A packed audience gathered in Portland, Oregon, for WordCamp US 2025, with thousands more joining online. Over four days, the flagship WordPress event united contributors, innovators, and community members for collaboration, inspiration, and discovery.
“WordPress is so unique because we’re not just a product; we’re a movement.” — Matt Mullenweg, WordPress Cofounder
The event started with a Contributor Day, followed by a Showcase Day and two days of sessions featuring talks, panels, workshops, and community celebrations. WordPress Cofounder Matt Mullenweg joined a diverse group of speakers, panelists, and workshop leaders sharing global perspectives on the open web.
Set against Portland’s vibrant backdrop, with its iconic bridges, coffee culture, and creative energy, the Sponsor Hall was abuzz as WordPress ecosystem companies showcased new products, shared insights, and connected with attendees. Each day offered chances to enjoy local and international flavors, turning meals into lively networking and idea-sharing hubs.
A Global Gathering in Portland
WordCamp US serves as the annual gathering point for the WordPress community, where collaboration, creativity, and innovation intersect. This year in Portland, the event delivered an expansive program reaching every corner of the ecosystem.
Attendees experienced:
Engaging Sessions Across Tracks – Keynotes, presentations, and discussions explored the evolving web and the role of open source in shaping it.
A Global Speaker Lineup – Voices from across continents brought local stories and global visions to the stage.
Wide-Ranging Topics – From AI in WordPress development to accessibility, design systems, content strategy, education, and WordPress at scale case studies.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities – Workshops provided practical takeaways, empowering attendees to apply new skills immediately.
A Community Built on Collaboration – Whether contributing code, exploring business strategies, or sharing creative projects, attendees found space to learn, grow, and celebrate open source together.
New contributors took their first steps into open source, seasoned developers explored cutting-edge AI integrations, and agencies and product teams shared strategies for scaling WordPress to meet modern needs. Beyond the technical, conversations around inclusivity, sustainability, and education underscored WordPress’s role as a tool for empowerment and positive change.
In hallways, coffee lines, and evening meetups, attendees found the “hallway track” alive and well, with spontaneous moments of connection often becoming the most memorable part of the experience. Whether reconnecting with longtime collaborators or meeting someone new, these small interactions reinforced the heart of WordCamp US: a community thriving on openness, generosity, and shared purpose.
Contributor Day: Collaboration at the Core
The conference opened on Tuesday, August 26, with a vibrant Contributor Day. Nearly 300 contributors filled the space, including over 120 first-time participants onboarded across 19 teams. Developers, designers, translators, marketers, and community organizers worked side by side, representing WordPress expertise.
Throughout the day, contributors tackled everything from improving accessibility and performance to refining documentation and enhancing translation tools. Beyond technical contributions, teams like Marketing and Community focused on outreach, mentoring, and shaping future-facing initiatives. Remote participants joined via dedicated channels, reinforcing the inclusive nature of WordPress’s global community. By day’s end, the collective energy was clear: WordPress continues to be built by and for everyone.
The mix of experience in the room made this year especially notable. First-time contributors were paired with seasoned table leads who guided them through their first steps into open source contribution. Longtime contributors reconnected with their teams and advanced ongoing initiatives, while new voices added fresh perspectives and momentum. The spirit of mentorship was woven throughout, ensuring that Contributor Day was productive and welcoming.
The results spoke for themselves:
Polyglots translated more than 12,000 strings, expanding WordPress’s accessibility worldwide.
The Community team celebrated the approval of two brand-new local meetups.
The Training team achieved its objective of updating outdated course thumbnails.
The Core team worked through a live bug scrub, with 9 committers and 16 contributors collaborating on improvements.
The Documentation team completed numerous content updates to keep resources fresh and reliable.
Momentum carried through every table, with participants reporting measurable progress and a renewed sense of shared purpose. Contributor Day once again highlighted the unique power of collaboration in shaping the open web, proving that every contribution matters through code, translations, training, or community building.
Showcase Day: WordPress in Action
Wednesday, August 27, was the popular Showcase Day, spotlighting real-world innovation in WordPress. Initially expected to draw about 250 participants, Showcase Day welcomed more than 800 attendees — a powerful sign of the energy and curiosity the community brought to Portland. The sessions demonstrated how WordPress powers meaningful work across industries from nonprofits to newsrooms, agencies to global enterprises, while staying true to open source values.
