WordCamp Europe 2026

Simon Kraft: There's no one near us. Can you tell me?

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah, so it's a bit tricky, but I'm trying to warm up.

Simon Kraft: Tell me about WordCamp Europe in Krakow then.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah, WordCamp in Krakow. I hope that it will be the greatest WorldCamp in Europe ever. This is my aim because everybody is talking about WorldCamp in Germany, in Berlin. That it was the biggest one.

Simon Kraft: In 2019?

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah. So I plan to sign in 4,000 people in Krakow. Okay. I've already talked with the venue and said to them, I don't know how you will do it, but I have to have 5,000 places. And they said to me, yes, we'll do it.

Simon Kraft: Tell me about the venue then. What's the venue?

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Our venue is a conference center. at the bank of River Wisla. This is nearby Wawel castle. So if you will be inside, you will be able to see through big windows our castle. Because I don't know if you know, but Kraków was a Polish capital. And it has been moved to Warszawa almost 500 years ago. Kraków is also a bit different city than warsawa because warsawa or warsaw in english is very modern there are huge roads very bright etc and krakow is an old city especially in the center but.

Simon Kraft: It has a proper old city center with like scenic views.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: And yes yes yes yes yes so the venue is great we also have plans about party. So the party we hope will be in a fort where once soldiers were situated. There are many different places, different corners. There are also a stage outside, a lot of grass, so it looks gorgeous. Hopefully the weather would be okay.

Simon Kraft: Tell me a bit about the Polish WordPress community.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Well, I've joined Polish WordPress community two years ago, and when I joined, there was only one camp a year, Poland. And after World Camp Gliwice, 23, next year there have been four World Camps in Poland. So we were able to govern new people, making more marketing, trying to encourage people that press is not only for developers. Right now, for example, we have in two months WordCamp in Krakow.

Simon Kraft: In a couple of weeks from when this is published.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yes, in a couple of weeks. Last year, we've published an event on LinkedIn. We have 500 people last year. This year, now it's almost 900 people. And I hope that at the end of May, it will be 1,500 people. So it will be three times more than last year. and in my opinion, it's a good sign that there is more place to bring more people to WordCamp because as we are talking about it, it is not only for developers.

Simon Kraft: You will be the local lead for WordCamp Europe next year, right?

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah, I hope so.

Simon Kraft: You will most likely be local lead for WordCamp next year. And I know that in the proposals you make when you apply to be a host city and you did that the second time, right? I know that you were runner-up last year.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah.

Simon Kraft: Then Basel was picked.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yeah.

Simon Kraft: And that's a pattern I think we see very often, that cities that applied once and did not make it, make it in one of the following years. So I'm not surprised.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: This year we have opportunity to have much better venue. Also organizing team was working hard to fill in the form. And I've said to myself, OK, I will not do it for the third time. Everybody made a great job. We prepared application to have a convention bureau. So City Hall on our side, they help us. And for example, every attendee that would be in Krakow next year will have opportunity to use public transport for free.

Simon Kraft: That is really cool.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: I hope so, because Krakow is great, so all tracks will be recorded. And I'm not astonished if some people will say, well, maybe we will jump out from World Camp to see Wawelkassel.

Simon Kraft: That is not something we can recommend during the World Camp, people. Just stay a couple of days longer and experience the city.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Yes, and frankly, I'm thinking about it to contact them. and say, okay, please extend the validity for the tickets. I think that it would be great to encourage people to come, I don't know, one or two days in advance to get in touch with the city to travel for free, I hope. If not, I think that we will not have problems to find a sponsor.

Simon Kraft: If I'm in Krakow, what should I put on my list of places to visit and things to see, what I like?

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Well, so Wawelkassel for sure, where Polish kings were living and ruling. Another one, Mariacki church. So this church has two towers. One is taller than another and there is the legend about it. I will not tell you.

Simon Kraft: Oh no spoilers okay.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: And the third one well maybe maybe a salt mine in wieliczka it is one of the oldest in europe and there is also one legend about one polish queen but i don't want to tell you about it again.

Simon Kraft: No spoilers okay okay i'll check it out i'll check it out what should i is there any food i should check out as well.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Food so polish cuisine is interesting i think I think pierogi are well-known throughout the world. Schabowe, something like we are now in Vienna, so Wienerschnitzel, it is something similar. But we have in Krakow many different cultures, so there are many different restaurants. And for sure, everybody will find something for him or her to eat.

Simon Kraft: Okay, cool. Thank you so much. I'm really excited to join WordCamp Europe 2026 in Krakow. I mean, I've been attending since forever.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Have you ever been in Krakow?

Simon Kraft: No, never before.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Okay, so we have a chance to be for the first time. I can only add that we have an airport nearby Krakow, very well connected with the city, with a train. So if you are going to plan by the plane or by a train or by a car, so yes, it's very, very easy and comfortable.

Simon Kraft: I was really excited to see that there's a very easy connection by train from Berlin. That was nice to see because I think I will be traveling by train and see a bit of the country on my way to the city. Okay. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you so much. Thank you for your time.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk about it. And yeah, it's a secret.

Simon Kraft: Not anymore if you can hear this because then it's out. Thank you so much.

Sebastian Miśniakiewicz: Thank you.