2022: Returning to In-person WordPress Meetups

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Community organizers all over the world can now organize in-person WordPress events, following local laws and safety measures. Check out our latest guidelines for in-person events!

In 2020, WordCamps moved online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After many discussions, the Global Community TeamGlobal Community Team A group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps. made a decision to help 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. organizers return to hosting in-person meetups with caution, in communities that have effectively contained COVID-19 or have vaccines and testing freely available, as in July 2021. Consequently, in September 2021, the team announced the return of in-person WordCamps following updated guidelines. Following the arrival of new COVID variants and a spike in COVID-19 cases around the world, the team published a set of revised guidelines for in-person WordPress events in January 2022.

Finally, as mandates related to COVID-19 are continuing to update around the world, and the Community Team’s COVID-19 requirements are updating with them. Last update: April 21, 2022.

This handbook page explains the steps involved in organizing an in-person WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. as per the latest guidelines in 2022.

The WordPress community team is not expecting nor requiring local organizers to organize in-person events, even for fully vaccinated people — we’re simply removing the barrier to doing so. Organizers can continue planning online events for their community – even if it is safe in their regions to organize in-person events or if local laws allow 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.. 

Guidelines for In-Person WordCamps organizers

Here are the guidelines for organizing in-person WordCamps:

  • Follow all local regulations. These continue to change, so please ensure you have the latest information, especially as you get closer to the event. Further, if your local hospitals are overwhelmed, please cancel, postpone, or move the event online.
  • Provide masks and hand sanitizer around the venue space (WPCSWPCS The collection of PHP_CodeSniffer rules (sniffs) used to format and validate PHP code developed for WordPress according to the WordPress Coding Standards. May also be an acronym referring to the Accessibility, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, etc. coding standards as published in the WordPress Coding Standards Handbook. will cover this cost if it is not provided by your venue).
  • As part of swag packs, WPCS will provide a sticker to indicate to others to please wear a mask when talking with you.

If legally permissible in the area, organizers can certainly opt to have more security measures for their event, like mandatory masks and checks for proof of vaccine or negative tests at the door. Of course, organizing events online will continue to be an option.

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Recommendations for attendees

These are strong recommendations for attendees. Organizers can help by confirming that these recommendations comply with local rules and regulations.

  • We still recommend that you wear a mask while at in-person WordPress events.
  • If you see that someone is wearing a sticker requesting people wear a mask near them, please wear a mask while within 6 feet (2 meters) of them or keep your distance.
  • A request that you only attend in-person if you are vaccinated or have recently tested negative.
  • Please stay at home if you are sick or have recently come in contact with someone who is ill.

These reminders will be added to WordCamp ticket purchase pages.  

For questions about this process, or if you have feedback to share, please email Community Team DeputiesDeputy Community Deputies are a team of people all over the world who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and generally keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about deputies in our Community Deputy Handbook. at support@wordcamp.org.

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