WordPress 7.1 is the second major version release for 2026, and the planned schedule for its release is August 19. The features it will ship with may yet change before the final release, but this summary gives a good idea of what is in store overall and what direction the WordPress project is heading in.
In this post, we won’t cover absolutely every feature and change, but let’s take an early look at the upcoming version’s most interesting updates!
AI in WordPress 7.1
Utilizing AI in the WP core is only just beginning, really. A priority in developing new WordPress features has been enabling WP plugin developers to create AI features as smoothly as possible. In other words, vast majority of the current AI features and tools are not native WP features, at least not just yet. However, each version release builds an architecturally important foundation for future AI features.
WordPress 7.1 focuses on the functionality of the AI Client, bringing support for generation streaming in the PHP AI Client as well as vector-based embeddings structures for search. Other authentication methods are also being introduced to AI Connectors aside from API keys.
You can read more about all the AI-related WordPress 7.1 updates on make.wordpress.org.
User Interface
WordPress 7.1 brings relatively small (yet all the more important) changes that improve usability and UI accessibility. For example, the command palette will be receiving an update. Additionally, WP 7.1 introduces a unified tooltip system and brings improvements to dashboard contrasts, among other areas.
Media Library
Users can now edit images in the browser view before they are uploaded to the server. In addition, infinite scroll will be enabled by default in the Media Library.
Unfortunately, infinite scroll is a problematic element from an accessibility point of view, as it is difficult to navigate for users browsing websites with assist tools like screen readers. Individual users can therefore turn off infinite scroll if they wish. If the site has the WP Accessibility Plugin enabled, the logic is reversed, and infinite scroll is disabled by default.
More information about accessibility in WordPress 7.1: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/08/13/accessibility-improvements-in-wordpress-7-1/
Editor
In the editor, text shadows (text-shadow), responsive styles, and hover states for various elements will become available. A new setting in blocks allows adding gradients to backgrounds. The minimum width for blocks can now also be defined in the editor.
Especially WordPress plugin developers should note that with WP 7.1, the editor experience will be a completely isolated iframe, and code changes may be necessary depending on the plugin’s features. Read more about these changes here.
API Updates in WP 7.1
In recent years, various WordPress APIs have received many updates and additions. They serve as “pathways” into the system to accomplish various tasks, hence their importance.
Abilities API
Originally released in WordPress 6.9, the Abilities API allows plugins and themes to tell AI agents what they are capable of doing. Come WordPress 7.1, discovering, surfacing, validating, and integrating abilities for external applications is easier than before.
SVG Icon API
This new API brings a unified way to register and display custom SVG icons in WordPress. You can find more information about the SVG API and its features here.
DataViews, DataForm, and View Config APIs
Designed for managing tables, grids, and other structured content, the DataViews (WordPress 6.5) and DataForm APIs receive an update this time: new ViewConfig features allow managing Site Editor views. You can read more about this update on make.wordpress.org.
Omitted Features
Not all originally planned features made it into WordPress 7.1: for instance, the adoption of React 19 is delayed. The WP project is actively being developed, and all of these will likely be seen as part of the WordPress core in the future.
RTC (Real-Time Collaboration)
Unfortunately, collaborating with other users in real time won’t happen in WordPress with version 7.1 just yet, even though the feature has been tested and further developed. However, its rollout is being actively planned and will be seen in a future WordPress version, though we don’t know which one yet.
Read more about RTC here: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/08/05/wordpress-7-1-field-guide/#real-time-collaboration
“On This Day” Widget
The On This Day widget is intended to highlight previously published content on the site right in the WordPress dashboard home view. However, it was not released in this version.
The Fate of the Classic Block
The block editor was introduced a while back in WordPress 5.0. Now, the Classic block was scheduled to be deprecated so that it would be hidden by default in UI options. However, this change was reverted, and the Classic block remains available in WordPress as usual.
Read More
You can find more detailed information about WordPress 7.1 and its new features and changes in the official Field Guide. Read it on make.wordpress.org!
https://make.wordpress.org/core/2026/08/05/wordpress-7-1-field-guide/