Developer Resources
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This page is for campus developers and technical site owners who run WordPress outside of the WiscWeb WordPress Service for official UW–Madison sites. It provides access information for UW Theme 2.0 and related plugins, details on migrating from UW Theme Classic, and resources for developers to stay updated.
Access UW Theme 2.0
UW Theme 2.0 is available to download, but before installing it on your own WordPress site, consider whether using WiscWeb may be an easier option. With the block editor, many layouts and features that once required custom work can now be created directly using blocks and patterns.
Use UW Theme 2.0 in WiscWeb
The Office of Strategic Communication recommends the WiscWeb WordPress Service, UW–Madison’s free WordPress platform, for building sites with UW Theme 2.0. New sites run on UW Theme 2.0, which delivers built-in branding, accessibility, the latest patterns and blocks, plus automatic updates and support.
Download UW Theme 2.0 and plugins
If you manage your site outside of WiscWeb and wish to continue doing so, you can fill out the UW Theme 2.0 download form to access the theme and plugin files. Submissions help us track usage and connect with campus developers.
Want to try the new theme in a sandbox first?
Explore the theme in your browser with the UW Theme 2.0 Playground — no setup needed.
Non-WiscWeb Migrations
If your site is not hosted in WiscWeb, UW Theme Classic will remain available through the end of calendar year 2026 but will eventually be phased out.
Migration timeline
You do not need to migrate right away. There’s no set deadline yet for migrating custom child themes, but all sites will need to move to UW Theme 2.0 over time. More specific timelines will be shared as they are finalized.
Migration tooling
We have developed migration tooling to help WiscWeb sites move to UW Theme 2.0.
While we won’t be creating migration paths for custom features outside UW Theme Classic, we hope to share the migration tools we’re building for WiscWeb eventually. Our goal is to help developers outside of WiscWeb learn from or adapt these tools for their own needs. Check back here for updates.
Questions
If you’ve built something custom and aren’t sure how to migrate it to the new block-based theme, we’ll be available for consultations later this fall. We’re happy to share what we’ve learned from migrating sites from the classic UW Theme to Gutenberg.
To schedule a conversation, please email the Digital Strategy team in the Office of Strategic Communication.
Migrating a WiscWeb site?
If you’re migrating a WiscWeb site to UW Theme 2.0, WiscWeb’s migration documentation.
Join the October 1, 2025 info gathering session
The Office of Strategic Communication and WiscWeb teams will be hosting a virtual UW Theme 2.0 info gathering session on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This session is targeted for those that are non-WiscWeb WordPress developers. In this session, we will pose some questions to the group to gather your insight on WordPress, the UW Theme, and the block editor.
We encourage you to please join us for this session to learn more about how the theme and plugins were developed and if you have an interest in informing our next steps with UW Theme 2.0.
This session will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.
If you’d prefer a calendar invite, email uwtheme@wisc.edu to request one.
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Location: Zoom
Meeting ID: 938 7048 0320
Passcode: 479313
Stay connected
There are a few ways you can follow our progress and updates on UW Theme 2.0. If you’re interested in updates or want to be part of the conversation, we recommend the following options.
Check this page often for updates and general info about the UW Theme 2.0 for campus developers outside of WiscWeb.
Join WiscWeb’s monthly Lunch and Learn sessions to see demos, hear updates, and ask questions about UW Theme 2.0. Subscribe to the WiscWeb mailing list to receive updates and information about upcoming lunch and learns.
Sessions are recorded and shared on the WiscWeb YouTube channel.
Join the UW–Madison WordPress Users Group in Microsoft Teams to connect with other WordPress site owners, managers, and developers across campus. Share tips, learn best practices, and stay updated on UW Theme 2.0.
Campus WordPress developers can also request to join the Distributed WP Devs sub-channel by emailing the Digital Team in Strategic Communication. It’s a dedicated space to ask technical questions and collaborate on the theme.
We’ve heard from developers who are interested in contributing to UW Theme 2.0. While we don’t have a process for contributions yet, we appreciate the interest and will explore options in the future after the initial launch.