Matt Mullenweg is set to present his State of the Word address live from Tokyo, Japan on December 16, 2024, and if the last few months are anything to go by, it’s likely to be his most explosive and talked-about yet.

Source: Wikimedia Commons
Attiribution: Cmichel67, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why 2024 Will Be Mullenweg’s Most Anticipated Keynote Address Yet
In any normal year, the WordPress co-founder’s annual keynote would present WordPress professionals and enthusiasts alike with a chance to hear what the future holds for the open-source CMS, straight from the man at the helm.
This, however, is no normal year. At least not in the world of WordPress.
In case you missed it, Mullenweg spoke at WordCamp US in September and promised to ‘go nuclear’ on hosting company WP Engine due to trademark issues and a lack of contributions to the open-source project.
Since then, he’s made good on his word. Lawsuits have been filed, bans have been placed, and the great Mullenweg vs. WP Engine War of 2024 has dominated public conversation regarding all things WordPress.
With this back-and-forth battle showing no signs of slowing down, we fully expect to hear more from the Automattic boss when he takes to the stage this December.
How to Watch Matt Mullenweg’s State of the Word Address 2024

Source: WordPress.org
The WordPress Co-founder is set to take the stage at Tokyo Node Hall on December 16, 24 at 6 PM JST / 9 AM UCT.
If you’re in Tokyo this December, you’ll need to hurry to request a State of the Word 2024 ticket as this exclusive event is limited to just 300 attendees.
For those in the US, you can stream the event live via the official WordPress YouTube channel in the early hours of December 17 at the following times:
For our friends in the US, that’s:
- 2 AM Pacific Time.
- 5 AM Eastern Time.
Alternatively, you can also join in the celebration at one of the State of the Word watch parties taking place all over the world, or even organize your own.
What to Expect from State of the Word 2024
Each year, Matt Mullenweg’s keynote address sees the WordPress co-founder reflect on progress made over the year that was, and reveal what lies ahead for the world’s most widely-used Content Management System.
In 2023, Mullenweg unveiled WordPress’ plans to ‘unlock the web’ with simplified migrations, real-time collaboration, and a goal to take block patterns to a whole new level.
At this year’s event, expect to hear insights on how those plans came to fruition before attention turns to what lies in store for 2025.
At the time of writing, only Mullenweg and his team know for sure what we’ll hear on December 16, but if the past year is anything to go by, we can make some fairly confident predictions:
Automattic vs. WP Engine
Much as it has been on WordPress blogs and social media for the last few months, the current conflict between the hosting provider and the WordPress creator is likely to dominate the focus of this year’s keynote.
It may not do it directly, of course. Moreover, we expect to influence important points about trademark policy, GPL licensing and contributing to the open-source project, all of the key aspects of the ongoing legal battle.
AI Integration
In 2023, Mullenweg noted that WordPress wasn’t just keeping up with the AI boom, but positioning itself as a model of how artificial intelligence can be used effectively in the website creation process.
With AI continuing to dominate conversations in the web, marketing, and tech communities, it won’t come as a surprise to hear more about WordPress AI integration in the year ahead.
User Experiences
Delivering easy, accessible, and consistent user experiences across all devices is more vital to a website’s success than ever.
With Mullenweg being such an outspoken champion of good usability and accessible web design, we expect to hear more from him on this matter in Tokyo.
The Power of Blocks
It’s no understatement to say the Gutenberg block editor revolutionized the way users build websites with WordPress.
Look out for Mullenweg revealing even more useful features and tools designed to make blocks more powerful, more customizable, and even more invaluable to the WordPress experience.
New WordPress 2025 Theme
State of the Word is typically where we see the unveiling of the official WordPress theme for the year ahead.
Expect a buzz when ‘2025’ is revealed to those watching the address around the world.
WPLift: Your Source for WordPress State of the Word 2024 News
Can’t catch the keynote address live this year?
Don’t worry, as always, WPLift will be right here bringing you the latest news, highlights, and stories, from one of the most hotly anticipated events in the WordPress calendar.
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