The 5 Highest Issues About WordCamp US 2025

Remaining week, I used to be excited to enroll in 1,000+ different attendees in Portland, Oregon, for WordCamp US. That is the most important match in the USA for the WordPress neighborhood to give a contribution to, exhibit, percentage wisdom on, and be informed the whole lot WordPress. 

I’ve been fortunate sufficient to wait, volunteer at, and talk at a number of WordCamps. I typically bounce on the likelihood to wait and spend time with the WordPress neighborhood. However should you haven’t been, you may well be questioning what all of the fuss is set. So I’ve put in combination 5 of my non-public highlights from WordCamp US 2025. 

Had been you there? Please percentage your personal reports within the feedback!

1. The varied program introduced studying and connection

WordCamp US spanned 4 days from August 26-29: contributor day, exhibit day, and two presentation days.

On contributor day, just about 300 neighborhood individuals throughout 19 groups spent the day contributing to the open supply WordPress mission. Somebody may stroll as much as those groups at their tables, sit down down, and give a contribution.

Show off day highlighted real-world examples of ways WordPress is used, from the folks in the back of them. There have been various talks, panels, and a number of other in-depth workshops to get attendees energized in regards to the probabilities of WordPress.

Then, it was once time for the 2 presentation days. Those featured keynote audio system, and 3 tracks of talks and panels from other people across the WordPress neighborhood. Subjects ranged from the usage of AI to code plugins and in neuroscience analysis, to design techniques, knowledge visualization, and accessibility.

On August 28, I spoke about Placing Creativity to Paintings. In my communicate, I nerded out about P2 (the gadget of WordPress.com blogs we use to be in contact internally right here at Automattic), and I even gave away copies of my P2 comedian in zine shape.

This was once my fourth time talking at a WordCamp, and it jogged my memory of the fantastic energy of sharing your concepts at an match like this. Even supposing I had various nerves (and imposter syndrome) for the times main as much as my communicate, the various superb interactions I had afterwards jogged my memory that all of the effort was once profitable.

2. There was once cool swag and nice dialog within the sponsor corridor

I overheard one attendee say “There are such a large amount of nice talks, however I’m right here for the hallway observe.” It’s true that an enormous advantage of WordCamp US is that such a lot of fascinating individuals are accumulated in the similar bodily area. Why now not profit from that, by means of introducing your self and having impromptu conversations?

The sponsor corridor had many spaces for those spontaneous connections. Comfortable sitting spaces, garden video games, a photograph sales space with props, skeeball and pinball video games, shows of artwork from the WordPress picture listing, or even a reside mural artist made for an lively and provoking area. Additionally featured within the area was once a happiness bar, occupation nook, and author studio, the place attendees may troubleshoot WordPress problems, find out about to be had jobs within the ecosystem, and get entry to a recording studio for growing content material.

Any other spotlight of each and every WordCamp is swag. Each sponsor sales space had some roughly present to offer away, from stickers to meals pieces, water bottles to tote luggage. One standout was once a poster, designed by means of Blue Ivory Inventive, that was once intricately illustrated with a wide variety of WordPress and WordCamp imagery. There was once even a claw gadget full of crammed Wapuu toys. This was once the one claw gadget I’ve noticed that in fact desires you to win a prize!

To not point out consuming! With Portland being a famously foodie the city, WordCamp organizers ensured attendees had get entry to to its best-known treats. From a Voodoo Doughnuts truck within the sponsor corridor to s’mores on the after celebration, I used to be by no means hungry.

I staffed the WordPress.com sales space, which featured a prize wheel that made an overly gratifying clicking noise when spun. This made for some nice conversations about our robust website hosting for builders. I used to be proud to face along different Automattic manufacturers (WooCommerce, Jetpack, Gravatar, WordPress VIP, Pressable) to speak about the price we provide throughout all of the WordPress ecosystem.

3. Portland is a colourful and engaging location to discover

WordCamp US attendees weren’t best fortunate sufficient to take part in all of the amusing of the development, however in our downtime I may additionally experience different delights of town — like Powell’s Books, Woodland Park, the Nike corporate retailer, and more than one colourful neighbourhoods with hip bar and meals scenes.

These kind of sights have been simple to get to on Portland’s public transit gadget. With a station proper between the conference middle and lodge, the MAX mild rail made it tremendous simple to get round. At registration, WordCamp US attendees got a loose cross all through the convention, and I loved taking it downtown, to the last celebration, and to the airport.

4. The WordPress neighborhood is heat and inviting, even for learners

Even though I’m now aware of many other people within the WordPress neighborhood, I nonetheless take note strolling into my first WordCamp with out figuring out any individual. That’s all the time a frightening revel in, regardless of which area you’re coming into. However at a WordCamp, you’ll be able to be expecting plenty of pleasant faces, and other folks all the time prepared that will help you or interact in dialog. It’s an overly inclusive area — all are welcome, from inexperienced persons to seasoned execs.

One non-public spotlight — I used to be invited to the Author’s Studio to speak with Michelle Frechette and Darian Lusk, and ended up going continue to exist TikTok with their visitors Christian Taylor and Michael Cunningham. You simply by no means know what’s going to occur!

5. The way forward for WordPress is vibrant

Total, WordCamp US confirmed me that there’s no slowing down within the ecosystem of the sector’s hottest content material control gadget. This can be a colourful and productive neighborhood, with a various vary of gifted other folks serving to every different, sharing wisdom, and transferring the instrument additional.

In WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s last cope with, he highlighted the momentum and expansion of WordPress, what’s delivery subsequent (block-level commenting is so thrilling!), and the way AI will form the mission one day.

I’m hoping you’ll be able to sign up for us for a number of flagship WordCamps going down in 2026: WordCamp Asia in Mumbai, WordCamp US in Phoenix, or WordCamp EU in Krakow. Additionally, glance out for native WordCamps close to you.

See you there!