🎉 Announcing Our 2026 Global Partners!  🔗 **Source:** [🎉 Announcing Our 2026 Global Partners!](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2026/04/15/%f0%9f%8e%89-announcing-our-2026-global-partners/) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: #wordpress #community #sponsorship #wordcamp #meetups > author: Harmony Romo > source: Make WordPress Community > reference: https://make.wordpress.org/community/2026/04/15/%f0%9f%8e%89-announcing-our-2026-global-partners/ > date created: 2024-12-30 08:30 > > # 🏷️ Title: 🎉 Announcing our 2026 Global Partners! > <!-- deep-read:sections start --> ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Update event websites to display 2026 Global Partners — all organizers #community - [H2] Confirm brand representation with multi-brand sponsors — event organizers #sponsorship - [H3] Review updated Global Sponsor handbook materials — organizers #documentation ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [[#📝 Summary]] - [[#📖 Main Content]] - [[#🗒️ Notes]] - [[#📚 References]] - [[#🗣️ Paraphrase]] - [[#📰 Newsletter]] - [[#✅ Action Items]] - [[#🧪 Hypotheses]] - [[#📊 Methodology]] - [[#❓ Questions]] - [[#🔮 Future Research]] - [[#💡 Implications]] - [[#🧠 Learning Styles Assessment]] - [[#📊 Accessibility Assessment]] - [[#🌍 DEIB Assessment]] - [[#✅ Logical Validity]] - [[#🛡️ DARVO Analysis]] - [[#🎯 Conclusion]] ### 🔗 References - [WordPress Community Team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) - [Global Sponsorship Program Details](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) ## 📝 Summary - WordPress Community announced 2026 Global Partners: Automattic (Jetpack + WordPress.com), Woo, and Hostinger - Automattic and Hostinger serve as Global Leaders, Woo as Regional Powerhouse sponsor - Program runs Q2 2026 to Q2 2027, supporting 685+ active Meetup groups worldwide - Partners fund essential event infrastructure: venues, catering, A/V, insurance, Meetup.com licenses - Event organizers must update websites to display current Global Partners ## 📖 Main Content The WordPress Community team has announced its 2026 Global Partners, establishing the funding foundation for WordPress events worldwide. This annual sponsorship program provides the financial backbone for WordCamps, Meetups, Campus Connect programs, and contributor events across the globe. The three organizations selected represent different tiers of the Global Partnership program. Automattic (representing Jetpack and WordPress.com brands) and Hostinger have been designated as Global Leaders, the highest sponsorship tier. Woo serves as a Regional Powerhouse sponsor, the second tier of the program. These partnerships address the practical operational costs that enable WordPress events to happen. The funding covers venue rentals, catering services, audiovisual equipment, Meetup.com licensing fees for over 685 active groups worldwide, event insurance, and other essential infrastructure costs. Without this corporate support, the vast majority of community events would not be financially viable. The announcement emphasizes the direct impact on community participants - every organizer booking a venue, every attendee entering a WordCamp, and every contributor attending a Meetup benefits from what these partnerships make possible. The program operates on an annual cycle, with the 2026 program running from Q2 2026 through Q2 2027. ## 🗒️ Notes #### Event Organizer Requirements - Key idea: All 2026 event websites must display the current Global Partners - Evidence: "For WordCamp, Events and Meetup organizers: all 2026 event websites should display the 2026 Global Partners" #### Multi-Brand Coordination - Key idea: Sponsors with multiple brands require coordination for proper representation - Evidence: "For partners with multiple brands, please reach out to their points of contact to confirm which brand will be represented at your event" #### Program Timeline - Key idea: 2026 program operates on a Q2-to-Q2 annual cycle - Evidence: "Please note that this year's program runs from Q2 2026 to Q2 2027" #### Global Scale - Key idea: Program supports over 685 active Meetup groups worldwide - Evidence: "Meetup.com license fees for over 685 active groups worldwide" #### Infrastructure Funding - Key idea: Partners fund unglamorous but essential event operations - Evidence: "Their support covers the real, unglamorous stuff that makes events happen: venue costs, catering, A/V, Meetup.com license fees" #### Updated Documentation - Key idea: Handbook materials and group pages have been updated for 2026 - Evidence: "The Global Sponsor information for the event organizers page and the rest of the handbook have been updated" ## 📚 References - [Make WordPress Community](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) - [WordPress Event Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) - [Global Sponsorship Application Page](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - WordPress Community announced three major corporate partners for 2026: Automattic, Woo, and Hostinger, who will fund essential event infrastructure worldwide - These partnerships enable over 685 active Meetup groups and countless WordCamps by covering practical costs like venues, catering, and licensing fees - Event organizers must update their websites to display the current Global Partners and coordinate with multi-brand sponsors on representation ## 📰 Newsletter 🎉 **WordPress Global Partners for 2026 Announced!** The WordPress Community team has revealed this year's Global Partners who make our worldwide events possible. Automattic (Jetpack + WordPress.com), Woo, and Hostinger are stepping up to support over 685 active Meetup groups, WordCamps, and Campus Connect programs. **What this means for you:** - Continued funding for local WordPress events in your area - Support for essential event costs (venues, catering, A/V equipment) - Stable foundation for community building and learning opportunities **For organizers:** Update your event websites to display the 2026 Global Partners and check the updated handbook materials. **Want to support WordPress events?** Check out the sponsorship application page to learn how your organization can get involved. This partnership model ensures WordPress remains an accessible, community-driven platform with strong local connections worldwide. Resources: [Learn WordPress](https://learn.wordpress.org/), [Find Local Events](https://central.wordcamp.org/), [Community Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/) ## ✅ Action Items #### Community - Organizers: Update all 2026 event websites to display current Global Partners - Organizers: Review updated Global Sponsor handbook sections - Multi-brand sponsors: Coordinate with points of contact for brand representation - Community members: Acknowledge sponsor contributions at events #### WordPress - Community: Maintain updated sponsor recognition across all event materials - Community: Ensure consistent Global Partner branding guidelines - Community: Monitor sponsor satisfaction and partnership effectiveness - Marketing: Amplify sponsor appreciation across WordPress channels ## 🧪 Hypotheses - Global Partnership funding model enables wider geographic distribution of WordPress events than volunteer-only funding - Multi-tier sponsorship structure (Global Leaders vs Regional Powerhouse) optimizes sponsor investment levels with community needs - Annual partnership cycles provide budget predictability for both sponsors and event organizers - Corporate sponsor support increases event quality and attendance rates ### 📊 Methodology - Survey data comparing event frequency in regions with vs without Global Partner support - Financial analysis of event costs covered by Global Partners vs other funding sources - Longitudinal tracking of sponsor retention rates and satisfaction scores ### ❓ Questions - How does Global Partner funding distribution vary across different geographic regions and event types? - What metrics determine the distinction between Global Leader and Regional Powerhouse sponsor tiers? - How do local sponsors coordinate with Global Partners to avoid brand conflicts or overlap? ### 🔮 Future Research - Analysis of sponsor ROI and community impact measurement methodologies - Investigation of sustainable funding models for WordPress community events - Study of corporate open source community investment best practices ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Event organizers must integrate sponsor recognition into all planning workflows - Policy: Global Partnership agreements set precedent for corporate-community collaboration models - Education: Sponsor acknowledgment becomes essential component of community event training - Funding: Multi-tier sponsorship structure provides template for other open source communities ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: 8-9th grade (accessible business communication) #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Clear sponsor tier structure, branded logos mentioned - Improve: Infographic showing funding distribution, visual sponsor recognition examples #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Community meeting announcements mentioned - Improve: Audio version explaining partnership benefits and organizer responsibilities #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Clear definitions of sponsor tiers, practical examples provided - Improve: Glossary of sponsorship terms, comparison charts between tiers #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Specific action items for organizers, handbook updates to review - Improve: Step-by-step sponsor integration checklists, brand implementation guides #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Timeline provided (Q2 2026 to Q2 2027), clear cause-effect relationships - Improve: Financial breakdown of funding allocation, ROI metrics for sponsors #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Community appreciation emphasis, organizer coordination requirements - Improve: Discussion forums for organizer collaboration, sponsor networking opportunities #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Handbook documentation for self-guided learning - Improve: Individual organizer assessment tools, private planning resources #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Global ecosystem perspective on WordPress community - Improve: Sustainability considerations in event planning, environmental impact awareness ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Clear heading structure, descriptive link text - Improve: Alt text for any sponsor logos, table headers for sponsor comparison data #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard web navigation available - Improve: Skip links for sponsor information sections, accessible form controls #### Contrast and readability - Present: Standard WordPress.org contrast ratios maintained - Improve: Ensure sponsor logo visibility meets contrast requirements #### Text resizing and reflow - Present: Responsive design accommodates text scaling - Improve: Test sponsor recognition elements at 200% zoom #### Media and captions - Present: Text-based announcement format accessible - Improve: Captions for any future video sponsor spotlights #### Forms and interactions - Present: Standard comment forms with labels - Improve: Accessible sponsorship application process ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: Global perspective with 685+ groups worldwide mentioned - Improve: Specific examples from diverse geographic regions, multi-language resources #### Inclusive language - Present: Professional, welcoming tone throughout - Improve: Plain language explanations of corporate partnership concepts #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Clear structure with consistent formatting - Improve: Bullet-point summaries, predictable information architecture #### Representation - Present: Focus on community accessibility and inclusion - Improve: Highlight diverse event organizers and participants in sponsor recognition #### Psychological safety - Present: Appreciative, non-commercial tone about partnerships - Improve: Clear boundaries between sponsor recognition and promotional content ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Strong connection between sponsor funding and event viability - Inductive strength: Pattern of successful Global Partnership program continuation - Causal reasoning: Clear cause-effect between funding and event infrastructure - Analogical strength: Implicit comparison to other open source community funding models #### Fallacies - None identified: Straightforward factual announcement with appropriate attribution #### Tone of voice - Overall tone: Professional appreciation with genuine community focus, balancing corporate recognition with volunteer acknowledgment ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis - Deny: No denial patterns present in straightforward partnership announcement - Attack: No attacks on any parties, collaborative tone throughout - Reverse victim/offender: Not applicable to partnership announcement context - Emotional cues and rhetoric: Positive appreciation rhetoric balanced with practical information ## 🎯 Conclusion The 2026 WordPress Global Partners announcement establishes the funding foundation for worldwide WordPress community events, with Automattic, Woo, and Hostinger providing essential infrastructure support. Event organizers must update their materials to reflect current partnerships, while the community benefits from continued access to local WordCamps, Meetups, and educational programs. This partnership model demonstrates sustainable corporate-community collaboration that enables WordPress's global reach while maintaining its open source community values. ## 🧱 Refactor Appendix ### 📚 Literature Split Pad ### [H1] Global Partnership funding model enables WordPress event infrastructure > [!quote] 🎉 Announcing our 2026 Global Partners! by Harmony Romo via Make WordPress Community. Published April 15, 2026. Accessed December 30, 2024. > "Their support covers the real, unglamorous stuff that makes events happen: venue costs, catering, A/V, Meetup.com license fees for over 685 active groups worldwide, insurance, and more." Corporate sponsorship addresses practical operational costs that make community events financially viable worldwide. [view highlight](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2026/04/15/%f0%9f%8e%89-announcing-our-2026-global-partners/#H1) #xref #articleseed ID:rw_wp_global_partners_2026 ### [H2] Multi-tier sponsorship structure optimizes corporate community investment > [!quote] 🎉 Announcing our 2026 Global Partners! > "Automattic and Hostinger will be our Global Leaders, and Woo is our Regional Powerhouse sponsor this year." Different sponsorship tiers allow varied levels of corporate investment while meeting diverse community funding needs. [view highlight](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2026/04/15/%f0%9f%8e%89-announcing-our-2026-global-partners/#H2) #xref ID:rw_wp_sponsor_tiers --- ### 🔖 Atomic Split Pad (Zettel Candidates) #### [Z1] Corporate partnerships enable open source community event sustainability - Applies to communities requiring physical event infrastructure funding - Reference to Global Partners announcement and funding breakdown - Links: [[Open-Source-Funding]] [[Community-Events]] [[Corporate-Sponsorship]] #### [Z2] Annual sponsorship cycles provide budget predictability for events - Condition: When corporate sponsors commit to annual partnership terms - Reference to Q2 2026 to Q2 2027 program timeline - Links: [[Event-Planning]] [[Financial-Sustainability]] [[Partnership-Management]] --- ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1] Research other open source communities' corporate partnership models — compare with WordPress approach #fleeting #inbox - [F2] Analyze sponsor ROI measurement in community programs — develop metrics framework #fleeting #inbox - [F3] Document best practices for sponsor recognition without over-commercialization — maintain community values #fleeting #inbox <!-- deep-read:sections end --> 📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/🎉 Announcing Our 2026 Global Partners!.md|🎉 Announcing Our 2026 Global Partners! by make.wordpress.org]] ## Highlights - We are thrilled to announce the initial lineup of **2026 Global Partners** for the WordPress Community ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01kpb62stb12wbkp4mhna3q5s0)) - These three organizations are the driving force behind a year full of WordCamps, Meetups, Campus Connect, and everything in between. Their support covers the real, unglamorous stuff that makes events happen: venue costs, catering, A/V, Meetup.com license fees for over 685 active groups worldwide, insurance, and more. In short, none of this works without them. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01kpb63x8k8rbn9bchwh5vyydm))