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
There’s no set migration deadline yet for custom child themes, but support for UW Theme Classic will end at the close of 2026. After that, no new updates or fixes will be released. Sites that continue using Classic may become vulnerable to security or accessibility issues. Plan to migrate to UW Theme 2.0 before 2026 to stay supported and secure.
Migration tooling
Migration tools are currently being developed for WiscWeb sites using UW Theme Classic to help them move more easily to UW Theme 2.0. These tools aren’t designed for sites that use a custom version of the UW Theme, host WordPress outside of WiscWeb, or include custom features not part of the Classic theme. The UW Theme team plans to share the WiscWeb migration tools more broadly in the future.
Questions
If you’ve built something custom and aren’t sure how to migrate it to the new block-based theme, please email the Digital Strategy team in the Office of Strategic Communication to schedule a conversation. We’re happy to share what we’ve learned from migrating sites from the classic UW Theme to Gutenberg.
Migrating a WiscWeb site?
If you’re migrating a WiscWeb site to UW Theme 2.0, visit WiscWeb migration documentation for more information.
Developer info sessions
Check back here for announcements about upcoming sessions.
10/1/2025 Session
The Office of Strategic Communication and WiscWeb teams hosted a virtual UW Theme 2.0 info-gathering session on October 1, 2025. This session focused on gathering input from non-WiscWeb WordPress developers about their experiences with WordPress, the UW Theme, and the block editor.
You can watch the recording to learn more about the discussion and how this feedback will shape future updates to UW Theme 2.0.
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.