WWDC 2022: Everything you need to know about Apple’s special in-person event

Unlike the previous two years, WWDC 2022 will include an in-person event at Apple Park on June 6. While much smaller in scale than what Apple offered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks the first time Apple has welcomed developers back to Apple Park for any sort of in-person event.

Applications are now available for the WWDC In-person Gathering this year. Check out our guide below to learn everything.

WWDC 2022 in-person event details

When Apple first announced WWDC 2022 last month, its press release touted the event as having an “all-online format.” This is technically true, seeing that Apple will offer all of the same online experiences this year as it offered in 2020 and 2022. This includes things like virtual sessions, labs keynote and State of the Union presentations, digital lounges, and more.

Hidden further down in the press release, however, was the notable tidbit that WWDC 2022 will include an in-person component for developers and students at Apple.

According to Apple, it will be an “extraordinary day for students and developers” at Apple Park. All who are present will be able to view the State of the Union and opening keynotes of WWDC. Developers can also “explore” the Apple Park’s new Developer Center, which Apple has not officially disclosed to the public.

Apple says:

We’re hosting a special all-day experience at Apple Park on June 6 to kick off WWDC22. Gather with others in the developer community to watch the keynote and Platforms State of the Union videos alongside Apple engineers and experts, explore the all-new Developer Center, and so much more. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.

This celebration marks the beginning of an invigorating week of labs and sessions online, with many more activities than ever before.

How to apply to attend WWDC 2022 in-person

Apple has officially opened applications for attending this small “Special Event at Apple Park” on June 6. The company says that the event is open to members of the Apple Developer Program, the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, and 2022 Swift Student Challenge applicants.

Eligible developers and students can apply starting today through May 11 at 9:00 a.m. PT. Invitations will be “allocated through a random selection process” and are non-transferrable, Apple says. All applicants will be notified of their status by May 12 at 6:00 p.m. PT.

You can apply to attend WWDC 2022 in-person by heading to Apple’s website right here. Logging in using your Apple ID is all that’s required to apply.

COVID-19 protocols

This is Apple’s first in-person event of any kind since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Even though this event is drastically smaller in scale than previous WWDC events, the company is still putting some COVID-19 precautions in place. This includes proof of a negative COVID-19 test no more than three days before the event.

As it stands right now, Apple says that masks are currently optional, and it will not be requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. These policies could change once June 6 rolls around, and Apple says it will “details on the latest requirements to attendees prior to the event.”

9to5Mac’s Take

Even if this is a scaled back version of the WWDC in-person event compared to previous years, it’s notable to see Apple inviting people back to Apple Park for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This sets the scene for more

in-person events.

There is still a lot we don’t understand about the “Special Event,” and details such as where it will take place at Apple. This most likely depends on how many developers and students Apple invites, but possibilities include the Apple Park Visitor Center, Steve Jobs Theater, and inside the center ring at Apple’s rainbow stage.

It could also be that the entire event takes place at the aforementioned Developer Center, which again, we know very little about.