Social media platform Bluesky is preparing to introduce a new Communities feature that will allow users to join and participate in niche interest groups, bringing functionality that closely resembles Reddit’s popular subreddit system. The feature is expected to launch later in 2026 and marks another major step in Bluesky’s evolution beyond a traditional microblogging platform.

The announcement came from Bluesky Head of Product Alex Benzer, who revealed that Communities will enable users to create dedicated spaces focused on specific topics, hobbies, and interests. Members will be able to post directly within these groups, receive updates, and engage with like-minded users in a more focused environment than the platform’s main feed.

Unlike standard social media feeds, Communities are designed to encourage deeper discussions around shared interests. Benzer described them as places where users can “go deeper” into topics they care about, a concept that has helped platforms like Reddit thrive for years.

One of the more unique aspects of the feature is its connection to the decentralized AT Protocol ecosystem. Each community will receive its own handle that doubles as a web address, allowing developers and community creators to build customized experiences beyond the core Bluesky app. Communities will also support multiple privacy settings, including public, invite-only, and private options.

The move reflects Bluesky’s broader strategy of moving away from a single “public square” model and toward more specialized spaces where users can build stronger connections around shared interests. Industry rivals are pursuing similar ideas, with Meta already testing community-focused features within Threads. Meanwhile, X has recently scaled back its own Communities initiative.