The WordPress dev team just released WordPress 6.9 “Gene” earlier today.
Each WordPress release celebrates an artist who has made an indelible mark on the world of music. WordPress 6.9, code-named “Gene,” honors the American Jazz pianist Gene Harris.
A piano veteran, self taught at the age of six, Harris infused mainstream jazz with elements of soul, blues, and gospel, creating a warm, signature sound that is both elegant and iconic. Harris’ bluesy jazz lived at the intersection of worlds, weaving a rich landscape of texture and mood, with a thread of soulfulness that ignited listeners.
WordPress 6.9 Upgrades & Enhancements
Introducing Notes: Seamless, Block-Level Collaboration
Collaborate Smarter: Leave Feedback Right Where You’re Working
With notes attached directly to blocks in the post editor, your team can stay aligned, track changes, and turn feedback into action all in one place. Whether you’re working on copy or refining design in your posts or pages, collaboration happens seamlessly on the canvas itself.
Command Palette Throughout the Dashboard
Your tools are always at hand.
Access the Command Palette from any part of the dashboard, whether you’re writing your latest post, deep in design in the Site Editor, or browsing your plugins. Everything you need is just a few keystrokes away.
Fit text to container
Content that adapts.
There’s a new typography option for text-based blocks that’s been added to the Paragraph and Heading blocks. This new option automatically adjusts font size to fill its container perfectly, making it ideal for banners, callouts, and standout moments in your design.
The Abilities API
Unlocking the next generation of site interactions.
WordPress 6.9 lays the groundwork for the future of automation with the unified Abilities API. By creating a standardized registry for site functionality, developers can now register, validate, and execute actions consistently across any context—from PHP and REST endpoints to AI agents—paving the way for smarter, more connected WordPress experiences.
Aside from the upgrades mentioned above, WordPress 6.9 “Gene” also includes some accessibility improvements and performance enhancements.
You can download this update via this link, or you can also update your site via the WordPress Dashboard > Update.
NOTE: Before updating/upgrading your WordPress site, always make sure to create or have a backup of your database and other important files like the wp-content folder and the wp-config.php file.
Personally, I always wait between two to three weeks before upgrading my site, and give time for the dev team to iron out some of the bugs.
Kudos to the WordPress dev team and all the contributors who helped make the release of WordPress 6.9 possible.
Have you already upgraded to WordPress 6.9, or are you waiting a bit longer like I am? What are your favorite new features so far? What do you like or dislike about this latest version? Have you run into any issues or conflicts with your current theme or plugins?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Last modified: December 4, 2025
About the Author: Chris Peters
