IT Monks at WordCamp Europe 2025

The IT Monks team is back from WordCamp Europe 2025, held this year in Basel, Switzerland, and we can’t resist sharing our excitement about the event. This was our fifth visit to WordCamp and the second time we participated as a WordPress VIP Silver partner.

How It Was

This year, WordCamp Europe was held on June 5 – 7, and the IT Monks team was happy to be there from start to finish. We met and exchanged experiences with other community members on Contributor Day, attended both conference days (although we couldn’t be physically present at all talks), joined workshops, networked, and checked in at the sponsors’ area.

First of all, we’d like to emphasize how much better the event becomes every time it’s held. The WordPress community also continues to grow at an incredible rate. With 1,860+ attendees from 84 countries, it’s a great European WordPress gathering. 

We were excited to see how many people are passionate about WordPress and eager to come together, share the positive vibes, and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s a great honor to be part of such a vast community, where we can contribute to making WordPress better, faster, more reliable, and more secure. 

IT Monks Team at the Contributor Day (June 5, 2025)

Contributor Day 2025 was more innovative and more impactful than what we saw in 2024, with targeted mentorship, strategic partnerships, measurable outcomes, and a solid infrastructure to support both new and seasoned contributors.

Back in 2024, Matt Mullenweg emphasized a shift from quantifying contribution hours (“5 % input”) toward tracking output (tickets fixed, contributors onboarded, articles written). Contributor Day 2025 reflects this mindset.

This year, Contributor Day focused on result-driven contributions: new core contributions, Gutenberg release write-ups, ticket closures, and specific strategy tables (e.g., PHPUnit testing and Five for the Future integration with hosting partners).

The IT Monks team joined the Contributor Day, bringing our experience to the table. 

Conference Days (June 6- 7, 2025)

After an engaging Contributor Day, the next two days of WordCamp Europe 2025 — Friday and Saturday — were packed with talks, workshops, and opportunities to learn, connect, and share ideas.

On Friday, June 6, we attended sessions on a wide range of topics, including website performance and SEO, accessibility, and using AI with WordPress. There were live site reviews, hands-on workshops, and open discussions about challenges faced by WordPress agencies. 

One popular session featured agency founders sharing lessons from their biggest mistakes, which sparked a lot of valuable conversation. 

The Expo Hall was also buzzing, with major sponsors such as Kingsta, Google, and Hostinger showcasing tools and services, many of which were powered by AI.

At the end of the day, we listened to the talks from Matt Mullenweg and Mary Hubbard, who shared updates about where WordPress is heading. They introduced new features like built-in plugin security scanning, progress on AI-based development tools, and a new academic program that allows contributors to earn university credit for their work.

You can watch the full version of the fireside chat with Mary Hubbard and Matt Mullenweg at WordCamp Europe 2025 below.

In the evening, a relaxed side event took place at Klara 13, providing an opportunity for us to connect with other attendees in a more informal setting. With extra workshops, casual talks, and good food, it was a great way to keep the conversation going outside the main venue.

Saturday, June 7, was equally busy and insightful. The sessions delved deeper into advanced topics, including the use of AI in plugin development, enhancing site security, and preparing for new EU regulations. A special focus was given to building a more inclusive community, with a panel featuring Lua Salazar, a diversity scholarship recipient, sharing her story and experiences in WordPress.

One of the key highlights of the day was a detailed presentation on the upcoming Gutenberg release, which provided a first look at new features and the future roadmap. Quick lightning talks also ran throughout the day, covering everything from design tips to technical tools in short, focused bursts.

Another standout session came from Marie-Charlotte Pezé, who explored how content strategy is evolving in response to AI and the growing influence of search engines powered by large language models. Drawing on her editorial background, she shared how content creators need to go beyond keywords and focus on semantic context, user intent, and overall experience.

She emphasized a shift from traditional SEO to Search Experience Optimization (SXO), where the helpfulness, clarity, and structure of content play a much bigger role in visibility. Tools like ChatGPT, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Search Console still matter, but what matters more is how well your content answers real user questions in a way that’s easy to read and understand.

Mary Baum’s presentation, titled “Get your docs read! All the way to the end,” truly stuck with us. An active contributor to the WordPress community, she shared practical strategies to improve the readability and engagement of WordPress documentation, developer notes, and blog posts.

By applying five or six simple yet effective tweaks, she highlighted how writers can make their content more compelling and enjoyable to read, potentially reducing support tickets and enabling teams to focus more on development.

See You in Kraków!

WordCamp Europe 2025 will be remembered as one of the most thoughtful, inclusive, and well-rounded editions so far. It brought together hands-on contributions, smart uses of AI, academic recognition, and a strong sense of community, all in the historic yet innovative city of Basel.

Switzerland was a fantastic host, and we’re already excited to reunite at WordCamp in Kraków, Poland!

To truly savor all Kraków has to offer, we recommend arriving a few days early. This allows you to enjoy the city at a relaxed pace, discover lesser-known attractions, and immerse yourself in its welcoming spirit.

Kraków is a city that effortlessly blends history, culture, and modern life, making it a must-visit destination for anyone attending WordCamp. Beyond its stunning medieval architecture and rich heritage, Kraków offers a vibrant cultural scene with numerous festivals, theaters, galleries, and live music venues.

You can wander through iconic sites like Wawel Castle, stroll the lively Main Market Square where street artists and cafés create a bustling social hub, or experience the historic Jewish district of Kazimierz, known for its fascinating history and thriving culinary scene. Museums like Schindler’s Factory offer deep insights into the city’s complex past.

But Kraków isn’t just about history. It’s a city of great food, with traditional Polish dishes served alongside innovative contemporary cuisine. Its numerous cafés and restaurants provide perfect spots to recharge during your visit.

For those who enjoy nightlife, Kraków’s vibrant bar and music scenes offer something for everyone, from cozy pubs to energetic clubs. And because the city is relatively compact, it’s easy to explore on foot or by bike, uncovering hidden corners and local favorites.

Let’s keep building the future of WordPress together — see you in Kraków!