The development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has made significant progress, with five prophylactic vaccines approved since 2006. These vaccines effectively prevent new HPV infections and related malignancies. However, challenges remain in preventing all HPV infections and eradicating established infections. Optimizing prophylactic vaccines by incorporating L1 proteins from more HPV subtypes, exploring adjuvants to enhance cellular immune responses, and developing therapeutic HPV vaccines are key strategies to address these issues. The article reviews the current status and future directions for HPV vaccine development, focusing on antigen selection, adjuvant optimization, and vaccine efficacy based on preclinical studies and clinical trials. It also discusses cutting-edge insights on formulation strategies, dosing schedules, and age expansion among vaccine recipients, which are crucial for improving vaccine uptake and addressing barriers such as vaccine hesitancy and availability.The development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines has made significant progress, with five prophylactic vaccines approved since 2006. These vaccines effectively prevent new HPV infections and related malignancies. However, challenges remain in preventing all HPV infections and eradicating established infections. Optimizing prophylactic vaccines by incorporating L1 proteins from more HPV subtypes, exploring adjuvants to enhance cellular immune responses, and developing therapeutic HPV vaccines are key strategies to address these issues. The article reviews the current status and future directions for HPV vaccine development, focusing on antigen selection, adjuvant optimization, and vaccine efficacy based on preclinical studies and clinical trials. It also discusses cutting-edge insights on formulation strategies, dosing schedules, and age expansion among vaccine recipients, which are crucial for improving vaccine uptake and addressing barriers such as vaccine hesitancy and availability.