Fixfest 2025: The Global Repair Movement Gathers in London

The global repair movement gathered in London this September for Fixfest 2025, bringing together over 220 repairers, activists, researchers, businesses, and policymakers for a weekend dedicated to sharing skills, knowledge, and strategies for expanding access to repair worldwide.

Fixfest, which describes itself as "a regular global gathering of repairers and tinkerers, activists, policy-makers, thinkers, educators and companies from all over the world," has become a cornerstone event for the international repair community. The most recent international gathering took place in London from September 5-7, 2025, marking a significant moment for the movement.

Unlike typical industry conferences, Fixfest operates on a unique model where the program is collaboratively created by attendees themselves. This participatory approach reflects the grassroots nature of the repair movement, emphasizing that solutions to our throwaway culture emerge from diverse perspectives and hands-on experience rather than top-down directives.

The 2025 event featured a rich program of workshops, discussions, and skill-sharing sessions. Attendees explored topics ranging from technical repair techniques to policy advocacy, business models for repair services, and educational initiatives to teach repair skills to new generations. The gathering provided a rare opportunity for repair advocates from different countries to connect, share challenges specific to their regions, and learn from each other's successes.

What makes Fixfest particularly noteworthy is its role in strengthening what organizers describe as a "truly international community committed to nurturing, expanding and advocating for repair around the world." In an era of increasing electronic waste and planned obsolescence, this community represents a growing counter-movement that challenges the assumption that broken items should simply be replaced.

The event also served as a platform for discussing policy initiatives like the Right to Repair, which has gained momentum in various jurisdictions. By bringing together activists, policymakers, and industry representatives, Fixfest creates space for constructive dialogue about how to make repair more accessible, affordable, and mainstream.

Looking ahead, Fixfest International typically occurs every two to three years, with national or regional events filling the gaps between global gatherings. The next international Fixfest is already being planned, and organizers encourage interested parties to sign up for updates to stay informed about future dates and locations.

For those who missed Fixfest 2025, the organizers have made resources available to catch up on the event's outcomes and discussions. The movement continues to grow, driven by a simple but powerful idea: that the ability to repair our belongings is not just a practical skill but a fundamental right that supports environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and community empowerment.

As the repair movement gains traction globally, events like Fixfest demonstrate that the challenges of waste and obsolescence are being met with creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to keeping things working rather than sending them to landfill.