Just like people, technology grows, adapts, and figures itself out over time. And after 25 years, Drupal has done all of that and more.
On January 10, 2026, the Drupal Pune community came together to celebrate this milestone at a special Drupal Birthday Edition meetup, marking 25 years of Drupal. Hosted by QED42 at their Pune, India office, the event brought together Drupal enthusiasts, professionals, and long-time community members for a morning filled with learning, reflection, and good conversations.
The day kicked off with a relaxed meet-and-greet, setting the tone for what felt less like a formal event and more like a community reunion. That was followed by an insightful session titled “Drupal at 25: A Quarter-Century of Innovation and Community” by me.
I took everyone on a journey through Drupal’s story, one that mirrors human growth in many ways. It started back in 2001 as this simple dorm-room experiment, just people trying to solve a problem, no big master plan. And over time, through a lot of trial, learning, and collaboration, it turned into something real and dependable.
Today, that same idea has grown into a powerful, enterprise-grade content management system trusted by governments, universities, media houses, and global brands. That evolution is kind of crazy when you think about it. I talked about the key milestones that shaped Drupal and how it wasn’t about sudden breakthroughs, but steady progress.
Consistent innovation, a strong open-source community, and a commitment to flexibility are what helped it grow without losing what made it special in the first place.
One of the most engaging parts of the meetup was the discussion between members around Drupal’s future in the age of AI. The conversation focused on how Drupal is becoming increasingly AI-ready, thanks to its flexible architecture and API-first approach.
From content generation and personalisation to smarter workflows, participants shared how Drupal is well-positionedwell positioned to support modern, intelligent digital experiences without compromising on security or scalability.
The meetup ended over lunch, with people breaking into small groups (that’s honestly where the deeper conversations always happen at any event).
Conversations flowed easily, ideas were exchanged, and there was a shared sense of excitement about what lies ahead.
More than anything, the event was a reminder that Drupal’s real strength isn’t just technology. It’s the community that continues to build, support, and evolve it together.
Here’s to the next chapter of Drupal!