Add details of 2026 event (#187)

* Add draft of 2026 event

* Update docs/source/open-software-summer-school/funding.md

Co-authored-by: Alessandro Felder <[email protected]>

* update schedule and colour theme

* Update docs/source/open-software-summer-school/index.md

Co-authored-by: Niko Sirmpilatze <[email protected]>

* Update docs/source/open-software-summer-school/index.md

Co-authored-by: Niko Sirmpilatze <[email protected]>

* Update docs/source/open-software-summer-school/index.md

Co-authored-by: Niko Sirmpilatze <[email protected]>

* Update docs/source/open-software-summer-school/index.md

Co-authored-by: Niko Sirmpilatze <[email protected]>

* hyphenate OS

* Remove plural

* Add note about more details to follow

---------

Co-authored-by: Adam Tyson <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Alessandro Felder <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: niksirbi <[email protected]>

Author: 4 people

docs/source/_static/osw_images/OSSS_2026_schedule.png

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# External sources of travel funding
+
+Although limited fee waivers and travel stipends will be available, we encourage applicants to investigate alternative 
+sources of funding as early as possible. If local funding from your lab/institute is not possible, external sources include:
+
+- [IBRO Neuroscience - Training Grants](https://ibro.org/grant/neuroscience-training-grants)
+- [Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grants](https://bifonds.de/fellowships-grants/travel-grants.html)
+- [Royal Society of Biology – Travel Grants](https://www.rsb.org.uk/travel-grants.html)
+- [hellobio - Early Career Scientist Grants](https://hellobio.com/scientist-grants-travel-grants-and-awards)
+- [Open Bioinformatics Foundation – Event Awards](https://www.open-bio.org/event-awards/)
+- [Guarantors of Brain - Travel Grants](https://guarantorsofbrain.org/grants/travel-grants/)
+- [Biochemical Society - General Travel grants](https://www.biochemistry.org/grants-and-awards/grants-and-bursaries/general-travel-grants)
+- [Society for Experimental Biology - Company of Biologists Travel grant](https://www.sebiology.org/grants/grant-overview.html)
+- [Anatomical Society Symington Bequest](https://www.anatsoc.org.uk/grants-prizes/grants/the-symington-bequest/)
+

docs/source/_static/osw_images/ephys-card.png

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 # Open Software Summer School
 
-**The NIU Open Software Summer School brings together researchers, developers, and users of open-source neuroscience software for some hands-on training, community-building and hacking.**
 
-The [the 2025 event](2025/index) (known as Open Software Week) brought together 44 attendees from 12 countries to learn about open source approaches for handling large images, processing microscopy data and analysing video behavioural data. 
-The event will return, **bigger and better**, in summer 2026 at the [Sainsbury Wellcome Centre](https://maps.app.goo.gl/CzWFFjXJZwX87aMj6) 
-in London, U.K. Details are being finalised, but take a look at the details of [the 2025 event](2025/index) for an idea of what you can expect.
+We are excited to announce the second **NIU Open Software Summer School**, taking
+place in **August 2026** at the [Sainsbury Wellcome Centre](https://maps.app.goo.gl/CzWFFjXJZwX87aMj6) 
+in **London, UK**. This event will bring together researchers, developers, and users of open-source software for some hands-on training, community-building and hacking.
 
-:::{note}
-Dates of the 2026 event are TBC, but we expect applications to open in early 2026.
+[The 2025 event](2025/index) (known as Open Software Week) brought together 44 attendees from 12 countries to learn 
+about open-source approaches for handling large images, processing microscopy data and analysing video behavioural data. 
+In 2026, we will return, with an expanded two-week program adding a new *Extracellular Electrophysiology* track, 
+additional satellite events, guest lectures and opportunities for researchers to present their own work. 
+
+## Schedule
+![](/_static/osw_images/OSSS_2026_schedule.png)
+
+
+There are four tracks targeted to different audiences.
+We encourage you to read each track's description and choose the one(s) that best fits your interests. More details 
+be added before registration opens.
+
+:::: {grid} 1 1 2 4
+
+:::{grid-item-card} {fas}`video;sd-text-secondary` Animals in Motion
+:img-top: /_static/osw_images/animals-in-motion-card.png
+:link:
+:link-type: ref
+
+Use open-source tools to track
+and analyse animal motion from video footage.
+
+:::
+
+:::{grid-item-card} {fas}`layer-group;sd-text-primary` Large array data
+:img-top: /_static/osw_images/big-imaging-data-card.png
+:link: 
+:link-type: ref
+
+Bridging technical gaps and communities to process and analyse
+large 3D datasets with open-source tools.
+
+:::
+
+:::{grid-item-card} {fas}`brain;sd-text-warning` BrainGlobe
+:img-top: /_static/osw_images/brainglobe-card.png
+:link: 
+:link-type: ref
+
+Use the BrainGlobe ecosystem of computational neuroanatomy tools
+to analyse whole-brain microscopy datasets.
+:::
+
+:::{grid-item-card} {fas}`bolt;sd-text-info` Extracellular Electrophysiology
+:img-top: /_static/osw_images/ephys-card.png
+:link:
+:link-type: ref
+
+Using open source tools to process and analyse large extracellular electrophysiology data (e.g. from silicon probes)
+:::
+
+::::
+
+:::{admonition} Registration
+:class: info
+You may register for week 1, week 2 or both. However, you can only register for one track per week, i.e:
+
+- **Week 1**: either *Animals in Motion* or *Large Array Data*.
+- **Week 2**: either *BrainGlobe* or *Extracellular Electrophysiology*.
 :::
 
+## Key Dates
+
+| Date | Event |
+| --- | --- |
+| December 1st 2025 | Applications open |
+| January 31st 2026 | Applications close |
+| March 2026 | Applicants are notified of acceptance |
+| July 2026 | Optional preparatory month begins |
+| August 17-21 2026 | Week 1: *Animals in Motion* & *Large Array Data* |
+| August 24-28 2026 | Week 2: *BrainGlobe* & *Extracellular Electrophysiology* 
+
+## Preparatory month
+All four tracks require a basic knowledge of scientific Python programming. If you don't have this background, that's 
+totally fine, we will be running an asynchronous preparatory course in the month before the summer school. Training 
+materials and exercises will be shared with participants, and OSSS instructors will be available to answer any questions.
+
+**This preparatory course is mandatory for those without Python experience, and requires a minimum of four hours per week 
+commitment for four weeks prior to the summer school**
+
+
+
+## Fees
+- **Academic**: £300 per week
+- **Industry**: £600 per week
+
+### Financial Assistance
+A number of fee waivers will be available to applicants who would not otherwise be able to attend the summer school. 
+A limited number of travel stipends will also be available, but we encourage applicants to apply for 
+[independent travel funding](funding).
+
+
+## Feedback from previous summer schools
+
 ![](/_static/osw_images/OSW_2025.jpg)
 **Participants (having a great time) at the hackathon in 2025**
 
-## Selected quotes from previous attendees
+### Selected quotes from previous attendees
 > Sparked a bit of a eureka moment after months of agonising over how to analyse my data!
 
 > Thank you again for organizing this amazing event
@@ -28,7 +118,10 @@ Dates of the 2026 event are TBC, but we expect applications to open in early 202
 ```{toctree}
 :maxdepth: 1
 :caption: Index
+:hidden:
 
+funding
 2025/index
 
+
 ```