Bluesky will launch communities this year, creating topic-specific spaces within the decentralized social network, according to an announcement by head of product Alex Benzer. The feature, described as similar to subreddits, aims to provide smaller areas inside the broader Bluesky platform where users can discuss shared interests.
Feature Details
Benzer stated that communities will function as smaller spaces inside the one big space that Bluesky currently offers. Users will be able to create their own communities or join existing ones, post within them, and receive updates on new posts and responses. Each community will have a handle that also serves as its URL, such as community-name.bsky.social or community-name.bsky.space. Visiting that URL will display a custom landing page for the community. Community owners will have the ability to create custom experiences and add features to their home pages using apps and tools built on the AT Protocol, the open-source framework for social apps that Bluesky uses.
Posts from joined communities will automatically appear either on the user's Discover feed or a special dedicated feed, if Bluesky decides to build one — Benzer noted that the team has yet to decide on that aspect. Users will also be able to opt into alerts for new posts and updates. The overall experience is expected to feel familiar to Reddit users, as per Benzer's description.
Comparison with Threads
Meta's microblogging service, Threads, launched its own communities feature in late 2025, which also provides dedicated spaces for people to discuss specific interests. Bluesky's take appears similar in concept. Below is a comparison based on announced details:
| Feature | Bluesky Communities | Threads Communities |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement date | June 2026 (planned launch this year) | Late 2025 (already launched) |
| URL structure | Community-specific handle (e.g., community-name.bsky.social) |
Not specified in source |
| Custom landing pages | Yes | Not specified in source |
| Customizable via AT Protocol | Yes | Not applicable (Threads uses a different protocol) |
| Posts appear in feed | Discover feed or dedicated feed (TBD) | Not specified in source |
| Opt-in alerts | Yes | Not specified in source |
What's Next
Benzer stated that he will reveal more details as Bluesky builds the feature, and that his team will be talking to developers and community organizers for research. No specific launch date within the year has been announced. The communities feature represents a significant expansion of Bluesky's platform, which currently functions as a single large space. As development progresses, further information on feed placement, customization options, and moderation tools is expected.
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