WordPress News & Coverage
WordPress 7.1, code-named “Mary Lou,” shipped to the public on August 19, 2026. Following the AI-led foundations of WordPress 7.0, this release is a quieter, more practical update for site owners and agencies: faster media handling, per-device responsive controls in Global Styles, a public SVG icon system, and plumbing that helps AI agents and external […]
WordPress 7.1 changes an important part of the media workflow: when the browser can support it, image compression, resizing, format conversion, rotation, and thumbnail generation happen on the client before files reach the server. For site owners, that can reduce server-side image work. For plugin and theme developers, it changes which hooks run and where […]
WordPress 7.1 hides the Classic block from the inserter by default to accelerate block editor adoption. Existing Classic blocks stay editable, but new insertions are discouraged to improve editor consistency and performance. Developers can opt back in via a filter or plugin.
WordPress 7.1 hides the Classic block from the block editor inserter by default, encouraging block-first content creation while maintaining full compatibility with existing Classic block content and the Classic Editor plugin.
WordPress 7.1, releasing August 19, 2026, focuses on improving collaboration with Notes enhancements, expanding styling options in the Site Editor, and introducing editorial Guidelines that integrate with AI tools. Media handling and developer APIs also receive significant updates.
WordPress 7.1 will keep the Classic block visible in the block inserter, reversing a prior decision to hide it. This maintains the current editing experience and postpones forced migration away from the legacy TinyMCE editor.
The WordPress Core Developer Chat on June 10, 2026, will cover critical updates for maintenance releases, real-time communication testing, client-side media processing, and Gutenberg development challenges. This article analyzes the implications for practitioners managing WordPress sites.
WordPress 7.1 development begins with a focus on collaboration and responsive styling, Hub Tickets integrates branded email for support workflows, and EmDash hosting matures with key fixes. Agencies and developers should prepare for new workflows and integrations in this mid-2026 update.
The WordPress Dev Chat on May 27, 2026, will focus on finalizing the WordPress 7.0 release and launching 7.1 development, featuring key accessibility improvements, PHP support clarifications, and Gutenberg 23.2 discussions that impact core workflows.
WordPress contributors have launched an outreach program to prepare the real-time collaboration feature for WordPress 7.1. This initiative seeks early testers, especially hosting providers, to ensure the feature's stability and performance across diverse environments. Agencies and developers should prepare for significant changes impacting workflows and compatibility.
