Getting selected as a volunteer at WordCamp Asia 2026 is something I honestly did not see coming this soon. But here we are, and I could not be more excited.
My first WordCamp was Pune 2019, followed by Bengaluru 2025 after a six-year gap. At both, I was an attendee, comfortable just showing up, attending sessions, and going home inspired.
This time, it’s totally different as I have decided to shed that skin and step into something entirely new, volunteering at a WordCamp.
The Transition: Attendee to a Volunteer
When the WordCamp Asia 2026 newsletter landed in my inbox, calling volunteers for WordCamp Asia 2026, something clicked. I had been an attendee in previous WordCamps, and I knew deep down that I was ready to give back to the community. The WordPress ecosystem has given me so much, professionally and personally, and it felt like the right moment to contribute in a more meaningful way.
So I applied, and I got selected.
A Little Context
I had very little hope of getting selected, as I had not volunteered in any of the local WordCamps previously. Getting selected as a volunteer directly for a flagship event like WordCamp Asia, without prior volunteering experience at a local WordCamp, is genuinely rare and something I am incredibly grateful for. It felt like being thrown straight into the deep end, in the best way possible.
The moment I found out, I felt like I was on cloud nine. Blessed. Grateful. Excited beyond words. To be on the other side of the experience, to help make something happen instead of just attending it, is a completely different feeling.
Was I nervous? Yes. A little. But I was also confident that I would find my footing, mix with everyone, and bring everything I have to the community. That is exactly the kind of situation that helps you outgrow yourself and brings a ton of experiences.
My Role as a Contribution Day Volunteer
I have been assigned to the Contributor Day team.
What is a Contributor Day?
For those who are new to WordPress and WordCamps, Contributor Day is a dedicated day where people from all backgrounds, developers, designers, translators, and writers come together to contribute to the WordPress project in different ways. It is where the real open-source magic happens.
This year, Contributor Day kicks off WordCamp Asia 2026 on April 9 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, before the main conference days on April 10 and April 11.
The exact responsibilities will unfold on the day itself, but the role is essentially about being present, being helpful, and making sure everything runs smoothly for the people who show up to contribute.
And while the Contributor Day team is my primary role, I will absolutely be pitching in wherever I can across the three days.
The Behind-the-scenes Magic
What most attendees do not know is how much happens before the event even begins. Organisers start working on the planning and execution months before, and volunteers get on board a couple of months before. An event of such scale usually takes 8-10 months of preparation. As a volunteer, I got a front-row seat to experience the behind-the-scenes process.
We had two virtual meetings before the event: an orientation session with all volunteers in February 2026 and a separate team meeting in March 2026, along with active Slack and WhatsApp groups where organisers and volunteers stayed connected daily.
The energy in those groups is electric and full of excitement. Everyone is buzzing with questions, ideas, information, and enthusiasm. It never once felt like a typical forced corporate chore but felt like a community that genuinely cares.
Why WordPress Matters to me
WordPress is not just a platform I use. It is how I work, how I build, and how I earn a living every single day. With over a decade of working with WordPress professionally, it is truly my bread and butter. You can take a look at my WordPress contributions to get an idea of how deeply rooted this platform is in everything I do.
So being here at this level, contributing to the very ecosystem that has given me so much, feels deeply meaningful.
And beyond the technical side, events like these are where you grow as a person. WordCamp is the perfect opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone, socialise with others, and grow.
The sessions at WordCamp Asia 2026 span three focused tracks:
- Foundation: Core WordPress, open source and community
- Growth: Business, marketing, networking, and scaling with WordPress
- Enterprise: Large-scale WordPress, AI and the future of the web
You can check out the full session schedule here and plan your days ahead of time. There is a lot to cover across three tracks, and having a plan makes a real difference.
Connecting with business owners, enthusiasts, developers, professionals, and members from my favourite WordPress tools and services from across India and the globe is going to expand my perspective in ways no online resource ever could.
Familiar Faces and New Connections
One of the things I am most looking forward to is seeing some wonderful people I already know from the community: Yogesh Londhe, Aditya Kane, Arun R Shenoy, Nikhilesh Tayal, Moses Cursor, Suresha N, Makarand Mane, and many more!
(Sorry if I missed you. You know who you are! 😄)
And of course, the highlight that I still cannot quite believe: being in the same room as Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress himself, and other WordPress core contributors like Mary Hubbard, Weston Ruter, Sergey Biryukov, Rodrigo Primo, and Danny Sullivan, and learning directly from them. It does not get better than that.
What I am Hoping to Take Away
More than anything, I want to walk away from these three days with a deeper sense of connection to this community. Not just contacts, but real relationships with people who care about the same things I do.
I also want to push myself. To step into conversations that feel uncomfortable. To ask better questions. To listen more than I talk. Volunteering is the perfect environment for that because you are constantly interacting, constantly in motion, and constantly learning on the go.
And from a professional standpoint, the sessions on AI in WordPress, enterprise-scale development, and the future of WordPress are the core areas I am genuinely excited to dig into. Whatever insights I bring back, you will hear about them right here on this blog.
Come Be Part of It
If you are going to be there, please come say hi! I would love to chat about WordPress, web development, open source, or anything on your mind. That is what WordCamps are truly for.
And if you have not planned your trip yet, it is not too late! WordCamp Asia 2026 runs through April 11, and there are still two incredible days ahead filled with sessions on AI, tech, and the future of WordPress, all wrapped in the warmth of one of the most welcoming communities in the world.
If you are attending for the first time, the official team has a brilliant guide on how to make the most of your first WordCamp. And if Contributor Day interests you, here is everything you need to know about getting involved.
Grab your ticket 🎟 and come experience it for yourself. Two incredible days are still ahead at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
If you spot me, let us grab a quick chat and make a new connection. See you in Mumbai! 🇮🇳
