Want to Attend WWDC22 in Person? You’ll Have to Enter Apple’s Lottery

Nearly a month ago, Apple announced the dates for its 2022 Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC). Now it’s shared a few more details this week for those who want to take a shot at attending the event in person.

Although this year’s WWDC is still being held virtually, COVID restrictions have lifted enough for Apple to open its Apple Park campus, allowing a few fortunate individuals to attend the events live and in person.

Apple’s decision to keep the event virtual is likely more about increasing the event’s reach than responding to the global health crisis. For years, Apple held its developer conferences as in-person events, where simple logistics forced the company to limit attendance. A virtual event doesn’t have those kinds of restrictions.

With 30 million developers worldwide, it’s simply not possible to get everyone in the same room. WWDC was usually capped at around 5,000 attendees, and Apple typically has to run a lottery to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to attend.

Plus, a virtual conference can be offered for free, and that’s precisely what Apple’s been doing for the past two years. In the past, even if you were lucky enough to get a ticket to an in-person WWDC, it would still set you back around $1,600, and that didn’t include the cost of travel and lodging.

However, this year Apple isn’t going solely virtual. Last month it announced that it would also be hosting a special day for developers and students to come to Apple Park to watch the keynote and State of the Union videos together on June 6. Now it’s shared a few more details about how to score an invite to that special event.

Although details are still pretty scant, a new Special Event at Apple Park indicates that Apple will be opening applications next Monday, May 9, and it will be done by random selection.

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 State of the Union videos alongside Apple engineers and experts, explore the all-new Developer Center, and so much more. We can’t wait to connect in person.

The good news is that if you are selected, there won’t be any charge to attend, although you will need to be a member of one of Apple’s Developer Programs.

The invitations are also non-transferable, so if you do win the lottery, you’ll have to be the one to go. You’ll also have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test and may have to follow other requirements from local public health authorities.

One interesting perk to this event is that it appears Apple’s guests will be the first to see the company’s new Developer Center. While it’s unclear exactly what this facility is, there have been hints that Apple has been working on it for a while.

Apple hasn’t said how many folks will be invited to attend this special event, but it’s worth considering that it’s not the full WWDC. Those attending won’t be seeing anything live; they’ll be watching the same videos as everyone else. They’ll just be doing so with other developers, “alongside Apple engineers and experts.” While that may be fun for folks who live nearby, it’s a long way to travel just to hang out at Apple Park for the day.

As usual, Apple is expected to preview the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS at WWDC. Apple could also announce some new Macs, but as is often the case with WWDC each year, it could go either way. However, even if there are hardware announcements, there’s no reason to believe that in-person attendees will get to see any new hardware in person, as this isn’t expected to be a press event.