Mark your calendar: April 9–11, 2026. That’s when a few thousand people are going to descend on the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, for WordCamp Asia 2026 — one of the biggest gatherings the WordPress community has ever attempted.
And this year, it’s not just about the sessions, the hallway track, and the swag. WordPress 7.0 is dropping live on stage during Contributor Day. If you’ve been following the WordPress release calendar, you already know this is a big deal. If you haven’t… now’s a good time to start paying attention.
What Is WordCamp Asia, Anyway?
For the uninitiated: WordCamps are community-organized conferences built around WordPress. They happen at every scale — from small regional events with a hundred people to massive flagship events that attract thousands. WordCamp Asia is the latter.
WordCamp Asia debuted in 2023 and quickly became one of the most anticipated events on the WordPress calendar. The 2026 edition is targeting more than 3,000 attendees, with 1,800+ tickets already sold — making it one of the largest WordPress events ever organized. And hosting it in Mumbai means the South Asian WordPress community — one of the fastest-growing segments of the ecosystem — gets to be front and center.
The WordPress 7.0 Live Release
Here’s the part that’s genuinely exciting: according to the official release party schedule on Make WordPress, the final general release of WordPress 7.0 will happen live during WordCamp Asia 2026 Contributor Day.
That means hundreds of contributors — people who actually wrote the code, tested the features, and filed the bugs — will be in the same room when the version that powers millions of sites ships for the first time.
You don’t have to be there to participate, either. The release party is open to remote contributors joining in virtually… but the energy in that room is going to be something else.
What’s on the Agenda?
Organizers have shaped this year’s programming around a few clear priorities:
- Education and skills development — sessions built for site owners and professionals who want practical, applicable knowledge
- Early-career pathways — connecting new WordPress professionals with mentors and opportunities (a natural companion to the WordPress Campus Connect momentum)
- AI in the WordPress ecosystem — how AI tools are reshaping the way sites are built, managed, and marketed
For WordPress professionals who’ve been watching AI reshape their workflows over the past two years, that last track is going to generate some very interesting hallway conversations.
Why This One Feels Different
There’s something about a major version launch — especially one tied to AI integrations in core — happening live at a community event that feels meaningful.
WordPress has always been an “open source community project” in theory. But sometimes the release of a major version can feel like a corporate announcement that happens to you, rather than something the community does together. Doing it live at WordCamp Asia, with contributors in the room when the button gets pressed… that’s the community reclaiming the moment.
Even if you’re not making the trip to Mumbai, it’s worth watching. The WordCamp Asia website will have live coverage, and session recordings typically land on WordPress.tv within weeks of the event.
How to Get Involved (From Anywhere)
- Get tickets — Event passes are available now. If you’re Asia-based or up for an adventure, this is the year to go.
- Watch remotely — Jot down Contributor Day on your calendar and follow along as WordPress 7.0 ships live.
- Contribute — If you’ve ever thought about giving back to WordPress, Contributor Day is the friendliest on-ramp there is. Documentation, Testing, Translation/Polyglots, Design, and my favorite, Photos — there’s a spot for everyone.
April is going to be a good month to be in the WordPress community.