Hello, my dear Local Guides family,
The month of July is here, and for me, it has always been the most significant time of the year. This isn’t just another month on the calendar; it is the anniversary of the space that changed our lives, Local Guides Connect.
As we approach July 15th, 2026, we aren’t just celebrating a platform; we are celebrating 10 years of stories, 10 years of global impact, and a decade of friendships that started with a simple map edit and blossomed into lifelong bonds across continents.
Turning 10 is a monumental milestone, a full decade of voices finding purpose, contributions reaching millions, and the birth of connections fueled by shared passions. This year is different; it is a tribute to a community that has truly stood the test of time, geography, and culture.
A Decade of Memories: From 2019 to 2026
I still remember back in 2019, when the idea of an “Unofficial Birthday Celebration” first sparked in my mind. Along with my friend @OmerAli, we decided that if we celebrate birthdays with our biological families, why should we stay silent about the family that unites us across borders?
That thought transformed into a movement. For eight consecutive years, I have had the honor of calling upon you to turn the world into a party for Connect. Looking back at our journey:
-
2019 (3rd Birthday): We took the first step, turning digital connections into real-world meetups.
-
2020-2024: We faced challenges, moved to virtual spaces, grew our accessibility missions, and kept the flame of community spirit burning through every season.
-
2025: We celebrated the 20th birthday of Google Maps and the 10th year of the Local Guides program.
Our Decade of Flame:
-
2019 (3rd Birthday): The beginning of our global journey Mega Recap.
-
2020 (4th Birthday): Keeping the spirit alive during challenging times Call for Meetup Leaders.
-
2021 (5th Birthday): A year of massive impact Mega Recap.
-
2022 (6th Birthday): Driving change across the map Call for Meetup Leaders.
-
2023 (7th Birthday): Celebrating seven years of community Call for Meetup Leaders.
-
2024 (8th Birthday): A collective effort with my dear friends
@ JaneBurunina, @ TusharSuradkar,
@ NareshDarji, and @SholaIB Call for Meetup Leaders. -
2025 (9th Birthday): The year of double milestones (Google Maps 20th & Local Guides 10th).
And now, 2026 brings us to the 10th Birthday of Local Guides Connect. Ten years of being the heartbeat of the mapping world. I am honestly overwhelmed with pride and emotion looking at how far we have come. The celebrations for Connect’s 10th Birthday have already begun, which many of you have already seen through @ErmesT’ celebratory initiative, ‘#LGConnectTurns10: Celebrating 10 Years in our Global Village!’ and @Nareshdarji ’s lovely initiative, ‘Join the #MyConnectCaravan Campaign: Celebrating 10 Years of Connect!’
And now, you are seeing the tradition we have carried forward for eight consecutive years, celebrating Connect’s birthday in our own unique style: by hosting meetups. This is how our Local Guides and the entire Connect family around the world come together to mark this special occasion.
Thank you for the photos Tushar Bhai , Naresh bhai @Cecilita & @LightRich 
The Call for the 10th Anniversary
We are inviting every single one of you—whether you are a veteran of the first hour or someone who just joined our community—to join me in making this 10th-anniversary celebration the most impactful one yet.
From July 1st to July 31st, 2026, let’s fill the map with meetups. Whether it is a small gathering in your local park, a grand food crawl, an accessibility walk, or a virtual “Gup-Shup” session, your contribution matters.
Here are some ways you can participate:
-
Support small businesses by updating their information on Google Maps.
-
Go on a map-editing walk to improve the accuracy of Google maps.
-
Capture photos of tourist attractions in your city and add them to Google Maps by a Photo Walk.
-
Enjoy food adventure, taking photos and adding details on Google Maps about restaurants in a Food Crawl Meetup.
-
Conduct Accessibility walks to provide useful information on Google Maps for the people with different abilities.
-
Organize environmental meetups to Beach clean up or plant trees with other Local Guides.
-
Host knowledge-sharing sessions, either in person or virtually.
-
Arrange virtual meetups to discuss skills and tips that can help local businesses.
To make an impact, let’s:
-
Encourage new Local Guides to host or join their first meetup.
-
Show our support and enthusiasm at every event.
-
Focus on making high-quality contributions to Google Maps.
How to be part of this Historic Milestone:
-
Plan Your Activity: Think about what defines your local community. Is it mapping small businesses? A photo walk? A tree plantation? Or just a coffee meetup to discuss our journey?
-
Submit Your Meetup: Head over to the Meet-ups page on Connect. Or Click at “Create,” select “New Meet-up,” and make sure to enter all the details clearly.
-
The Essential Tags: Please tag your meetups with #LGCBirthday and #LGC10Years #Connectturns10 so we can create a central hub for all our celebrations.
-
Capture and Share: The memories are the greatest gift. Don’t forget to share your recap posts with photos, videos, and stories.
-
Make sure to give a shout-out to Connect’s 10th Birthday in your meetup posts and tag me, Jane, or Naresh. If your event is already live, just drop our names in the comments of your meetup post! We want to add your meetup to our main thread and join in on the celebration with you.
Need a helping hand?
Hosting your first meetup can be nerve-wracking, but you are not alone. Our community has built a library of resources to help you:
-
How to organize a successful meet-up. By Googler
-
Accessibility Walk Meet-up Tips By Googler
-
How To Host A Productive Accessibility Walk? - Tips & Suggestions By
@ -KashifMisidia -
How to host a great knowledge sharing meetup? By
@ -KashifMisidia -
Introducing the Monthly Community-Led Meet-up Leaderboard By @SharmaK
My Personal Invitation
This platform has given us so much, a voice, a purpose, and friends who truly feel like family. This 10th anniversary is a tribute to all of us. It is a tribute to the dedicated souls who map in every situation, to those who contribute businesses to Google Maps for the benefit of others, and to the mentors who guide new members every single day.
I am eagerly looking forward to seeing your creative and inspiring events on the map.
Let’s show the world that after a decade, the Local Guides spirit is not just alive, it is thriving.
Let’s celebrate, let’s connect, and let’s make this 10th anniversary a historic one together.
A Video From Euro Meetup 2026, Thanks you @LuigiZ
Meet-ups for Connect’s 10th Birthday Celebrations (By Country Names Alphabetically) :
Argentina - [In-Person] Argentina, July 05, Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences of Buenos Aires
By @Maximilianozalazar
Sunday, July 5th , 2026
.
.
Bangladesh - [In-Person] Bangladesh, July 16, Padma Meetup | LGC 10th Anniversary (Unofficial)
By @MohammadPalash
Thursday, July 16th , 2026
.
.
India - [Virtual] India, July 11, Ghumakkad Gossip V2: Make Every Contribution Count: Your Digital Footprint Matters
By @Kumaarsantosh
Saturday, July 11th , 2026
.
.
India - [In-Person] India, July 12, LG Connect Turns 10 – Celebrating Our Global Village
By @curatorofmemory
Sunday, July 12th , 2026
.
.
India - [In-Person] India, July 14, Celebrating 10 Years of Connect at Trivandrum: #LGConnectTurns10 Meetup
By @Rahul001
Tuesday, July 14th , 2026
.
.
India - [In-Person] India, July 15, #LGConnectTurns10 - Meet & Greet Celebration
By @SharmaK
Wednesday, July 15th , 2026
.
.
India - [Virtual] India, July 19, Greet & Share LG Connect Stories and Celebrate the 10th Anniversary - TravellerG
By @TravellerG
Sunday, July 19th , 2026
.
.
India - [In-Person] India, July 28, Terminal Talks | BOM
By @ framesbysumedh
Tuesday, July 28th , 2026
.
.
India - [In-Person] India, July 28, Pre-ConnectLive Singapore Meetup @ IGI Airport T2
By @ curatorofmemory
Tuesday, July 28th , 2026
.
.
Indonesia - [In-Person] Indonesia, July 12, Connect through Stories #07: Lacak Bedak & Jajan Mbois Malang #LGConnectTurns10
By @NunungAfuah
Sunday, July 12th , 2026
.
.
Indonesia - [In-Person] Indonesia, July 05, #LGConnectTurns10, Bogor Local Guide sharing with coffee
By @DeeDesty
Sunday, July 5th , 2026
.
.
Indonesia - [In-Person] Indonesia, July 04-05, Photo & Video Walk : Hiking & Camping - Ranu Kumbolo
By @inadwiana
Saturday, July 4th , 2026
.
.
Indonesia - [In-Person] Indonesia, July 04, Photowalk ke Lokasi Vintage
By @AnisaAe
Saturday, July 4th , 2026
.
.
Italy - [Virtual] Italy, July 15, LGConnectTurns10: Celebrating 10 Years in our Global Village! - Virtual Meet-up
By @ErmesT & @KarenVChin
Wednesday, July 15th , 2026
.
.
Mexico - [Virtual] July 11, Tell us your Story ! | L’Équipe Francophone #LGConnectTurns10
By @cuicani
Saturday, July 11th , 2026
.
.
Mexico - [Virtual] July 11, Tell us! How did it all start? | LatAm #LGConnectTurns10
By @ cuicani
Sunday, July 12th , 2026
.
.
Morocco - [Virtual] July 10, Explore • Share • Connect: Rabat & Temara Local Guides Meet-up 2026
By @redouane3
Friday, July 10th , 2026
.
.
Singapore - [Hybrid] Singapore, July 29, Local Guides Pre Connect Live Huddle - Duxton Park to Chinatown
By @deepakjhic
Wednesday, July 29th , 2026
.
.
Singapore - [In-Person] Singapore, July 29, Coffee, Tea, Conversations & Connections — The Connect Live 26 Icebreaker Meetup
By @ curatorofmemory
Wednesday, July 29th , 2026
.
.
Singapore - [In-Person] Singapore, July 29, Terminal Talks | SIN
By @framesbysumedh
Wednesday, July 29th , 2026
.
.
United Kingdom - [In-Person] United Kingdom, July 09, Manchester LG July 2026 MeetUp: North Meets South Meal and Social
By @PeteMHW
Thursday, July 9th , 2026
.
.
USA - [Virtual] United States, July 12, How to Write Helpful Google Reviews: Tips from an 8-Year Local Guide
By @MotionMuseReviews
Sunday, July 12th , 2026
With love and gratitude,
Kashif Misidia
It means a lot to see both my contribution through the Meet-up Leaderboard and my upcoming meetup being recognized in this global celebration 
