The WordPress Themes Team has released its latest update, detailing the state of theme reviews, block themes, and plugin activity as of February 25, 2026. With over 1,100 theme updates approved and live within just seven days, the team continues to play a critical role in maintaining quality standards for theme developers and users alike.
Key Takeaways
- 1188 theme tickets were opened and 1179 were closed within the last seven days.
- 26 new themes went live, while 1127 theme updates were approved.
- Block themes continue to gain traction, with 34 currently under review and 10 launched in the past week.
- The Create Block Theme plugin now has over 10,000 active installs, reflecting growing interest in block-based theme development.
- Theme Check plugin activity shows 15 pull requests and 43 open issues, signaling ongoing improvements.
Theme Directory Stats: A Snapshot of Activity
The Themes Team processed an impressive volume of tickets over the last seven days. A total of 1188 tickets were opened, while 1179 were closed—demonstrating effective throughput despite ongoing challenges. Of the tickets closed, 1153 themes were made live, with 26 of them being brand-new themes. Additionally, 1127 theme updates were pushed live, ensuring existing themes remain compatible and secure for users.
Currently, there are 29 new tickets awaiting review. None of these are older than four weeks, which highlights the team’s commitment to timely processing. However, among the 77 assigned tickets, 9 remain older than four weeks, suggesting bottlenecks in specific areas.
Interestingly, 13 tickets have been approved but are still awaiting publication. This delay often points to logistical challenges, such as ensuring themes meet final technical checks before going live.
Block Themes: Steady Growth
The rise of block themes continues, with 34 currently under review by the team. Block themes are essential for sites leveraging the Full Site Editing (FSE) capabilities introduced in WordPress 5.9, and their adoption reflects the platform’s shift toward modern, block-based design paradigms.
In the past week, 10 new block themes were made live, further enriching the ecosystem for developers and site owners who prefer the flexibility and modularity of blocks.
HelpScout Stats: Supporting Developers
HelpScout activity reveals the Themes Team’s effort to provide timely support to developers. Over the past seven days, 13 email conversations were initiated, with 15 replies sent and 11 issues resolved—82% of which were resolved on the first reply. While these numbers appear modest, they reflect the team’s focus on quality over quantity, ensuring developers receive actionable feedback.
Plugin Activity: Create Block Theme and Theme Check
The Create Block Theme plugin, designed to streamline the process of building block themes, has surpassed 10,000 active installs—a significant milestone that underscores growing interest in block-based development. On GitHub, the plugin currently has 64 active issues and 10 pull requests, indicating active development and community engagement.
Similarly, the Theme Check plugin remains a vital tool for ensuring theme compliance with WordPress standards. It currently has 15 pull requests and 43 open issues, reflecting ongoing efforts to refine its functionality and usability.
What This Means for WordPress Users
The February 25, 2026 Themes Team update showcases the vibrant activity within the WordPress theme ecosystem. For developers, the data highlights the importance of staying up-to-date with theme reviews and leveraging tools like Create Block Theme and Theme Check to ensure compliance and innovation. For site owners, the steady influx of new and updated themes means greater choice and improved compatibility with modern WordPress features, such as Full Site Editing.
This update also signals the growing importance of block themes in the WordPress landscape. Developers who haven’t yet explored block-based design should consider doing so to remain competitive as FSE adoption accelerates.
Finally, the Themes Team’s efficient ticket processing and support response times are reassuring indicators of the community’s commitment to quality and collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are block themes?
Block themes are themes designed specifically for Full Site Editing (FSE), allowing users to customize every aspect of their site using blocks.
How can developers get their themes reviewed faster?
Ensure your theme meets WordPress coding standards and use tools like Theme Check to identify issues before submission. Providing detailed documentation can also help speed up the review process.
Why are some approved themes not live yet?
Approved themes may face delays due to final technical checks or logistical issues, such as waiting for updates from the developer or ensuring compatibility.
