AGENDA

Explore the 2026 program.

The Hands-On Testing 2026 program brought together talks, hands-on workshops, and the QE Summit around AI-driven testing, autonomous quality, test automation, performance, security, and modern engineering practices.

Browse the sessions by day and format, and explore the recordings now available on the QA Minds YouTube playlist.

WATCH THE 2026 SESSIONS

Dates:

Aug 12–15, 2026 · Virtual & Guadalajara, MX

Formats:

Talks · Hands-on Workshops · QE Summit

Mode:

Hybrid — live streams + on-site stages

AGENDA

Build your own testing track.

Four days of talks, workshops, and the QE Summit so you can go deep where it matters: automation, AI-driven quality, performance, and resilient architectures. Filter by day, format, and mode to design the agenda that matches your role and learning goals.

Dates:

Aug 12–15, 2026 · Virtual & Guadalajara, MX

Formats:

Talks · Hands-on Workshops · QE Summit

Mode:

Hybrid — live streams + on-site stages

DAY SESSION TYPE MODE

Registration & Check-in (08:00 – 08:30)

BREAK VIRTUAL

Spanish ·

Opening Remarks by Blanca Moreno, QA Minds CEO and Hands-On Testing Founder

BREAK VIRTUAL

English ·

From Polling to Events: The Future of Browser Automation

Diego Molina · Software Engineer

TALK VIRTUAL

English · 9:00 - 10:00

Mi estrategia de pruebas no siempre incluye IA

Blanca Moreno Gallegos · CEO at QA Minds

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 09:00 - 10:00

Competencias y habilidades fundamentales del liderazgo en la era de la IA

Claudia Rivero · Quality Engineering Manager at EPAM

TALK ON-SITE

Spanish · 9:00 - 10:00

Flotas Autónomas, Equipos Imparables: El Amanecer de la Era Agentic

Carlos Gauto · Project Leader

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 9:00 - 10:00

El problema de la verdad en sistemas con IA

Juan Carlos Alemán · Engineering Director

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 10:00 - 11:00

Coffee Break (10:00 – 10:30)

BREAK VIRTUAL

English · 10:00 - 10:30

The Judgment Gap: Why AI Adoption Without Verification Is Worse Than No AI At All.

Tim Rayburn · Vice President of Consulting

TALK VIRTUAL

English · 10:00 - 11:00

The Judgment Gap: Why AI Adoption Without Verification Is Worse Than No AI At All.| Tim Rayburn| Vice President of Consulting| English| Fri 14| 10:00 - 11:00| Virtual| Talk| Your organization adopted AI. Congratulations — so did everyone else. But here's what the data actually shows: in a pre-registered experiment with 758 consultants, Harvard and BCG found that AI made good work 40% better and bad work 19 percentage points *worse* than working without AI at all. The tool that amplifies expertise also amplifies poor judgment — and the boundary between the two is invisible without training. This isn't a theoretical risk. In our own survey of 571 professionals, 93.9% use AI frequently — but 69.4% spend zero time on advanced capabilities. Microsoft's 300,000-person Copilot rollout found the same pattern: broad adoption clustered at the simplest features, with a measurable productivity dip from weeks 3 through 10 as initial excitement collided with real-world complexity. Adoption isn't the hard part anymore. Judgment is. In this session, you'll learn: - How to identify whether a task falls inside or outside AI's reliability boundary — and why getting this wrong is catastrophic - A practical verification framework that catches AI failures *before* they reach your clients or production systems - Why the "adoption valley" kills most AI initiatives, and the specific practices that get teams through it - How to build team-level habits that make AI output trustworthy by default, not by accident You'll leave with concrete processes you can implement Monday morning to close the gap between "we use AI" and "we use AI well."| 20260814| 1000| 1100| https://handsontesting.com/wp-content/uploads/Tim-Rayburn-speaker.webp| Tim Rayburn is a Vice President of Consulting with Improving Enterprises, a software and project management consulting company in Dallas, TX. He is a passionate advocate of apprenticeship and mentorship in corporate environments. He has been awarded the Microsoft MVP in recognition of his expertise and community leadership 11 times. He is also a conference organizer, an author, and can be found speaking across the nation on agile processes, software design, and career management. He lives in the North Dallas area with his amazing wife Kate and their loyal dogs Dresden and Radagast.| https://www.linkedin.com/in/trayburn/| https://www.youtube.com/live/l7m0z1Vo32Y?si=gUosZvoPx1KesGS9| https://handsontesting.com/tickets/

De la teoría a la práctica: construye tu Ground Truth Assessment en 50 minutos

Juan Carlos Alemán · Engineering Director

QE SUMMIT ON-SITE

Spanish · 10:00 - 11:30

Code Wizardry: Casting Spells to Fix Bugs

Andres Sacco · Technical Leader

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 10:00 - 11:00

Vibes aren’t a Strategy: Engineering context in the Age of AI

Tim Rayburn · Vice President of Consulting

TALK ON-SITE

English · 10:30 - 11:30

Vibes aren’t a Strategy: Engineering context in the Age of AI| Tim Rayburn| Vice President of Consulting| English| Sat 15| 10:30 - 11:30| On-Site| Talk| The Problem: The "Vibe Coding" Wall We’ve all experienced the magic of "vibe coding"—describing a feature to an AI and watching it come to life. But for greenfield projects, "vibes" quickly lead to architectural drift, context loss, and unmaintainable "spaghetti" code. The missing link isn't a better prompt; it’s a better process. The Solution: Context Engineering via BMAD This hands-on session introduces the BMAD Method (Breakthrough Method for Agile AI-Driven Development), a revolutionary framework that transforms AI from a chatty assistant into a structured, production-ready development team. Participants will learn how to replace fuzzy prompts with Context Engineering. We will use the BMAD multi-agent workflow to greenfield an application from scratch—moving through a disciplined, four-phase lifecycle: Analysis: Using specialized agents to brainstorm and research the project "North Star." Planning: Generating high-fidelity PRDs and specs that provide the "source of truth." Solutioning: Sharding documentation into actionable epics and stories to prevent context bloat. Implementation: Orchestrating Developer and QA agents to execute code with zero "context loss." Hands-On Experience Attendees will work through a live greenfield track, choosing between Quick Flow (for rapid prototyping) and the full BMAD Method (for robust platforms). You will see firsthand how to use the BMAD-Core flattener and agent-as-code patterns to maintain a single source of truth within your repository. Key Takeaways Context Engineering Mastery: Learn to design the structural context that AI agents need to build complex systems without hallucinations. The Multi-Agent Team: Understand the roles of the Analyst, Architect, and Scrum Master agents in a spec-driven environment. Practical Tooling: Get hands-on with the BMAD CLI and learn how to integrate it with IDEs like Cursor, Claude Code, or VS Code.| 20260815| 1030| 1130| https://handsontesting.com/wp-content/uploads/Tim-Rayburn-speaker.webp| Tim Rayburn is a Vice President of Consulting with Improving Enterprises, a software and project management consulting company in Dallas, TX. He is a passionate advocate of apprenticeship and mentorship in corporate environments. He has been awarded the Microsoft MVP in recognition of his expertise and community leadership 11 times. He is also a conference organizer, an author, and can be found speaking across the nation on agile processes, software design, and career management. He lives in the North Dallas area with his amazing wife Kate and their loyal dogs Dresden and Radagast.| https://www.linkedin.com/in/trayburn/| https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJL6iubHUeX32y1Gy3I3aMgbAKHePoUo2| https://handsontesting.com/tickets/

Test Orchestration: The Missing Layer Between CI/CD and Continuous Testing

Caio Medeiros Pinto · Senior DevOps Pre-sales & Engineer

TALK VIRTUAL

English · 11:00 - 12:00

Calidad autónoma en la era de la IA: del caso de uso a la evidencia continua

Dalia Trujillo · Líder de calidad y metodología

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 11:00 - 12:00

Presentación del libro: El día que el sistema falló

Josephlind Mendoza · AI Agents & Automation Consultant at IT REBOOT

TALK ON-SITE

Spanish · 11:30 - 12:00

La Ecuación Tiempo vs. Costo: Cómo Claude Code Optimiza el ROI en QA

Mericia Valencia ·

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 12:00 - 13:00

Choosing the Best Testing Strategy

Ana Alatorre · QA Lead

QE SUMMIT ON-SITE

Spanish · 12:00 - 14:00

Shift Left Testing + AI: Intelligent Prevention Through Language and Context

Sergio Gomez · QA Staff Lead

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 12:00 - 13:00

Shift Left Testing + AI: Intelligent Prevention Through Language and Context| Sergio Gomez| QA Staff Lead| Spanish| Thu 13| 12:00 - 13:00| Virtual| Talk| This talk explores how manual testers can leverage AI, particularly Natural Language Processing, to strengthen Shift Left practices by understanding requirements, user stories, and risks earlier in the development lifecycle. Rather than replacing human intuition, AI enhances it by helping testers interpret context, uncover hidden ambiguities, and generate more effective test ideas from natural language inputs. Attendees will learn how to use AI as a thinking partner in manual testing, improving requirement analysis, guiding exploratory testing, and enabling earlier defect prevention through better understanding of language and intent. The session focuses on practical, real-world techniques that empower testers to deliver higher quality from the very beginning.| 20260813| 1200| 1300| https://handsontesting.com/wp-content/uploads/sergio-gomez.webp| I am a 35-year-old Quality Assurance professional born in Bolivia, with over 8 years of experience in software testing and more than 5 years leading QA teams. Throughout my career, I have focused on elevating the role of testing within the software development lifecycle, promoting a culture of quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I have strong experience in manual testing, test strategy, and process definition, helping teams deliver reliable and user-centered products. I’m passionate about empowering testers to think critically, explore systems deeply, and contribute beyond traditional testing activities. In recent years, I have explored the integration of Artificial Intelligence into testing practices, using it as a support tool to enhance analysis, improve test design, and increase overall efficiency—while maintaining a strong emphasis on human insight and judgment.| https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-walter-gomez-jimenez/| https://www.youtube.com/live/O5W_R1kWens?si=EBdNIHgfSDEn9Yjn| https://handsontesting.com/tickets/

La nueva pirámide de pruebas para la era de la GenAI

Rocío Correa · Software Testing Best Practices & QE Engineer

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 12:00 -13:00

Prompt Engineering avanzado en QA: De historias de usuario a escenarios BDD automáticos con Python y Gemini API

Elena Campos · Automation QA Engineer

TALK ON-SITE

Spanish · 12:00 -13:00

Cómo automatizar tests para LLMs que nunca responden de la misma manera

Manuel Alejandro Ledezma Falcon · Sr. QA Automation Lead & Content creator

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 13:00 14:00

What no one tells you when you start with Agentic QA in real projects!

Karime Salomón · Senior Director, Quality Engineering

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 13:00 14:00

Decoding cultural “bugs”: lessons from my remote Europe–India team

Giulia Scalaberni · People & BI Product Manager

TALK VIRTUAL

English · 13:00 -14:00

Coffee Break (13:00 – 13:30)

BREAK VIRTUAL

English · 13:00 - 13:30

El tester en la era de la IA: ¿Evoluciona o desaparece?

Guillermo Marchebout · Director of Application Engineering Practice

TALK ON-SITE

Spanish · 13:30 -14:00

Break

BREAK VIRTUAL

English · 14:00 - 15:00

Break

BREAK VIRTUAL

English · 14:00 - 15:00

Break

BREAK VIRTUAL

English · 14:00 - 15:00

E2E Testing en piloto automático

Fernando Espinoza · Mozilla Reps

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 15:00 - 16:00

Corriente Senior: El arte de volar sin caer

David Martinez · Consultor en Innovación Tecnológica & CTO

TALK VIRTUAL

Spanish · 15:00 - 16:00

Corriente Senior: El arte de volar sin caer| David Martinez| Consultor en Innovación Tecnológica & CTO| Spanish| Fri 14| 15:00 - 16:00| Virtual| Talk| ¿Cómo se forja realmente un perfil Senior? Durante más de 25 años de carrera, he constatado una brecha crítica en la industria: el vacío de acompañamiento en el salto del Junior al Senior. A menudo, los desarrolladores noveles cuentan con tutorización inicial, pero llega un punto de inflexión donde deben "volar solos" para demostrar su valía. Sin embargo, en un entorno de alta presión, es difícil encontrar responsables de proyecto que se atrevan a delegar esa responsabilidad en hitos críticos. El resultado es un estancamiento profesional y una fuga de talento por falta de crecimiento real. En esta charla, compartiré mi experiencia personal y profesional —desde aquel momento en que me soltaron "demasiado pronto" hasta mi rol actual creando equipos de alto rendimiento—. Analizaremos cómo transformé una experiencia azarosa en un proceso metodológico replicable. Lo que aprenderás: El "Cauce" del Senior: Cómo diseñar un camino estructurado que guíe al desarrollador como la corriente de un río, eliminando la incertidumbre del proceso. Gestión del riesgo en la delegación: Estrategias para que los responsables de equipo permitan la autonomía en proyectos importantes sin comprometer el éxito del mismo. Cultura de aprendizaje: Cómo pasar de la tutorización constante a la autonomía guiada. No se trata de esperar a que la experiencia llegue por azar, sino de construir el cauce necesario para que el talento fluya de manera natural hacia la veteranía.| 20260814| 1500| 1600| https://handsontesting.com/wp-content/uploads/David-Martinez.webp| David Martínez es CTO y desarrollador con más de 25 años de experiencia liderando soluciones web, APIs y sistemas basados en inteligencia artificial. Especialista en PHP y JavaScript, es también coorganizador de las comunidades GDG y Global AI en Ponferrada. Su enfoque principal es llevar la innovación y eficiencia de las grandes empresas a organizaciones más pequeñas. Además, como mentor ha guiado a más de 80 startups, apoyando sus estrategias de negocio para un crecimiento sostenible.| https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmartinezmartinez| https://www.youtube.com/live/7GxtmCQ2puU?si=NKuqx7mSCTnr1nGi| https://handsontesting.com/agenda/

Raffle & Closing remarks

BREAK VIRTUAL

English ·

El nuevo no-code: de tester manual a arquitecto de automatización end-to-end en una tarde.

Renan Ugalde · CTO & Cofounder of MuukLabs

WORKSHOP VIRTUAL

Spanish · 16:00 - 17:00

Tu IA trabaja para ti o tú trabajas para ella

Juan Carlos Aleman · Director de Ingeniería especializado en calidad de sistemas con IA.

WORKSHOP VIRTUAL

Spanish · 16:00 - 17:00

Machine Learning para Testers: Entrenar, Evaluar y Detectar Sesgos en Modelos de IA

Manuel Alejandro Ledezma Falcon · Sr. QA Automation Lead & Content creator

WORKSHOP VIRTUAL

Spanish · 17:00 18:00

Machine Learning para Testers: Entrenar, Evaluar y Detectar Sesgos en Modelos de IA| Manuel Alejandro Ledezma Falcon| Sr. QA Automation Lead & Content creator| Spanish| Thu 13| 17:00 18:00| Virtual| Workshop| Este taller práctico está diseñado específicamente para testers de software interesados en adentrarse en el mundo del Machine Learning (ML) mediante ejercicios prácticos y fáciles de seguir utilizando Python. Los participantes aprenderán los fundamentos del ML desde una perspectiva de QA, incluyendo cómo entrenar un clasificador de spam sencillo con datos del mundo real, comprender qué tipo de datos requieren los modelos de ML y, lo más importante, cómo probar eficazmente estos modelos. La sesión también abordará aspectos éticos clave, como la identificación y mitigación de sesgos en los conjuntos de datos y en las predicciones de los modelos. Los participantes trabajarán en la creación de casos de prueba para modelos de IA, adquiriendo habilidades esenciales para garantizar que los sistemas de inteligencia artificial sean justos, robustos y confiables. No se requiere experiencia previa en programación ni en ciencia de datos; solo curiosidad y mentalidad de tester. Este taller aporta un valor diferencial al conectar el testing tradicional con las tecnologías emergentes de IA, un tema que aún no se cubre ampliamente en la formación estándar de QA.| 20260813| 1700| 1800| https://handsontesting.com/wp-content/uploads/manuel-ledezma-tester-testarudo.webp| Manuel Ledezma, known in the tech community as Tester Testarudo, is a software testing and automation specialist with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality and reliable software. Over the past years, he has focused on mastering QA practices and automation strategies, working in agile and fast-paced environments. He has contributed to leading companies such as Mediktor, AXA, Telecom Argentina, Newfold, and Mojo Marketplace, where he implemented scalable testing solutions that improved product stability and user experience. Manuel currently serves as the QA Automation Lead at Mediktor in Barcelona, Spain, where he leads automation initiatives to ensure robust and impactful digital products. Beyond his professional work, Manuel empowers the QA community through Tester Testarudo, his educational project dedicated to helping newcomers learn testing in a clear, practical, and accessible way.| https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelledezma687| https://www.youtube.com/live/Iz47Q0VlwMs?si=iE_nf3Ao5vnigWbQ| https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1DHNaB8lXBmAUd--QRGJ70qB6rKbTiNXC848zBUViNYzCpg/viewform

FAQ`S

Hands-On Testing 2026 is not limited to testers. We bring together QA engineers, developers, SDETs, automation specialists, AI and ML engineers, students, and career changers who want practical ways to improve software quality.

The Hands-On Testing 2026 agenda covered AI-driven testing, autonomous quality, test automation, performance, security, continuous quality practices, modern engineering workflows, and practical applications of AI in software delivery. Recordings of talks and workshops are available to watch for free on the QA Minds YouTube playlist. Explore the 2026 sessions and revisit the ideas, tools, and approaches shared throughout the program. Watch the 2026 talks and workshops

Yes. Hands-On Testing 2026 is a hybrid conference. The virtual program runs from August 12 to August 14, 2026, and the in-person day takes place on August 15, 2026, at Universidad Panamericana in Zapopan, Jalisco.

Yes. Sessions from the Hands-On Testing 2026 program are available to watch on demand through the QA Minds YouTube playlist. Explore talks and workshops covering AI-driven testing, quality engineering, test automation, GenAI, and the future of software quality.

Watch the 2026 sessions on YouTube

The in-person day of Hands-On Testing 2026 took place at Universidad Panamericana in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. To revisit the event, explore the conference photo gallery and see highlights from the day.

The Quality Engineering Summit is a dedicated in-person track for senior professionals who want deeper discussions on strategy, leadership, and quality engineering in the AI era. It is especially relevant for QA leaders, test managers, engineering managers, staff engineers, and similar senior profiles.

If you have questions about registration, attendance, sponsorship, or participation, write to us at contacto@handsontesting.com.

You can also send your inquiry through the contact form.

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AGENDA

Explore the 2026 program.

Dates:

Formats:

Mode:

AGENDA

Build your own testing track.

Dates:

Formats:

Mode:

FAQ`S

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