The Future of WordPress: Trends to Watch in 2026

The journey of WordPress from being just a blogging platform to becoming one of the most popular CMS supporting 43% of websites is truly incredible. As we are about to welcome the new year 2026, most users are curious about the future of WordPress.

That is why we have come up with this article, in which we have shared what we can expect in the future of WordPress based on our research and predictions. Readers will learn about the possibilities surrounding WordPress, new advancements, challenges, and more in the upcoming year.

Whether you are currently using WordPress or planning to embrace the platform, this article is going to be helpful for you. Before diving into the future, let us first discover what WordPress has recently announced.

What WordPress has announced?

WordPress likes to keep things transparent to its users and follows a no-secret policy. Through its recent announcement it has shared the things that will possibly be introduced in WordPress 7.0 version in 2026.

Highlights of the WordPress announcement:

• The phase 3 of the Gutenberg project will be the key area of the new WordPress version. The project consists of four phases that include

1. Simplified Editing (already done)
2.  Customization (Almost done)
3.  Collaboration (current focus)
4.  Multilingual support(Upcoming)

• It will cover adding collaboration and workflow features to WordPress. 
• The emphasis will shift to multilingual support in the phase 4.
• Releasing WordPress 7.0 milestone in 2026.
• WordPress is also working on data ownership and portability to simplify the process of moving content.

Trends to watch in the future of WordPress in 2026

Besides the WordPress announcement, here are the things that we can expect in the future of WordPress (based on our predictions)

1. Growth of WordPress for eCommerce

There is no doubt that WordPress is an amazing choice for eCommerce business owners. All thanks to the bulk availability of WordPress eCommerce plugins. WooCommerce supports more than 5 million WordPress websites to sell products covering 39% of market share.

WooCommerce is currently holding the top position in the market beating Shopify, Wix and other major plugins.  The market share of WooCOmmerce is also constantly showing the upward trend indicating further user growth in 2026.

Considering the changes, we could expect increased penetration of WordPress based eCommerce store in the future of WordPress.  Its position as one of the top rated website builders is also expected to remain intact.

2. Increase use of AI in WordPress

The future of WordPress is incomplete without AI. We have already witnessed the use of AI based WordPress plugins. For example, the AI matchmaking add-on of WP Event Manager, that is designed to enhance networking in events.

Currently, WordPress users can utilize AI and machines learning to simplify tasks like:  

• Creating well-researched content.
• Boost website SEO.
• Delivering images for blogs, social media posts etc.
• Automatically solve customer queries in no time and more.

When it comes to the future of WordPress, considering the AI factor, we can expect the Artificial intelligence features to be introduced to the WordPress core. In addition to that, the AI based WordPress plugins are also expected to become more powerful, delivering better content tools, intelligent chatbots, advanced AI driven workflow, and more.

3. Multi-lingual support in WordPress core

WordPress is used by global audiences, making it essential for WordPress based sites to be accessible to them. Similar, it is also important for WordPress to offer support and guidance in multiple languages.

The term Multilingual websites refers to the site that offers content in multiple languages. Users can select the language they are comfortable in through a dropdown link or automatically modify the website language on the basis of location.

Currently, various WordPress plugins are there to help you achieve this functionality on your website. However, this may affect the website performance if the plugins are not installed or configured properly.

Additionally, this becomes a daunting task for developers as they need to constantly update such plugins and keep adding new languages to them. That is why adding mullti-lingual support feature to the WordPress core is one of the main objectives of the Gutenberg Phase 4 launch.

As a part of the future of WordPress, we can expect it to translate website content in no time and it will be available to everyone, making your sites more accessible.

4. Mobile first in everything

The mobile-first approach is a must for every WordPress site owner because most websites are viewed on mobile devices.  In the future, WordPress will primarily focus on the mobile first approach, which goes beyond having responsive designs. This covers a mobile optimized interface, website management, mobile friendly WordPress dashboard, etc., for a smooth website browsing experience in 2026. Users will be able to update their menu easily or publish content through their phone without affecting the desktop view of their website.

This means in the future, updating WordPress website will be easier, and mobile experience will be improved.

5. Performance and Security by Default

When it comes to optimizing the speed of WordPress sites or securing them, expensive plugins are required. WordPress, in the future, aims to make both the process automatic for the users.

Soon, WordPress will add the performance optimization feature to the core platform. It will scrutinize the way a site works, and based on that, it will optimize the site by compressing images and adding proper format.

Just like the website performance part, the WordPress core team is also working on the security part to Stregnthen its core security automating best practices.

A lot of new and useful developments are going to take place in the future of WordPress that will not only improve user experience but also help them grow. However, no matter what improvements the platform brings in the future, it is crucial for every website owner to stay updated, relevant, and follow best website maintenance best practices. Though the result will be much better than the present.

Note: Being one of the leading WordPress plugins for events, WP Event Manager also updates itself regularly to offer a flawless user experience with enhanced features and major bug fixes.

Wrapping up

We hope that the article will help you understand what lies in the future of WordPress. Starting from the growth of WordPress for eCommerce to automating major features like performance and security, a lot of developments are expected to be seen in the future of WordPress.