{"id":5,"date":"2026-07-26T13:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T07:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bengaluru.wordcamp.org\/2026\/?p=5"},"modified":"2026-08-02T18:23:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T12:53:21","slug":"call-for-speakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bengaluru.wordcamp.org\/2026\/call-for-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Call for Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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deadline: 14 Sep 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ call_for_speakers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the stage at WordCamp Bengaluru 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our theme this year is WordPress and AI. Whether this is your first talk or your fiftieth, if you are building, designing, or thinking hard about where the open web and AI meet, we want to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ talks are on Sunday 22 November 2026 at SJBHS Museum Road. Contributor Day is Saturday 21 November, venue to be announced<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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~400<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the room<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

stages to fill<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

formats<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Submit your talk \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
See what we are looking for<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\/\/ who_can_speak<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do not need to be an expert<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have solved a problem, built something, or learned a lesson worth passing on, you have a talk in you. You do not need years on stage or a perfect slide deck. What we care about is a real, useful story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

First-time speakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Never spoken before? This is the room to start in. A clear idea, told in your own words, counts for more than years on a stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Seasoned speakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bring your sharpest idea. Teach us something new about where all of this is heading.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Everyone in tech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Developers, designers, founders, students, writers, and the AI-curious. WordPress runs a huge slice of the web, and the AI question touches all of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ talks in English or Kannada are both welcome<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\/\/ what_to_talk_about<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we would love to hear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our theme is WordPress and AI, but the whole WordPress world is on the table. Here are the tracks we are building. Pick one, blend a few, or bring something we have not thought of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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$ wp talk submit –track=’ai-and-wordpress’ –first-time=maybe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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AI and WordPress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MCP, agents, AI-native workflows, and building with AI on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ this year’s theme<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Development and extensibility<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plugins, blocks, APIs, the editor, and shipping quality code.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Design and UX<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design systems, the site editor, and interfaces people enjoy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Content, SEO and publishing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editorial workflows, machine-readable content, and being found.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

WooCommerce and commerce<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stores, payments, and getting ready for agentic commerce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Performance and security<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed, reliability, and keeping sites safe at scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Accessibility and the open web<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inclusive design, WCAG, and open standards over walled gardens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Business and freelancing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running a studio, client work, and a practice that lasts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Community and contributing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open source, Make teams, mentoring, and giving back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bring what is real to you. You can submit up to two proposals, and a talk that teaches will always beat a talk that pitches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New to all of this? Talks pitched at people building their first site, or working out a career in WordPress, fit into any of these tracks. We keep room on the schedule for them on purpose.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\/\/ formats<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pick your format<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Three ways onto the stage. Not sure which fits your idea? Pick the closest one, or choose “Not sure yet” on the form and tell us in your description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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30 min<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A full session, about 25 minutes plus questions. The classic WordCamp talk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"talk-session\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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15 min<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lightning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One sharp idea, no questions. A great first time on stage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"lightning-session-speaker\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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60 to 90 min<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workshop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hands-on, laptops open. Teach a skill people leave able to use. Tell us if you need the full 90. This is the only format you can run with a co-presenter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"workshop-session-speaker\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ we build the two panels from accepted speakers and invited guests, so there is no panel option on the form. say so in your proposal if you would like to be on one<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\/\/ how_we_choose<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we choose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We want a fair process and a program that reflects the whole community. Here is exactly how we read every proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have done the thing you want to talk about, and can speak from real experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originality<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your own take on the subject, and a reason it matters now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can tell what people will walk away able to do or think differently about.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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04<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theme fit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A genuine connection to this year’s theme, WordPress and AI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our first read is blind. We review proposals without names or companies attached, then balance the final lineup for a mix of new and experienced voices and a real range of backgrounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"how<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\/\/ submissions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From now to the stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The dates that matter, from the open call to the final lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submissions open<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now, through 14 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/\/ you are here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submissions close<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Monday, 14 September 2026, 23:59 IST.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decisions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone hears back by Monday, 21 September 2026, a week after the call closes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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04<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we need from you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Photo, bio and final title by 7 October. That is a clear two weeks after you hear from us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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05<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule published<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Profiles go up from 12 October, the full schedule around 19 October. Slides are due about four weeks before the event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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06<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 22 November at SJBHS, Museum Road. Contributor Day is the Saturday before, venue to be announced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\/\/ first_timers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never spoken before<\/em>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You do not need stage experience to be picked. Here is what is actually true about applying for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n