diff --git a/templates/academic-cv/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/academic-cv/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/academic-cv/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/academic-cv/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/data-science-blog/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/data-science-blog/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/data-science-blog/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/data-science-blog/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/dev-portfolio/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/dev-portfolio/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/dev-portfolio/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/dev-portfolio/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/documentation/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/documentation/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/documentation/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/documentation/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/link-in-bio/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/link-in-bio/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/link-in-bio/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/link-in-bio/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/markdown-slides/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/markdown-slides/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/markdown-slides/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/markdown-slides/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/resume/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/resume/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/resume/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/resume/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/starter/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/starter/.github/workflows/build.yml
index a14eef8e..9c5a3336 100644
--- a/templates/starter/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/starter/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
 
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
 
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with:
diff --git a/templates/startup-landing-page/.github/workflows/build.yml b/templates/startup-landing-page/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 07d4a2a9..bc47e333 100644
--- a/templates/startup-landing-page/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/templates/startup-landing-page/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Build
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: '20'
+  NODE_VERSION: '22'
 
 on:
   # Standalone trigger for PR validation
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         VERSION=$(yq '.build.hugo_version // ""' hugoblox.yaml 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^null$' || true)
         
         # Fallback to a known stable version if not specified
-        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.154.5"
+        DEFAULT_VERSION="0.161.0"
         VERSION=${VERSION:-$DEFAULT_VERSION}
         
         # Validate version format (basic check)
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile || npm install
         fi
 
+    - name: Verify Tailwind CSS dependency
+      if: hashFiles('package.json') != ''
+      run: |
+        if ! node -e "require.resolve('@tailwindcss/cli/package.json')" 2>/dev/null; then
+          echo "::error title=Missing dependency '@tailwindcss/cli'::Hugo >= 0.161.0 requires the npm @tailwindcss/cli package. Add it to package.json:"
+          echo "::error::  pnpm add @tailwindcss/cli tailwindcss"
+          echo "::error::See https://github.com/HugoBlox/kit for upgrade instructions."
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
     - name: Setup Hugo
       uses: peaceiris/actions-hugo@v3
       with: