Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- BlackNews currently ranks #908 in the WordPress.org popular themes list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #50, first reached on Feb 3, 2025.
- Active installs have held steady at 400+ since we began tracking it in June 2026.
- It is averaging 21 downloads/day over the last 30 days, down 3% versus the month before (22/day).
- The latest release, v2.1.5, shipped on Aug 27, 2026 (4 days ago) — release #65 since the theme joined the directory in 2025.
Ranking history
Ranking history — data table
| Date | Ranking history |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | #908 |
| 2026-07-31 | #875 |
| 2026-06-30 | #808 |
| 2025-02-03 | #50 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Active installs
Active installs — data table
| Date | Active installs |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | 400 |
| 2026-07-31 | 400 |
| 2026-06-30 | 500 |
| 2025-02-03 | 200 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Downloads per day
Downloads per day — data table
| Date | Downloads per day |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-30 | 6 |
| 2026-07-31 | 11 |
| 2026-06-30 | 13 |
| 2026-05-31 | 4 |
| 2026-04-30 | 149 |
| 2026-03-31 | 6 |
| 2026-02-28 | 12 |
| 2026-01-31 | 2 |
| 2025-12-31 | 6 |
| 2025-11-30 | 6 |
| 2025-10-31 | 47 |
| 2025-09-30 | 12 |
| 2025-08-31 | 6 |
| 2025-07-31 | 15 |
| 2025-06-30 | 13 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Details
| Author | AF themes |
|---|---|
| Current version | 2.1.5 |
| Versions released | 65 |
| Last updated | 2026-08-27 |
| Added to directory | 2025-01-20 |
| Requires WordPress | 4.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 5.0+ |
| Type | Classic theme |
| First tracked here | 2025-02-03 |
Description
BlackNews is a dark, magazine-style WordPress child theme built on MoreNews for publishers seeking a high-contrast, professional aesthetic. It supports the Block Editor and major page builders for drag-and-drop layout creation, complemented by the parent header and footer builder. The theme includes banner areas, template kits, and custom widgets optimized for fast performance despite rich visual content. It focuses on SEO, Core Web Vitals, and AMP support while maintaining WCAG compliance. It is translation-ready and supports RTL languages with demos in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese. https://afthemes.com/products/blacknews/
Frequently asked questions
How many websites use BlackNews?
WordPress.org reports 400+ active installs.
How popular is BlackNews?
As of August 31, 2026, BlackNews ranks #908 in the WordPress.org popular themes list. Its best position in our tracking is #50.
When was BlackNews last updated?
BlackNews was last updated on August 27, 2026 (version 2.1.5). It has shipped 65 releases in total.
Who makes BlackNews?
BlackNews is developed by AF themes. It joined the WordPress.org theme directory in January 2025.
