I’ve spent the better part of 14 years going to WordCamps, and each one shifts the mood in the community. This year the launch of WordCamp US 2026 tickets takes us to the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona, from August 16 to 19. I don’t treat these as just another conference; the sessions matter, but so do the architecture debates and the networking that happen between tracks.
Getting your WordCamp US 2026 tickets early
Tickets are limited, and they usually go faster than a memory leak in a bad loop. This year runs across four days. It starts with Contributor Day on Sunday, August 16, where developers get to work on the core software, often sitting across from the people who review your pull requests on GitHub. Monday adds Showcase Day, with talks on how larger companies run WordPress, before two full days of sessions.
If you want to contribute to the core AI work, I wrote a guide on preparing for the Core AI table at WordCamp US. It lists the tools to install before you arrive.
Getting your local environment ready
Don’t be the dev who spends all of Contributor Day fixing a local Docker setup. If you plan to work on Core, have wp-dev-env or a similar environment ready first. I’d use the official WordPress develop repository. Here is the usual way to set it up from the terminal:
# Clone the core development repository
git clone https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop.git
cd wordpress-develop
# Install dependencies and start the environment
npm install
npm run devHaving this ready means you can actually ship code during the event rather than fighting with Node versions in the Phoenix heat.
Ticket tiers and availability
The organizers kept the pricing low. A few ticket options are available for 2026:
- General Admission ($100): covers all four days, including lunch, snacks, and the community social.
- Student ($25): a reduced rate for students.
- Micro-Sponsor ($750): for anyone who wants to help cover the cost of running the event.
You can register on the official WordCamp US 2026 website. If you want to do more than attend, they are still looking for help, so see how to get involved as a speaker or sponsor.
If WordPress development is eating up your hours, I can take it off your plate. I’ve been wrestling with WordPress since the 4.x days.
Making the trip to Phoenix
Phoenix in August is hot, but the Phoenix Convention Center is a solid venue. A lot of the program looks at how AI is changing the way we build sites, and it helps to be in the room while those conversations happen, whether you write code or run a business. Book early so you don’t miss out. Grab your tickets, reserve a room at the Sheraton, and I’ll see you at the Contributor tables.
