WordPress Women’s Day events are community‑driven gatherings organized around International Women’s Day, with the goal of creating welcoming spaces where women can learn, share knowledge, and connect through WordPress. These events are part of the official WordPress Community Program and follow its values, guidelines, and processes.
Each event is local by nature, but global in spirit: organized by volunteers, supported by WordPress Central, and aligned with the broader mission of growing a more diverse and inclusive open‑source community.
Event formats
WordPress Women’s Day events can take different shapes, depending on local needs and resources. Common formats include:
- Short talks or lightning talks
- Panels and moderated discussions
- Workshops or hands‑on sessions
- Networking and informal meetupsMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook.
- Hybrid or fully online events
Formats should prioritize accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility), inclusion, and participation over size or complexity.
Target audience
These events are designed primarily for:
- Women interested in WordPress, at any experience level
- Newcomers curious about web creation and open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL.
- Contributors, freelancers, developers, designers, marketers, and site owners
- Allies are welcome, provided the space remains women‑centred and inclusive
No prior WordPress experience should be required to attend.
Event naming
To keep naming consistent and clear across the program, all events should follow this format: Women WordPress Day [City Name] 2026
Example: Women WordPress Day Barcelona 2026
Before the event
Collaborate with local groups
Reach out to existing WordPress meetups, tech communities, women‑led groups, and local associations. Partnerships help with outreach, speakers, venues, and building trust within the local ecosystem.
Apply to organize
All events must be proposed through the official application process. Once submitted:
- The Community Team will review (vetting process)
- Approved organizers will receive and sign the Organizer Agreement
- A mentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. may be assigned to support you during the process
Event website creation
After signing the Organizer Agreement and before the budget is reviewed, you will be granted access to the event website.
There is no need to overcomplicate things. You can take inspiration from Women’s Day events from previous years. A simple landing page is more than enough, including:
- Location and practical information
- Event schedule or programme
- Speakers
- Ticket registration
- Code of conductCode of Conduct “A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities or proper practices of an individual party.” – Wikipedia
- Contact information
Clarity is more important than complexity.
Secure a venue
Find an accessible, safe, and inclusive venue. A simple venue agreement is required. You can use this example agreement as a reference.
Plan your budget
Create a realistic, simple budget covering only essential costs.
- WordPress Central can reimburse between $0 and $300 USD per event
- If venue support is needed, funding may increase up to a maximum of $500 USD
- All expenses should follow the reimbursement guidelines
Ticket sales
Our recommendation is to keep tickets free whenever possible, while still using Camptix to register attendees. This allows you to know who is attending, send event-related emails, and ensure attendance appears on WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org/ profiles.
If the event includes food or personalized swag that increases costs, charging a small symbolic ticket price is recommended. This helps reduce no-shows and avoids unnecessary spending on unused materials or catering.
If someone has financial difficulties, you can always generate a 100% discount coupon. The goal is to keep the event accessible to everyone, while ensuring the event is sustainable and responsibly organized.
Sponsorship & logistics
Local sponsorships are optional and should remain small and community‑focused. Avoid complex sponsorship structures. Focus on logistics that improve attendee experience: venue setup, refreshments, accessibility needs, simple swag, and basic signage.
Curate inclusive content
Choose topics and speakers that reflect diverse perspectives and experience levels. Aim for practical, empowering content that encourages participation and conversation.
Promote your event
Use multiple channels to share the event:
- WordPress MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook. pages
- Social media
- Partner communities and associations
- Personal networks
Keep messaging welcoming, clear, and aligned with International Women’s Day values.
Event execution
On the day of the event:
- Create a friendly and safe environment
- Clearly communicate the Code of Conduct
- Support speakers and attendees
- Encourage participation and networking
- Keep things simple and flexible
A well‑run small event is better than an over‑ambitious one.
Post‑event activities & measuring impact
After the event:
- Thank speakers, volunteers, and partners
- Publish a short recap and photos (with consent)
- Submit required reports and reimbursement requests
- Share key takeaways and feedback
Success is not measured only by attendance numbers, but by connection, learning, and the impact on the local community.
What success looks like
A successful WordPress Women’s Day event is not defined by its size or budget, but by its impact.
Success looks like:
- Attendees feel welcome, safe, and represented
- Practical knowledge shared in an accessible way
- Meaningful conversations and new local connections
- New people discovering WordPress and open source
- Organizers enjoying the process and feeling supported
If people leave inspired, confident, and willing to come back, the event has done its job.
📝 The organizer checklist
Before the event
- Define format and target audience
- Collaborate with local groups or associations
- Apply to organize and wait till the vetting process is complete
- Sign the Organizer Agreement
- Get access to the event website
- Create a simple event website (location, schedule, speakers, tickets, Code of Conduct, contact)
- Secure an accessible venue and get the venue agreement
- Create the budget and send it for approval
- Decide on ticketing (free or symbolic paid tickets, set up Camptix and coupons if needed)
- Plan content and confirm speakers
- Publish and promote the event
During the event
- Welcome attendees and speakers
- Communicate the Code of Conduct
- Support participation and networking
- Keep the schedule flexible and human
After the event
- Thank speakers, volunteers, and partners
- Share a short recap and photos (with consent)
- Submit debrief and reimbursement requests
- Reflect on learnings and feedback
You are not organizing alone: the WordPress Community Team is here to support you every step of the way.
