Under the motto “We Were All Beginners Once, and We’re All Still Learning,” the sixth edition of WordCamp Valencia took place on October 31 and November 1, 2026, at the La Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex, an iconic example of Valencian architecture.
I always like to briefly explain that a WordCamp is a very special event, a place where WordPress contributors and users come together. Throughout the event, participants are encouraged to learn, contribute, and network. But it goes far beyond that, becoming a celebration where you reconnect with old friends and acquaintances, enjoy a welcoming atmosphere, and experience the local cuisine.
This year, I also had the opportunity to be part of the organizing team for this major WordPress gathering. And what is WordPress? It is the open-source CMS currently used by 39.4% of all websites worldwide, according to global data from W3Techs. Its mission, “to democratize publishing,” takes on particular importance in a digital environment dominated by increasingly closed platforms whose algorithms influence how we consume information and what information we see. In contrast, WordPress advocates for an open and free web where people retain control over their content.
The Talks:
The program featured 16 talks across two tracks, offering an interesting combination of technical knowledge, professional experiences, updates, and new perspectives on the digital ecosystem. Speakers came from a wide range of backgrounds and professional fields: specialists in development, design, digital marketing, law, cybersecurity, education, and prominent members of the WordPress community. They shared recent experiences and up-to-date professional knowledge from their respective fields, presenting everything in language accessible to all attendees.
Among the presentations, I would like to highlight, in the design category, the excellent talk by Francisco Vera, Product Designer at Automattic and contributor to the WordPress.org design team, titled “The Craftsmanship of a Design System: Systematizing Without Losing the Details.” He began by referring to the “blue brushstroke” that appeared on the WordPress.org website for a period of time, symbolizing the human side of the project. He then explained how small decisions about colors, shapes, movements, and interactions contribute to creating consistent, thoughtfully designed user experiences. He emphasized the importance of finding a balance between standardization and creativity, maintaining attention to detail without sacrificing flexibility and adaptability in design.
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Another standout talk, particularly because of the timeliness of its content, was given by Laura Melón, an attorney specializing in intellectual property and digital law, titled “Is There a Little AI on Your Website? What You Need to Know to Comply with the Law.” She addressed the legal implications of incorporating artificial intelligence into a website, particularly following the implementation of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). She explained the differences between using AI to develop a website and integrating tools such as chatbots, assistants, or recommendation systems, as well as the legal responsibilities of developers and clients. It was a practical explanation of transparency obligations, when users must be informed, and what should be reviewed before delivering a web project that incorporates AI.
In the area of WordPress implementation, we enjoyed a dynamic presentation by Yannick García, a WordPress developer and instructor, titled “How I’m Teaching AI to Develop WordPress Projects.” He shared how he has evolved from using a simple AI chat interface to a system of specialized agents for developing WordPress projects. He explained how he uses tools such as Kilo, MCP connections, and structured documentation to help AI understand WordPress architecture, organize the different project phases, and participate in tasks such as strategy, content architecture, and implementation. It was a practical approach to integrating artificial intelligence into web development workflows.
Full Talk: https://wordpress.tv/2026/11/03/como-estoy-ensenando-a-la-ia-a-desarrollar-proyectos-wordpress/
We also heard from Juan Seguí, CEO of acceseo, who shared recommendations and real-world case studies based on his experience building websites with WordPress. In “A Website Doesn’t End at Launch: 7 Decisions to Help a WordPress Project Survive Ten Years,” he reflected on a common problem in web development: projects that function perfectly at launch but become increasingly complex and expensive to maintain over time. Drawing on his professional experience, he shared seven fundamental decisions to ensure a website’s long-term sustainability. These included technical architecture, plugin selection, maintenance, security, performance, and accessibility. During his presentation, he emphasized the importance of developing WordPress websites designed to evolve alongside the business, avoiding unnecessary dependencies, additional costs, and future rebuilds.
In a context where many people use AI as their designer, Ana Cirujano, with “Your Hair Salon’s Website Looks Like My Accounting Firm’s,” illustrated the impact of AI on the growing homogenization of visual identities. Ana is a digital business designer, a longtime WordPress community member, and former host of the podcast Un Billete a Chattanooga. She began by showing numerous AI-generated websites with designs that were “boring, predictable, bland,” and, above all, very similar to one another. Through practical examples, she explained the importance of defining a design system based on colors, typography, spacing, and other visual elements, using design tokens to maintain consistency. Her proposal focused on learning how to guide AI through clear design rules, with the goal of creating websites with a distinctive identity.
Full Talk: https://wordpress.tv/2026/11/03/la-web-de-tu-peluqueria-se-parece-a-la-de-mi-gestoria/
Another very interesting and useful presentation was given by Gustavo Galati, an IT professional and longtime member of the WordPress community. In “It’s Easier Than You Think: Your First Steps with WordPress,” he offered a practical introduction to WordPress for beginners, covering essential concepts such as domains, hosting, themes, plugins, and the block editor. He also demonstrated the platform’s possibilities for creating a first website as well as more advanced projects. Throughout the session, he highlighted WordPress’s accessibility and flexibility, demonstrating that it is possible to get started with the platform without advanced programming knowledge.
This talk replaced the one originally scheduled by Ángel Cabaleiro, who was unable to attend because his train was canceled following the tragic railway accident in Toledo on October 28, 2026. Gustavo respected the original title and objectives, as he himself explains in the introduction. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to everyone affected.
Full Talk: https://wordpress.tv/2026/11/03/es-mas-facil-de-lo-que-piensas-tus-primeros-pasos-con-wordpress/
Finally, I would like to mention Néstor Angulo de Ugarte, Head of Security and CISSP, also a longtime WordPress community member, who addressed the relationship between cybersecurity and business. In “Your (Potential) Client Has Sent You a Security Questionnaire: A Survival Guide,” he explained how to handle the cybersecurity questionnaires and requirements that more and more companies demand from their technology vendors before hiring their services. He described how to respond transparently, even without a dedicated security department, and what measures to take regarding access controls, backups, vendor management, and incident response. It was practical content designed to help professionals and agencies meet their clients’ requirements without making commitments they cannot guarantee.
Full Talk: https://wordpress.tv/2026/11/03/tu-posible-cliente-te-ha-mandado-un-cuestionario-de-seguridad-guia-de-supervivencia/
We also had Diego Nieto de la Fuente presenting “Beta, Experimental, Production-Ready: How to Implement New WooCommerce Features Without Messing Things Up,” in the e-commerce category.
In marketing, we heard from Ana Gavilán with “You Have Your Website. Now What? Marketing to Help People Find You” and Lidia Marbán with “Why Your Visitors Aren’t Buying (Even Though Your Online Store Is Well Built).”
In web design, Ricardo Vilar Delgado presented “How to Conduct a UX Audit of a WordPress Website Using AI (and Save Hours of Work).”
In productivity, we had Marina García Hortal with “Your Brain Is Part of Your Stack Too: Neuroproductivity for WordPress Professionals.”
In digital ownership, Nilo Vélez presented “Even If You Buy It, You Don’t Own It: Licensing and Ownership in the Subscription Era.”
In education, Juan Armada presented “WordPress as a Living Classroom: Creating, Publishing, Measuring, and Improving Real Projects.”
And speaking of WordPress.com, we had Álvaro Gómez with “Educating to Create, Not Just Consume: Employability and Digital Citizenship in the Age of AI.”
The sessions combined technical knowledge, professional experiences, and reflections on the current challenges facing the industry, offering ideas, tools, and practical solutions applicable to real-world projects. The diversity of topics allowed all attendees, from beginners to experienced professionals, to find content of interest and new learning opportunities.
Contributor & Proposal Day
The second part of WordCamp was Contributor Day, held on November 1 under the title Contributor & Proposal Day, one of the main new features of this edition.
During the traditional Contributor Day, participants collaborate directly with WordPress teams in areas such as development, design, translation, documentation, marketing, accessibility, and community. This year, the concept of Proposal Day was introduced, inviting attendees to suggest ideas, identify opportunities for improvement, and share their experiences as WordPress users and professionals.
The working tables were supported by facilitators who assisted both regular contributors and first-time participants. The initiative reinforced one of the fundamental values of open-source software: WordPress evolves thanks to contributions from its community, regardless of each person’s level of technical knowledge.
Behind the Scenes: Organizers and Volunteers
All of this was possible thanks to the organizing team, who spent months working on speaker selection, program development, sponsor recruitment, communications, catering, outreach, social media, logistics, and coordination of the different activities. The team included Luis Miguel Climent as team leader, Clara Fayos, Gustavo Galati, Ariadna Santana, César Labadía, Eric Jorge Seguí Parejo, Lucía Rico, Luis Francisco Bautista, Taisa – Raquel García Arévalo, Toya Seguí Parejo, and yours truly.
Throughout the two-day event, we relied on the invaluable help of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted speakers, and supported the activities. They included Alejandro Jaramillo, Aurora Salvadori, Berta Minguela, Carla Pumutxa, Fernando Blázquez, Fran Trapero, Javier Hernández, Lorsy Turizo Carrillo, Marcin Wosinek, María Camila Cortés, María Fabián García, Maribel, Néstor Angulo, Nilo Vélez, Paula Carmona, Rafa Villaplana, Verónica Seoane, and Ximo Tomás. Some participated for the first time, while others are already regular volunteers.
A Taste of Local Valencian Cuisine
One interesting aspect of WordCamps is the local flavor of their catering. Food receives a great deal of attention, with organizers making every effort to provide the best possible experience, almost always showcasing the delights of local cuisine. And yes, when people talk about a WordCamp, they proudly mention the catering. This year, we once again enjoyed a selection of Valencian specialties, including paella, fartons, and horchata. These details helped give the event its own personality and allowed attendees from other cities or countries to learn more about Valencia’s traditions.
Wapuu Contest
To further emphasize this local character, a Wapuu contest was organized around a theme related to local culture. The winning entry came from Pablo Moratinos, who presented a Wapuu inspired by Valencia’s Fallas festival, specifically the traditional cremà. It was a fun and creative way to bring two worlds together: Valencian culture and the WordPress community. The Wapuu was granted a pardon and will not be burned; it will live on in our memories and in the spiritual museum of the Fallas tradition.
Wapuu de Pablo Moratinos
WordCamp Valencia 2026 Sponsors
This event was also made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors. Through their contributions, they helped make the event possible and encouraged attendance by covering a significant portion of the ticket costs.
Many thanks to our global sponsors: Bluehost, Hostinger, JetPack, Woo, and WordPress.com. These companies provide ongoing sponsorship for WordPress community events.
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Platinum Bunyol: Siteground.
Gold Bunyol: LucaHost, CookieBot by UserMetric, Webempresa.
Silver Bunyol: Clouding, Weglot.
Bronze Bunyol: Dinahosting, Nexatech, Raiola Networks.
Pumpkin Bunyol: Elementor, Tandem Digital Marketing, Xufa.es.
Micro-sponsors: Doowebs, Imposible SEO, Impulso UX, Kenji Marketing, Mon Archi, and mybwai.
Final Thoughts
WordCamp Valencia 2026 was the last WordCamp of the year in Spain. In 2026, there was a noticeable decline in the number of these events. The number dropped from 14 editions in 2023 to just five in 2026. The Spanish WordPress community kept its activities alive with WordCamp Zaragoza (January 23–24), WordCamp Madrid (March 6–7), WordCamp Málaga (April 24–25), WordCamp Galicia (October 16–18), and finally WordCamp Valencia, which closed out the year by reaffirming the importance of these gatherings for sharing knowledge, strengthening connections, and continuing to advance the open-source project.
There is still so much more I could share, but for now, it is time to say goodbye. Many thanks to everyone who made this gathering possible: the organizers, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, and attendees. Once again, WordCamp fulfilled its mission of bringing together WordPress enthusiasts and contributors to teach, learn, contribute, and continue developing the project.
See you at the next one and at WordCamp Europe 2027, this time in Málaga, Spain!
More about WordCamp Valencia 2026
Watch all talks here: https://wordpress.tv/event/wordcamp-valencia-2026/
Event Website: https://valencia.wordcamp.org/2026/
More Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wordpressphotos/albums/72177720336465848/
