Liquid templates can now compose pages with blocks and partials

Shopify Introduces Block and Partial Tags in Liquid July ‘26 Developer Preview

Shopify has released a developer preview for Liquid that adds two new tags: {% block %} and {% partial %}. These tags allow developers to compose page structures directly within Liquid templates instead of relying solely on JSON template files.

The {% block %} tag renders reusable theme blocks from within a template. Developers can name blocks, pass input parameters, and provide body content using syntax similar to the existing {% render %} tag. This consolidates page structure definition into a single location where both developers and coding agents can access the complete template logic.

The {% partial %} tag defines named regions of server-rendered HTML that JavaScript can target for updates. This creates a direct connection between server-side rendering and client-side interactivity within the template file itself.

Impact on Theme Development Workflow

This update changes where page composition happens in Shopify themes. Previously, developers split their attention between Liquid template files for rendering logic and JSON template files for block arrangement. The new tags bring both concerns into the Liquid template layer.

For app developers building theme extensions or working with merchant themes, this means template structures may increasingly live in .liquid files rather than .json files. Apps that parse or modify theme templates will need to account for both composition patterns as merchants adopt themes using the new syntax.

Implementation Considerations

The feature remains in developer preview for the July 2026 release. Developers can test the new tags in development stores before the general release. Theme apps and extensions should prepare to handle both the traditional JSON-based composition and the new Liquid-based approach as the ecosystem transitions.

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