In this guide to WordPress updates, we will break down each major release of this open-source content management system (CMS). As of 2025 it is estimated around 532 million websites are using WordPress, with that number rapidly growing every day.

According to W3Techs, around 43% of all websites on the internet use WordPress, meaning well over a third of the entire web is powered by WP. This has made WordPress a popular choice for users and web designers for creating easy to use websites.

2025 WordPress Updates

15th April 2025: WordPress 6.8 “Cecil”

WordPress 6.8, named after avant-garde jazz pianist Cecil Taylor, continues the platform’s evolution with a focus on refining existing tools and boosting usability. Rather than big new features, this release is all about smoothing out the experience for both developers and content creators.

New features in this release include:

  • Updated Style Book: The Style Book now offers a clearer, more organised layout and can be accessed more easily within the Site Editor.

  • Smarter Query Loop Controls: Users can now exclude sticky posts, change the order of results, and adjust the display of hierarchical content.

  • Editor Interface Enhancements: Quality-of-life improvements such as a toggle to show the current template during preview, and layout density controls for a more customisable editing space.

  • New Query Total Block: A handy block that lets you display how many results are being shown within a Query Loop.

  • Security and Performance Boosts: Improved support for faster page loading and enhanced password security using modern hashing methods.

With over 100 accessibility improvements and better compatibility across themes, this release helps keep WordPress efficient, secure and user-friendly.

12th November 2024: WordPress 6.7 “Rollins”

The final major release of 2024, WordPress 6.7, is named after jazz legend Sonny Rollins. This update introduces a range of design and performance improvements that make building and managing a website even more intuitive.

Some of the key new features include:

  • Twenty Twenty-Five Theme: A clean, block-based default theme designed for flexibility and ease of use, with built-in pattern options, improved typography controls and multiple style variations.

  • Zoomed-Out View in Site Editor: A new layout overview that allows users to quickly see the structure of a page or template and navigate between sections with ease.

  • Improved Template Tools: Developers now have enhanced tools to register and manage templates more efficiently.

  • Media Enhancements: Support for additional image formats like HEIC, improved background image controls, and automatic image sizing for faster performance.

  • Expanded Block Styling: More block types now include options for borders, shadows and other visual tweaks to give greater design control.

This release also includes dozens of accessibility updates and a range of behind-the-scenes performance improvements, helping websites load faster and function more smoothly across devices.

7th August 2024: WordPress 6.6 Ellington

August introduced us to WordPress 6.6, named after the legendary jazz pianist and composer Duke Ellington. This is the second major release of 2024, featuring numerous performance improvements and new features designed to enhance usability and creativity.

Some new features include:

  • Advanced Theme Management: Easier switching and customisation of themes with a more intuitive interface.
  • Improved Site Health: Enhanced tools for diagnosing and improving your site’s performance and security.
  • Block Pattern Directory Integration: Direct access to a vast library of block patterns for faster site design.
  • Enhanced Media Handling: Better media organisation and editing capabilities.
  • Dynamic Content Blocks: New blocks that offer dynamic content functionality for a more engaging user experience.

WordPress 6.6 continues its strong commitment to accessibility, incorporating over 90 updates specifically aimed at making the platform more inclusive and user-friendly. These enhancements ensure that WordPress remains a versatile and powerful tool for all types of users.

5th March 2024: WordPress 6.5 Mingus

March brought us the release of WordPress 6.5, named after the legendary jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus. This is the first major release of 2024 and it introduces several exciting performance and usability enhancements.

Some new features include:

  • Revamped Site Editor: Improved interface for a more seamless site-building experience.
  • Enhanced Block Controls: More granular control over block settings and customisation.
  • Global Styles Enhancements: Better tools for managing and previewing your site’s styles.
  • Updated Template Management: Simplified process for creating and managing templates.
  • Advanced Pattern Library: New patterns to streamline content creation and design.

Accessibility remains a key focus, with WordPress 6.5 introducing over 80 updates aimed at improving the platform’s inclusivity. These enhancements ensure that WordPress continues to be a robust and user-friendly tool for all users.

7th November 2023: WordPress 6.4 Parker

November saw the release of WordPress 6.4, inspired by the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. This is the third major release of 2023, bringing a plethora of performance improvements and new features aimed at enhancing usability.

Some new features include:

  • New Default Theme Twenty Twenty-Four: Modern design with a focus on flexibility and accessibility.
  • Improved Pattern Management: Easier creation, editing, and management of reusable patterns.
  • Font Library: Centralised management for all your site’s fonts.
  • Updated Media Library: Enhanced media handling with better organisation and search capabilities.
  • Expanded Command Palette: More powerful and versatile, helping you navigate and control your site effortlessly.

WordPress 6.4 continues its commitment to accessibility with nearly 70 updates focused on making the platform more inclusive. These enhancements ensure that WordPress remains a user-friendly and powerful tool for all creators.

8th August 2023: WordPress 6.3 Lionel

August marked the release of WordPress 6.3, named after the influential jazz pianist Lionel Hampton. This is the second major release of 2023 and comes with a host of exciting new features and improvements designed to enhance performance and usability.

Some new features include:

  • Enhanced Site Editor: More intuitive navigation and improved editing experience.
  • New Command Palette: Quickly access and execute commands to speed up your workflow.
  • Revised Block Themes: Improved block theme management and customisation options.
  • Content Patterns: Ready-to-use design patterns to streamline content creation.
  • Fluid Typography: Better control over responsive text sizes.

Accessibility continues to be a priority, with WordPress 6.3 introducing over 60 updates specifically aimed at making the platform more inclusive and easier to use for everyone. These enhancements ensure a more seamless and enjoyable experience for all WordPress users.

29th March 2023: WordPress 6.2 Dolphy

March saw the release of WordPress 6.2, inspired by the American jazz multi-instrumentalist Eric Allan Dolphy Jr. 6.2 is the first major release of 2023 and includes significant performance and usability enhancements.

Some new features include:

  • Improved Site Editor: Enhanced navigation for better site-building experience.
  • Style Book: A new way to preview and manage styles across your site.
  • Block Settings Sidebar: More intuitive controls for block customisation.
  • Improved Navigation Menus: Easier menu creation and management.
  • Distraction-Free Mode: A cleaner workspace to focus on content creation.

Many of these updates have been made with accessibility in mind, contributing to nearly 50 specific enhancements aimed at improving the platform’s accessibility. This ensures that WordPress 6.2 continues to be a robust and inclusive tool for all users.

1st November 2022: WordPress 6.1 Misha

November saw the release of WP 6.1, inspired by the Soviet-Norwegian jazz pianist Mikhail “Misha” Alperin. 6.1 is the third major release of 2022 which includes performance and usability enhancements.

Some new features include

  • Default Theme Twenty Twenty-Three
  • New templates for improved creator experience
  • Improved UI for Menus
  • Improved block placeholders
  • Content-only editing support for containers

Most of these feature updates have been made with accessibility in mind, which is why WordPress 6.1 includes nearly 60 updates specifically focused on enhancing the accessibility of the platform.

24th May 2022: WordPress 6.0 Arturo

In May of 2022, WordPress released iteration 6.0, named Arturo after the Grammy-winning jazz musician Arturo O’Farrill. With almost 1,000 enhancements and bug fixes, this is the 2nd major release for WordPress this year.

Some of the improvements include:

  • An enhanced writing experience
  • Style Switching
  • Additional template choices
  • Integrated patterns
  • Additional design tools
  • A better list view
  • Block locking controls

This release includes several updates focused on improving the performance of WordPress. These enhancements cover a range of performance areas including improving the page and post-load speed, reducing the execution time of various query types, caching, navigation menus, and much more.

25th January 2022: WordPress 5.9 Josephine

WordPress 5.9 was released on the 25th of January 2022, named Josephine after international jazz singer Josephine Baker. This update introduced the first default block theme for WordPress along with full site editing in the WordPress admin area.

Other updates include:

  • Better block controls
  • A revamped list view
  • A better gallery block
  • Block-level locking
  • Multiple stylesheets in a block

20th July 2021: WordPress 5.8 Tatum

Released in July of 2021, update 5.8 is named after legendary jazz pianist Art Tatum. The main addition to this update was the introduction of managing widgets with blocks. Now you can add blocks both in widget areas across your site and with a live preview through the Customiser.

Additional updates include:

  • Displaying posts with new blocks and patterns
  • Editing templates around posts
  • Dropping support for Internet Explorer 11 (IE11)
  • Adding support for WebP image files

9th March 2021: WordPress 5.7 Esperanza

The first major update of 2021 is named after musical prodigy Esperanza Spalding, bringing with it fresh colours in the admin, simpler interaction in the editor and controls right where you need them.

Further updates include:

  • Making the editor easier to use
  • Doing more without the need for code
  • A simpler default colour palette
  • Moving from HTTP to HTTPS in one click
  • New Robots API
  • Lazy loading iFrames

8th December 2020: WordPress 5.6 Simone

The last update for 2020 is named after legendary performer Nina Simone, introducing a brand-new default theme and much more.

These updates include:

  • Greater layout flexibility
  • More block patterns
  • Enhanced video captioning
  • Expanding auto-updates
  • Additional PHP8 support

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Published On: September 27, 2022Categories: Website Design InsightsBy
Published On: September 27, 2022Categories: Website Design InsightsBy

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