Due to the heterogeneity and diversity of cellular behaviour and responses within populations, single cell analysis methods have always been of importance to understand population kinetics and behaviour. Both the analysis of mixed populations and that of stochastic variation within a nominally homogeneous population require the detailed dissection of behaviour of individual cells. During the last year great steps were taken to achieve even more detailed molecular analyses of cells down to the level of single cell transcriptomics and proteomics. The 6th meeting on Single Cell Analysis of Microbial Cells will again bring together experts in the field and highlight new technologies as well as applications of existing tools.