Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s new for 2027?

For Open Data Week 2027, we’re stretching the festival to two weeks long, running from Saturday, March 27 through Sunday, April 11. This should let us ensure fewer events are being held at the same time, allowing you to attend everything you are interested in! And, it’s the 10th anniversary of Data Through Design! And we would love to have creative approaches to data throughout the festival this year. We’re particularly interested in proposals for in-person events throughout New York City.

For School of Data, we are excited to expand opportunities for people working on digital equity, smart cities, and artificial intelligence. If you use publicly available data on these topics, share your event ideas!

How do I submit a proposal for Open Data Week? School of Data?

Use this form to submit a proposal to Open Data Week or School of Data. If you’re unsure which program your idea is most suitable for, you can tell us that in the form and we’ll help you make the decision. For Data Through Design’s annual art exhibit, use their form at datathroughdesign.com.

What’s the difference between Open Data Week and School of Data?

Open Data Week events are held anytime during the festival (Saturday, March 27 through Sunday, April 11) and can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. Except for special cases, like the 2026 Data Docs film series, Open Data Week events are completely free to attend.

School of Data is a one day in-person conference, followed by (Un)School of Data, a one day unconference focused more on discussions. While talks should still be made applicable for general audiences, you will be presenting to other people who decided to spend their day at a civic tech conference.

What can I submit?

We are excited to hear your ideas for in-person and virtual events, whether you have a rough sketch, a grand vision, or anything in between. Please read the following criteria carefully and be sure that your proposal meets them. Note that if your proposal is accepted, you will have the opportunity to update your event information before it is published in the festival program.

Every proposal must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. It relates to a dataset on NYC Open Data
  2. It relates to publicly available data, specifically about NYC
  3. It relates to publicly available data about a broader area than NYC, if NYC is used as the main example
  4. It relates to open data conceptually and is something that might benefit NYC

For more information about what we are looking for in a proposal, we wrote up a short explainer.

Who should submit a proposal?

Anyone who wants to share their work, expertise, and enthusiasm for open data and New York City should share a proposal. Presenters should have expertise in their proposal topic and experience with presenting to a live audience. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate!

Does it cost money to hold an event?

Open Data Week will provide a free virtual meeting space for all virtual/hybrid events, but for in-person proposals, we rely on the organizer to find an event space. Open Data Week does not cover any costs associated with hosting an event in-person or otherwise.

What should I expect after submitting a proposal?

The Open Data Week Team will review proposals on a rolling basis. Here is our process:

  1. You submit your proposal
  2. Our team reviews your proposal
  3. If your proposal is selected for further discussion, you will be asked to have a call with our team to discuss it
  4. We will send out acceptances and rejections
  5. If your proposal is selected for the program, you will be required to submit program-ready event details. Someone from your organizing team will also be required to attend information sessions in the months leading up to the festival.
  6. The Open Data Week and School of Data 2027 programs will go live in early 2027

If selected for participation, you agree to the following:

  1. Being responsive to communications from the Open Data Week Team and finalizing your event information in a timely manner
  2. Promoting Open Data Week to your communities
  3. To the best of your ability, adhering to the event organizer’s timeline, and all accessibility and inclusivity event management practices. The Open Data Week Team will provide guidance where possible.

When will the program be published?

Our aim is to launch the program between mid-February and early-March, and we may publish the schedule in waves as batches of events are confirmed. The sooner you confirm your event details, the sooner we can publish the program and promote your events.