The next generation of the university’s official WordPress web theme is nearly ready for launch. UW Theme 2.0 brings the modern Gutenberg block editor to university websites, making it easier to create and edit web content with a drag-and-drop interface.
Here’s where things stand and what’s coming next:
UW Theme 2.0 on track for a fall launch
The development team remains on target for a fall 2025 release of UW Theme 2.0. Workday implementation went smoothly and won’t delay the launch timeline.
The theme will initially only be available for WiscWeb clients who want to start building new sites from scratch. This phased approach will allow the team to stress-test the new infrastructure before opening migration tools for site managers.
Migration won’t happen all at once
If you’re currently using the UW Theme or have a WiscWeb site, you won’t need to migrate immediately when UW Theme 2.0 launches. Here’s how the rollout will work:
First few weeks after launch: Only groups building new WiscWeb sites from scratch can use UW Theme 2.0. This helps the development team monitor the new infrastructure and ensure everything runs smoothly under real-world conditions.
Later this fall: The team will launch a migration process for existing WiscWeb sites. The WiscWeb team is developing documentation and training materials to guide you through the process.
1 year to migrate: WiscWeb users will have until the end of 2026 to complete their transitions from the classic UW Theme to UW Theme 2.0.
How to prepare
While you don’t need to take any actions right now, this is a good time to ramp up your planning:
Watch the demo: Check out WiscWeb’s August lunch & learn session to learn more about the coming migration, including a demo of the migration tools. This is especially valuable if you’re trying to estimate how long the process might take for your site.
Understand the process: Moving to UW Theme 2.0 will not be completely automated. Web managers will need to take steps to migrate their sites’ content, including possibly rebuilding some elements using the new block editor. Review WiscWeb’s Gutenberg migration documentation for detailed information about the options.
Not in WiscWeb? If you manage a WordPress website with the UW Theme that is not part of WiscWeb, review the UW Theme 2.0 launch details for non-WiscWeb sites guidance to learn about available migration resources.
The big picture
This transition represents a significant shift in how employees build and maintain university websites. The Gutenberg block editor offers a more intuitive, visual approach to web editing compared to the traditional text-based interface most users know today.
The development team—a collaboration between WiscWeb and the Office of Strategic Communication, with support from the Center for User Experience—has spent months building and testing UW Theme 2.0 to ensure it maintains the accessibility, security and UW–Madison branding standards you expect.
Stay connected
Want to follow the project’s progress? There are lots of ways to stay informed:
- Join the WordPress Users group in Microsoft Teams to get updates and engage with the community
- Attend an upcoming WiscWeb lunch and learn session (join the WiscWeb email list for event updates and reminders)
- Sign up for WiscWeb office hours
- Follow official updates on the Gutenberg Transition homepage