How to Deploy a Static Website to GitHub Pages in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Deploying a static website has never been easier — and in 2026, GitHub Pages remains one of the best free hosting options available. Whether you're launching a personal blog, a portfolio, or a project landing page, this guide walks you through everything from repo setup to custom domains. What You'll Need A GitHub account (free) A static website (HTML/CSS/JS, or a static site generator output) Git installed locally Optionally: a custom domain Step 1: Create a GitHub Repository Log in to GitHub and create a new repository. For a user/org site (served at https://yourusername.github.io/ ): Name the repo exactly yourusername.github.io This repo's main branch root becomes your site root For a project site (served at https://yourusername.github.io/project-name/ ): Name the repo anything (e.g., my-blog ) You'll configure the source branch/folder in settings Make sure the repo is public (required for free GitHub Pages hosting). Step 2: Push Your Static Files If you're starting fresh locally: g