In a departure from the traditional WWDC format, Apple has announced a unique in-person gathering at its Cupertino-based Apple Park campus, albeit limited to select developers and students.
Scheduled for Monday, June 10, the event will kick off with a keynote viewing party, offering attendees an exclusive glimpse into the unveiling of new software updates through pre-recorded sessions. Alongside this, Apple promises an array of “exciting new programming,” interactive sessions with Apple experts, and various engaging activities.
Last year’s event saw attendees treated to morning refreshments followed by the keynote address, with the Platforms State of the Union presentation and guided tours of the Apple Park campus rounding off the day’s events, culminating in the prestigious Apple Design Awards and an evening dinner.
Anticipating the event, Apple has arranged a reception at its Infinite Loop campus on Sunday, June 9, allowing attendees to collect their badges in advance.
Originating as an in-person conference in San Jose, California, WWDC transitioned to an online format in 2020, due to global circumstances. Since 2022, however, Apple has reintroduced small-scale in-person events at Apple Park.
Attendance for the special event will be through a lottery system, with Apple extending invitations to a limited number of developers and students. Eligible participants include members of the Apple Developer Program or Apple Developer Enterprise Program, Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni, and winners of the Swift Student Challenge from 2022 to 2024. Notably, 350 Swift Student Challenge winners, including 50 Distinguished Winners, will receive invites to the three-day experience culminating in the special event on June 10.
Both adults and minors aged 13 to 17 are eligible to apply, with minors requiring accompaniment by a legal guardian.
Registration for the lottery is open through Apple’s developer website until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, April 3. Selected attendees will be notified of their status by the end of the following day, Thursday, April 4.
While there is no attendance fee, Apple will not cover transportation expenses. Out-of-state attendees must arrange their own travel, accommodation, and transportation to Apple Park.
Additionally, Apple is expected to extend invitations to select media representatives, although official media invites for the Apple Park event are yet to be distributed.
WWDC 2024 is slated to run from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. For those unable to attend in person, the keynote event will be available for viewing on Apple’s website or YouTube. Live coverage of WWDC 2024 will be provided on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account, with all sessions and events also accessible via the Developer app and Apple Developer YouTube channel.
