WordPress Block Themes vs Classic Themes: Which Should Beginners Learn in 2026?

If you’re getting into WordPress development in 2026, you’ve probably encountered some confusing terminology: block themes, classic themes, Full Site Editing, hybrid approaches. It’s enough to make a beginner’s head spin.

I remember when I started learning WordPress development, things were simpler—or at least more uniform. Everyone built themes the same way. Today, you’ve got choices, and with choices come questions: Which type of theme should I learn? What’s the difference? Will my chosen path become obsolete?

Let me clear up the confusion. In this guide, I’ll break down both approaches, compare them honestly, and help you make an informed decision about your learning path.

The WordPress Theme Landscape in 2026

First, let’s understand why we’re even having this conversation.

WordPress released the block editor (Gutenberg) back in 2018, fundamentally changing how users create content. For years, themes didn’t change much—they still used PHP templates. The editor was new, but themes worked the old way.

Then came Full Site Editing (FSE) and block themes. Suddenly, you could use the block editor to design your entire site, not just post content. Headers, footers, archive layouts—everything could be built with blocks.

This created a split: the traditional way (classic themes) and the new way (block themes). Both are actively supported by WordPress. Both work. Both have legitimate use cases.

The question isn’t which is “better” in absolute terms—it’s which is better for you and your goals.

What Are Classic Themes?

Classic themes are the traditional WordPress theme architecture that’s been around since the platform’s early days. If you’ve ever seen files like header.php, footer.php, or single.php, you’ve encountered a classic theme.

How Classic Themes Work

Classic themes rely on:

PHP Template Files: Different files control different parts of your site. For example:

• index.php — Main template fallback
• header.php — Site header
• footer.php — Site footer
• single.php — Individual post display
• page.php — Individual page display
• archive.php — Archive pages (categories, tags, dates)
• 404.php — Not found page

functions.php: This is your theme’s powerhouse. You register menus, sidebars, add theme support features, enqueue styles and scripts, and create custom functionality.

Template Hierarchy: WordPress follows a specific order when deciding which template file to use. For example, when displaying a category archive, WordPress looks for category-{slug}.php, then category-{id}.php, then category.php, then archive.php, then index.php until it finds one that exists.

WordPress Template Tags: PHP functions like the_title(), the_content(), get_header(), and the_permalink() that output or retrieve specific information.

Here’s what a simple classic theme’s single.php might look like:

<?php get_header(); ?>

<main id="main" class="site-main">
  <?php
  while ( have_posts() ) :
    the_post();
    ?>
    <article id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>" <?php post_class(); ?>>
      <header class="entry-header">
        <?php the_title( '<h1 class="entry-title">', '</h1>' ); ?>
        <div class="entry-meta">
          Posted on <?php echo get_the_date(); ?> by <?php the_author(); ?>
        </div>
      </header>

      <?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) : ?>
        <div class="post-thumbnail">
          <?php the_post_thumbnail( 'large' ); ?>
        </div>
      <?php endif; ?>

      <div class="entry-content">
        <?php the_content(); ?>
      </div>

      <footer class="entry-footer">
        <?php the_tags( '<span class="tags-links">Tags: ', ', ', '</span>' ); ?>
      </footer>
    </article>
    <?php
  endwhile;
  ?>
</main>

<?php get_sidebar(); ?>
<?php get_footer(); ?>

If you’re new to PHP, this might look intimidating. But it’s actually quite readable: get the header, loop through posts, display content, get the sidebar and footer.

What Are Block Themes?

Block themes are WordPress’s modern approach to theme development, designed to work seamlessly with the block editor and Full Site Editing.

How Block Themes Work

Block themes rely on:

HTML Template Files: Instead of PHP files in the root, you have HTML files in a templates/ folder:

• templates/index.html — Main template (required)
• templates/single.html — Individual posts
• templates/page.html — Individual pages
• templates/archive.html — Archives
• templates/404.html — Not found pages

theme.json: A single JSON file that configures your entire theme—colors, typography, spacing, layouts, and more. This replaces much of what functions.php did in classic themes.

Template Parts: Reusable HTML components stored in parts/, like parts/header.html and parts/footer.html.

Block Markup: Instead of PHP functions, you use HTML comments that represent blocks:

<!-- wp:template-part {"slug":"header","tagName":"header"} /-->

<!-- wp:group {"tagName":"main","layout":{"type":"constrained"}} -->
<main class="wp-block-group">
  <!-- wp:post-title {"level":1} /-->

  <!-- wp:group {"layout":{"type":"flex"}} -->
  <div class="wp-block-group">
    <!-- wp:post-author /-->
    <!-- wp:post-date /-->
  </div>
  <!-- /wp:group -->

  <!-- wp:post-featured-image /-->
  <!-- wp:post-content /-->
  <!-- wp:post-terms {"term":"post_tag"} /-->
</main>
<!-- /wp:group -->

<!-- wp:template-part {"slug":"footer","tagName":"footer"} /-->

Notice: no PHP. The markup looks like HTML comments, but WordPress interprets these as blocks. Each block has a specific purpose (post-title, post-content, etc.) and can have attributes for customization.

The Magic of theme.json

Here’s a snippet from a typical theme.json:

{
  "version": 3,
  "settings": {
    "color": {
      "palette": [
        {
          "slug": "primary",
          "color": "#0073aa",
          "name": "Primary"
        },
        {
          "slug": "secondary",
          "color": "#23282d",
          "name": "Secondary"
        }
      ]
    },
    "typography": {
      "fontSizes": [
        {
          "slug": "small",
          "size": "0.875rem",
          "name": "Small"
        },
        {
          "slug": "medium",
          "size": "1rem",
          "name": "Medium"
        },
        {
          "slug": "large",
          "size": "1.5rem",
          "name": "Large"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "styles": {
    "color": {
      "background": "var(--wp--preset--color--white)",
      "text": "var(--wp--preset--color--black)"
    },
    "typography": {
      "fontSize": "var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium)",
      "lineHeight": "1.6"
    }
  }
}

This single file defines:

• What colors and fonts are available
• Default styling for the site
• What controls users see in the editor
• Layout defaults and constraints

It’s declarative (you describe what you want) rather than imperative (you don’t write how to do it).

Side-by-Side Comparison

Let’s compare them directly across important dimensions:

Aspect	Classic Themes	Block Themes
Primary Language	PHP	HTML + JSON
Learning Curve	Steeper (PHP, template hierarchy)	Gentler (familiar HTML, JSON config)
Customization Method	Code + Customizer API	Full Site Editor + theme.json
User Control	Limited (what you coded)	Extensive (FSE flexibility)
File Structure	PHP files in root	HTML in templates/, JSON config
Styling Approach	CSS files, enqueued scripts	theme.json + block styles
Template Flexibility	Very flexible (full PHP power)	Flexible within block constraints
Performance	Depends on implementation	Generally good (less PHP processing)
Maintenance	More code to maintain	Less code, JSON config easier to update
Future-Proofing	Stable but older approach	WordPress’s stated future direction
Community Resources	Massive library of tutorials	Growing rapidly
Job Market (2026)	Still in demand	Increasingly requested
Client Experience	Customizer-based	Full Site Editor (more intuitive)

Pros and Cons: Classic Themes

Pros

Complete Control: PHP gives you unlimited flexibility. You can do literally anything—custom queries, complex logic, integration with external APIs, you name it.

Mature Ecosystem: Fifteen+ years of tutorials, Stack Overflow answers, courses, and documentation. Whatever problem you encounter, someone has solved it before.

Familiar to Developers: If you know PHP, classic themes are straightforward. The patterns and practices are well-established.

Plugin Compatibility: Some older plugins assume classic theme structures. They’ll work better with classic themes.

Fine-Grained Control: You control every detail of output. Want to change how post metadata displays? Edit the template file. Want conditional logic? Add an if statement.

No Editor Dependency: Classic themes work regardless of whether the user prefers the Classic Editor or Block Editor.

Cons

Steeper Learning Curve: You need to understand PHP, the template hierarchy, WordPress functions, and how everything connects.

More Code to Maintain: More files, more custom PHP, more potential for bugs or security issues.

Less User Control: Users can’t easily customize layout or design without touching code (unless you build extensive customization options).

Harder to Update: Making design changes often requires editing code, which is intimidating for non-developers.

Future Uncertainty: While WordPress won’t abandon classic themes, they’re clearly not the future direction. New features increasingly focus on FSE.

Pros and Cons: Block Themes

Pros

Easier to Learn: HTML and JSON are more beginner-friendly than PHP. The structure is cleaner and more intuitive.

User Empowerment: Users can customize almost everything through the Full Site Editor—no code required.

Future-Proof: WordPress is investing heavily in FSE and block themes. Learning this positions you for the future.

Less Code: Significantly less code to write and maintain. theme.json replaces hundreds of lines of PHP.

Better Performance Potential: Less PHP processing can mean faster page loads (though this depends on implementation).

Design Tokens: theme.json creates a systematic approach to design—consistent colors, typography, spacing across your site.

Automatic Features: New WordPress features automatically work with block themes without theme updates.

Cons

Younger Ecosystem: Fewer tutorials and resources compared to classic themes (though this gap is closing rapidly).

Limited PHP: While you can use PHP in block themes, the architecture discourages it. Complex custom functionality is trickier.

Learning Curve for Block Markup: Understanding block comment syntax and attributes takes time.

Editor Dependency: Block themes are designed for FSE. If a client prefers traditional workflows, they might struggle.

Plugin Compatibility: Some plugins expect classic theme hooks or structures and may not work perfectly.

Constraints: The block system has opinions. Sometimes you’ll want to do something that’s awkward within block architecture.

When to Use Classic Themes

Choose classic themes if:

You’re Maintaining Legacy Sites: If you’re hired to work on existing sites, most use classic themes. You need this knowledge.

You Need Complex Custom Functionality: Building a job board, membership site, or custom application? PHP flexibility helps.

Your Client Prefers Traditional Workflows: Some clients are comfortable with the Customizer and don’t want Full Site Editing.

You’re Working with Specific Plugins: Some page builders and plugins expect classic theme structures.

You Want Maximum Control: You need to output specific HTML structures or implement complex conditional logic.

You’re Building for the WordPress.org Theme Directory: As of 2026, most themes in the directory are still classic themes, though this is changing.

When to Use Block Themes

Choose block themes if:

You’re Starting Fresh: New projects without legacy constraints are perfect for block themes.

You Want to Empower Clients: FSE gives clients incredible control without needing to call you for every tweak.

You’re Learning WordPress Now: Starting with block themes means learning the modern approach first.

You Value Maintainability: Less code means easier long-term maintenance.

You Want to Future-Proof Your Skills: WordPress’s future is block-based. Learning this now is an investment.

You’re Building Simple to Medium Complexity Sites: Blogs, portfolios, business sites, and many other common use cases work beautifully with block themes.

The Hybrid Approach

Here’s what many professional developers do: learn both, use each where appropriate.

You can even create hybrid themes that work with both FSE and classic customization. Some themes include both header.php and templates/header.html, providing fallbacks and flexibility.

In practice, this means:

• Understanding classic themes so you can maintain existing sites
• Building new projects with block themes when possible
• Knowing when each approach is the better tool for the job

It’s not either/or—it’s both/and.

Job Market Perspective: What Employers Want

Let’s talk careers. If you’re learning WordPress to get a job, what should you focus on?

In 2026, the answer is: both, but prioritize block themes for the future.

Here’s what I’ve observed:

Maintenance Work: Tons of jobs involve maintaining existing sites. These are overwhelmingly classic themes. You need this knowledge to be employable.

New Projects: Forward-thinking agencies and clients increasingly want block themes. They’ve seen the benefits of FSE and want easier maintenance.

Full-Stack Developers: Understanding both makes you more valuable. You can handle any WordPress project that comes your way.

Specialization: Some developers are becoming block theme specialists, which is a niche with growing demand.

Freelancing: Clients often don’t know or care which type of theme you use—they want results. Being fluent in both gives you flexibility.

My advice: Start with block themes (they’re easier), but don’t neglect classic themes. Spend 70% of your learning time on block themes, 30% on classic themes. This gives you modern skills while understanding the foundation.

My Recommendation for Beginners

If you’re starting from scratch in 2026, here’s my recommended learning path:

Month 1-2: Learn WordPress Basics

• Install WordPress locally
• Understand posts, pages, categories, tags
• Master the block editor as a user
• Install and use some themes and plugins

Month 3-4: Block Theme Fundamentals

• Study how block themes work
• Build a simple block theme from scratch
• Master theme.json
• Understand block markup and template parts

Month 5: Classic Theme Fundamentals

• Learn the template hierarchy
• Understand common PHP template tags
• Build a basic classic theme
• Explore functions.php capabilities

Month 6: Specialization and Real Projects

• Choose personal projects to reinforce learning
• Contribute to open-source WordPress projects
• Build something for a real client or your portfolio
• Deep dive into your preferred approach (block or classic)

This path gives you a strong foundation in modern development while ensuring you understand the classic approach.

Migration Path: Classic to Block

Maybe you know classic themes and want to learn block themes. Great! You’ve got a huge advantage.

Your Existing Knowledge Transfers:

• You understand the template hierarchy (block themes use similar concepts)
• You know WordPress functions and hooks (still useful in block themes)
• You understand theme structure and organization

What’s New:

• theme.json replaces much of functions.php
• HTML block markup replaces PHP template tags
• FSE replaces Customizer
• Declarative configuration replaces imperative code

The good news: the transition is easier than learning classic themes from scratch. Your WordPress knowledge applies—you’re just using a different syntax.

Practical Migration Steps:

1. Read the Block Theme Documentation: Start with WordPress.org’s official block theme handbook
2. Convert a Simple Classic Theme: Take a basic classic theme and rebuild it as a block theme
3. Explore theme.json: This is the biggest conceptual shift—understand it deeply
4. Practice Block Markup: Get comfortable writing and reading block comment syntax
5. Use FSE: Actually use the Full Site Editor to understand what users experience

Within a few weeks of focused practice, you’ll be comfortable with block themes.

Learning Resources for Both Paths

Block Themes

• Learn.WordPress.org: Official tutorials on block themes and FSE
• WordPress Developer Handbook: Block Theme section
• Block Theme Tutorials: YouTube channels like WP Tuts and Dar rel Wilson have excellent FSE content
• Theme.json Documentation: Essential reading
• TwentyTwentyFour Theme: Study WordPress’s default block theme—it’s well-coded and documented

Classic Themes

• WordPress Theme Handbook: The official guide, very comprehensive
• Underscores (_s): A starter theme that teaches classic theme structure
• WPBeginner: Has hundreds of classic theme tutorials
• WordPress StackExchange: Search for template hierarchy and classic theme questions
• Theme Development Courses: Udemy and Coursera have solid classic theme courses

Both

• Local WordPress Development: Local by Flywheel, MAMP, or DevKinsta
• WordPress Codex: Still valuable despite being “legacy” documentation
• WordPress GitHub Repository: Read core code to understand how things work
• WordPress Community: WordCamps, meetups, and Slack channels

The Future of WordPress Themes

Let me give you my honest prediction for where things are headed:

Short Term (2026-2027): Both approaches continue to coexist. Classic themes remain dominant numerically, but block theme adoption accelerates. New features focus on FSE.

Medium Term (2028-2030): Block themes become the majority for new projects. Classic themes stick around for legacy sites and complex custom work. The ecosystem fully supports both.

Long Term (2030+): Block themes dominate. Classic themes become a niche for specific use cases. WordPress may still support them, but new developers primarily learn block themes.

This timeline is speculation, but it’s based on WordPress’s clear direction and investment in FSE.

What This Means for You: Learning block themes now is forward-thinking. You’re getting ahead of the curve while the skill is still relatively rare.

Making Your Decision

Let me simplify the decision:

Choose Classic Themes If:

• You have an immediate need to maintain existing sites
• You’re working on highly custom projects requiring extensive PHP
• Your clients specifically request classic workflows
• You already know PHP and want to leverage that knowledge

Choose Block Themes If:

• You’re starting fresh with WordPress development
• You want the easiest learning path
• You’re building sites for clients who want control
• You want to future-proof your skills
• You prefer declarative configuration over imperative coding

Learn Both If:

• You want to be a well-rounded WordPress developer
• You’re serious about making WordPress your career
• You have the time to invest in comprehensive learning
• You want maximum flexibility in your work

Honestly? Most professionals should eventually know both. But you can’t learn everything at once. Pick your starting point based on your immediate goals, then expand from there.

Final Thoughts

The block theme vs. classic theme debate isn’t about right and wrong—it’s about different tools for different contexts.

Classic themes are mature, powerful, and not going anywhere soon. Block themes are modern, user-friendly, and represent WordPress’s future. Both have value. Both deserve respect.

If I were learning WordPress from scratch in 2026, I’d start with block themes. They’re easier, they’re the future, and they’ll make you a better WordPress developer. Once comfortable, I’d learn classic themes to round out my skills.

But here’s the most important thing: just start. Don’t overthink the decision. Whether you begin with block themes or classic themes, you’re learning WordPress. You’re building skills. You’re making progress.

The worst choice is paralysis—spending months researching instead of building. Pick one, dive in, and learn by doing. You can always learn the other approach later.

WordPress isn’t going anywhere. Both approaches will be around for years. You have time to learn both eventually.

So pick your path, fire up your code editor, and start building. The WordPress world needs more skilled theme developers, regardless of which approach they use.

Happy coding!

— Taufik Hidayat