Scaling the Open Web: Insights from DrupalCamp England 2026

At 1xINTERNET, we believe that a thriving Drupal community is the backbone of a healthy open web. That’s why we didn't just attend DrupalCamp England 2026 - we helped build it.

Following our role as part of the founding team that established the inaugural event last year, we remained deeply committed to ensuring this became a permanent fixture on the UK tech calendar.

Our team headed to the University of Salford to connect with the community and explore the rapidly evolving landscape of web development and artificial intelligence. From thought-provoking keynotes on the future of "Augmented Intelligence" to deep dives into Drupal’s unique advantages in the AI era, the event was a powerful reminder of why we continue to champion open-source solutions.

From Artificial to Augmented Intelligence

In his opening keynote session, Dr Phininder Balaghan of Traversally challenged the traditional view of AI, suggesting it should instead stand for Augmented Intelligence. The consensus is clear: the future of AI is not about replacing humans, but about augmentation.

Key themes included:

• Augmentation over replacement: Replacing staff is a short-term strategy; the real value lies in integrating AI into existing workflows.
• Data is IP: Your data is your intellectual property. While data is king, it must be protected and ethically managed to be "AI-ready".
• The Human Factor: Organisational change and training are arguably more important than technical adoption itself.

Balaghan offered a perspective shaped from outside the Drupal ecosystem. Reflecting on the platform’s architecture, he observed that Drupal is particularly well positioned to act as a central hub for emerging AI applications. He pointed to its mature capabilities in structured content modelling, granular access control and its long standing commitment to strong security and privacy practices. Together, these characteristics provide a sound foundation for organisations seeking to deploy AI responsibly while maintaining control of their data and governance frameworks.

The Hidden Costs of AI

While much of the camp focused on how to implement AI, Antje Lorch (ifrik) delivered a session on why we must look beyond the technical "how." In a talk designed for both technical and non-technical audiences, Antje shifted the focus to the broader consequences of the AI boom - what she calls the "hidden costs."

The discussion moved past the hype to examine:

• Environmental & Economic Impact: The significant energy consumption of large-scale computing and the pressure AI puts on global chip markets and supply chains.
• Social Responsibility: How AI systems, when deployed at scale, can inadvertently affect people in vulnerable positions and the quality of care or resources they receive.
• Community Health: The potential impact of AI on the Open Source community itself, particularly regarding contributor wellbeing and the integrity of collaborative code.

Antje’s session was a call to action for agencies and developers to stop viewing their work in a vacuum. By taking these trade-offs into account, we can build products for our clients that are not only innovative but also long-term, ethical, and sustainable.
 

Bursting the Drupal "Bubble"

Alex Moreno shared a sobering look at the current state of the Open Web. While Drupal CMS has seen massive technical success, demographic data shows the community is aging - 63% have over 10 years of experience, while only 15% of newer developers have been using Drupal for five years or more.

He also drew our attention to the fact that whilst the launch of Drupal CMS involved global celebrations within the community, it reached the attention of few in the wider industry context.

To ensure the longevity of the platform, the message was simple: we must "burst the bubble" through proactive marketing, PR, and local community engagement to reach end-users and agencies outside our immediate circle.

He highlighted how events like the Drupal AI Summit in Paris, which was a sell out, are paving the way to towards a solution. Bringing Drupal to where audiences are, outside of our echochamber, are really helping reach net new customers for Drupal. 

But we need more people to get involved, he said, encouraging attendees to join initiatives like Promote Drupal and Drupal AI Marketing.

The talk will be presented at Drupal Dev Days in Greece and Alex plans to bring the topic to DrupalCon Rotterdam.

Why Drupal is a Robust Choice for AI

A highlight of day two was the panel discussion on Drupal’s role in the AI era. Unlike many "AI-first" SaaS platforms where AI is merely bolted on, Drupal’s modular architecture and content structuring capabilities make it a natural framework for AI infrastructure.

“Open Source can give you a strategic advantage”

The panel discussion between James Abrahams of FreelyGive, Matt Summers-Sparks of The Children’s Society, Paul Johnson, Managing Director at 1xINTERNET and chaired by James Hall from Everyone TV, explored why Drupal remains a robust choice in the AI era.

The panel discussed topics such as security, governance, data sovereignty and a release from proprietary software licensing fees, with Drupal at the heart of a business's ability to address these key agenda items in 2026 and beyond.

For non-profits like The Children’s Society, the "Build vs. Buy" debate has a clear winner. Open source provides cost certainty in an era where competing proprietary platforms often hook users in before increasing licensing fees. By leveraging the Drupal community, organisations of all sizes can "punch above their weight" without hitting functional plateaus.

Looking Ahead

The pace of development in Drupal AI is accelerating, with a full "playbook" and marketing plan for agencies on the horizon. As we move further into 2026, 1xINTERNET remains committed to driving these innovations forward, ensuring that the web remains open, secure, and human-centric.

Want to learn more about how we’re shaping the future of Drupal and AI? Get in touch with the 1xINTERNET team today.