WordCamp Europe 2026 takes place June 4–6 at ICE Kraków in Poland, and for hosting companies it is the most important WordPress event of the year. With AI Connectors in core, the decisions made in Kraków will directly shape how hosting providers support WordPress at scale.

For many, WordCamp Europe is a place to learn, network, and celebrate all things WordPress. But behind the keynote talks, the bustling sponsor hall, and the smooth-running schedule lies a massive, invisible engine powered almost entirely by volunteers. Among them is Lucas Radke, a key figure in organizing the sponsor experience for this year.

Usually, we catch up with David Burkardt somewhere between sessions and coffee lines at big international events. This time was different - we met on his home turf. When the global WordPress community came to Switzerland, the city of Basel briefly transformed into the epicenter of digital conversations, code, and coffee in biodegradable cups.

Last week at WordCamp Europe, I had some of the most eye-opening conversations I’ve had in a while. Not just with fellow hosting providers, but...