrators

On Community Day I gave my talk "News for Integrators: Important Changes in TYPO3 v13 LTS". The concept of recertification works like this: If you fulfill certain basic requirements, you can extend your valid certificate by one year. To do this, you have to take part in the talks on various certifications (Editor, Integrator, Developer, Consultant) and then answer five questions online. If you answer four out of five questions correctly, your certificate will be extended.

We developed the talk together in the TCCI task force. It was about the most important new features for integrators in TYPO3 v13. The special challenge for me was that I had to give the talk in English. English is not exactly my strong point. But I think it went quite well and I got some positive feedback from the participants.

I probably worry too much about it. Sometimes it's better to just jump in at the deep end. I'm currently also running an online workshop in English for several weeks with participants from the Netherlands. That makes me more confident in the language.

The five questions for integrators were probably perceived as relatively difficult. Unfortunately, not all participants gave the four correct answers. But we in the TCCI team think that the certifications should also have a value. Too easy questions would take the value out of the whole thing.

TYPO3 v14: Backend modernization at last

I was particularly inspired by Benni Mack's talk on TYPO3 v14. TYPO3 v14.0 was officially released on November 25, and Benni also gave an outlook on v14 LTS, which will be released in April 2026.

For me, the long overdue modernization of the TYPO3 backend is the highlight. TYPO3 will finally lose its bad reputation as an old-fashioned CMS. It will be easier for editors to find their way around. Training for editors will be quicker and easier.

For developers and integrators, too, there is a lot that will make our lives easier. And it seems that themes are finally coming. After installing TYPO3, you will no longer just see an error message in the frontend, but can theoretically start creating content straight away.

I have summarized all the details about the changes in TYPO3 v14.0 in a separate blog article: TYPO3 v14.0 is here: Fresh UI, Fluid 5 and the starting signal for the most modern TYPO3 era

Other sessions that inspired me

In addition to Benni Mack's session, I attended various other talks. I particularly remember Karim Marucchi's talk about the open source renaissance in Europe. It was a bit of an eye-opener, as he very clearly identified where TYPO3 should improve as a system and product in order to play a bigger role worldwide.

Above all, it was about the US market, where TYPO3 still hardly plays a role. It is perceived as a "German system". In the US market, it's all about showing decision-makers what they can gain from using a system. How can it help them make money? Sell solutions, not features.

Not really a new insight, but unfortunately we Germans in particular often think too much in terms of developers. In all the texts I write for my services and products, I always try to answer the question in the reader's mind: "What's in it for me? What's in it for me?"

Other interesting sessions were:

• Anja Scharfenberg: CMS Cloud SH - How Schleswig-Holstein is modernizing its administration with TYPO3, Cloud Native and Open Source
• Daniel Fau: Government Site Builder 11 - Overview and status quo
• Cyril Wolfangel: Intelligent internal linking with semantic analysis for TYPO3 SEO
• Panel with Sven Ditz, Joost de Valk and Alexander Veit: Generative Engine Optimization and Visibility in the AI Age
• Sven Ditz: How we turn AI threats into opportunities
• Marco Klawonn: Beyond the Buy Button - Why content in e-commerce must be more than SEO
• Joachim Nickel: Analytics Done Right - Reliable measurements despite data protection and technical limitations

The Awards Gala: Elegant atmosphere and good conversations

The TYPO3 Awards Gala took place on Thursday evening. The mood was great, a completely different atmosphere than during the day. Everyone was beautifully dressed up in evening dresses and suits. Apart from weddings and funerals, this is one of the few opportunities to see me in a suit instead of jeans and a hoodie.

I had lots of good conversations there, met up with old friends and got to know new people. The winners' projects all looked very interesting.

One detail that I was particularly pleased about: I know from some of the nominated agencies that they use one of my video courses to train new employees in TYPO3. This directly shows the impact of my work in the community.

Cyberhouse GmbH won the "Website of the Year" award with the PORR Group project. There were further winners in 17 categories, from Culture and E-Commerce to Healthcare and Transportation.

T3CON vs. TYPO3camps: different formats, different strengths

I attended all three theme days: Community Day, Solution Day and Agency Day. I liked the Community Day and the Agency Day best. The audience and the topics of the talks were the most interesting for me there.

Overall, however, I noticed that I feel a little more comfortable at TYPO3camps and that I take away more for myself. The camps are more developer and integrator-oriented. They are about learning and also teaching. T3CON is a kind of trade fair, a business event that has a completely different focus. That's perfectly fine, it's what we want and it's also necessary. But I simply like the camps more because the atmosphere is more relaxed. I'm more the bar camp type.

That doesn't mean that T3CON isn't valuable. Each format has its justification and addresses different needs. T3CON is certainly the right format for networking and business contacts. For technical deep-dive and community exchange, the camps are ideal.

Organization: Professionally implemented

The event team has put together a professional event. The location at Areal Böhler is exciting. I find it interesting how many old factories and industrial halls in the Ruhr region have been transformed into modern event locations.

The coffee supply was guaranteed and overall the organization ran smoothly. At a conference of this size, there are always a few little things that could be done differently next time. For example, the signage on the first day or short breaks between the talks so that you can move from one room to another in a relaxed manner.

TYPO3 is alive and well: an optimistic view of the future

What I take away from T3CON is one thing above all: TYPO3 is alive. The product is alive, the community is alive. TYPO3 GmbH is working hard to ensure the future of TYPO3 on the international market.

A lot is planned for 2026, especially in the USA. There will even be a TYPO3camp there in June (details have not yet been announced). I think that's good. Overall, you can see that there is a plan that is being worked on.

It's a long-term game. Patience and consistency are required. But I think TYPO3 is on the right track and I'm optimistic and excited about the future.

My plans for TYPO3 v14

Of course there will be a new video course for v14 from me. Production will start in April 2026, at the same time as the release of v14 LTS. I expect the new course to be available in May or June 2026. There will also be some changes to the course model, but I don't want to reveal any more at this point.

I'm looking forward to being able to start new projects with v14 soon. And then the upgrade marathon will enter the next round: updating older instances to v14.

Conclusion: TYPO3 has a future

T3CON is a valuable event for the TYPO3 ecosystem. My thanks and respect go to the organizing team for the professional implementation.

The three days have shown me that TYPO3 is alive and growing. With v14 finally comes the backend modernization that will bring TYPO3 forward. The community is active, TYPO3 GmbH is working on a clear strategy for the future, and the international plans for 2026 sound promising.

Whether T3CON or TYPO3camp, business networking or technical deep-dive: both formats have their place. The most important thing is to be part of this vibrant community and get involved.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming developments around TYPO3 v14 and to implementing new projects with the modernized version. And, of course, I look forward to seeing the community again at upcoming events.