WordPress 7.1 still on track for release on 19 August 2026
WordPress 7.1 remains on track for release on Wednesday 19 August 2026.
The release is currently in its final testing stage, with the third Release Candidate now available for developers and testers. That is a positive sign, but it is still worth remembering that software release dates can move if an important issue is found at the last minute. At the time of writing, WordPress has not announced any change to the planned date.
What does this mean for your website?
For most website owners, there is nothing you need to do just yet. A major WordPress update is not something we recommend rushing to install the moment it appears. Themes, plugins and bespoke website features all need to work happily together, and giving the wider WordPress community a little time to spot any early compatibility issues is often sensible.
WordPress 7.1 is expected to bring improvements to the editing experience, collaboration tools, media handling and site styling. Some of the more technical changes will be particularly useful to developers and plugin makers, while everyday users should see a number of smaller improvements that make managing content feel smoother.
If your website is covered by an O’Brien Media website support agreement, we will assess the update, carry out the usual compatibility checks and schedule it appropriately for your site, subject to available support time. If we spot anything that needs your attention, we will let you know in plain English.
If you look after your own WordPress website, make sure you have a recent backup before updating and check that your plugins and theme are compatible with WordPress 7.1. If you would rather not spend your afternoon decoding plugin update notes, get in touch with our team and we can help.
We will share a further update once WordPress 7.1 is officially released.
