Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have made significant progress, with five prophylactic vaccines approved since 2006. These vaccines are effective in preventing new infections and HPV-related cancers. However, challenges remain in preventing all HPV infections and eradicating established infections. Optimizing vaccines by including more HPV subtypes, enhancing immune responses with adjuvants, and developing therapeutic vaccines could lead to a future where HPV infections and related diseases are eliminated. This review summarizes strategies for developing both prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccines, focusing on antigen selection, adjuvants, and vaccine efficacy based on preclinical and clinical studies. It also outlines current insights on formulation strategies, dosing schedules, and age expansion, which may help address vaccine hesitancy and availability. HPV vaccines target L1 proteins from high-risk HPV subtypes, with Cervarix, Gardasil, and Gardasil 9 being the most commonly used. These vaccines have shown high efficacy in preventing cervical cancer and genital warts. However, challenges remain in vaccine coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries due to cost, supply, and delivery issues. Therapeutic HPV vaccines are being developed to stimulate immune responses against HPV-infected cells, with some showing promising results in clinical trials. Adjuvants such as AS04 and aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate are used to enhance immune responses. New adjuvants, including α-Galactosylceramide and Mn4⁺-doped silica nanoparticles, are being tested for their potential to improve vaccine efficacy. Future directions include exploring alternative antigenic targets, optimizing adjuvants, combining vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and developing formulations that are easier to administer, such as oral vaccines. Research is also focusing on expanding vaccine recipients to include males and younger children. The development of more effective and accessible HPV vaccines is crucial for reducing the global burden of HPV-related diseases.Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have made significant progress, with five prophylactic vaccines approved since 2006. These vaccines are effective in preventing new infections and HPV-related cancers. However, challenges remain in preventing all HPV infections and eradicating established infections. Optimizing vaccines by including more HPV subtypes, enhancing immune responses with adjuvants, and developing therapeutic vaccines could lead to a future where HPV infections and related diseases are eliminated. This review summarizes strategies for developing both prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccines, focusing on antigen selection, adjuvants, and vaccine efficacy based on preclinical and clinical studies. It also outlines current insights on formulation strategies, dosing schedules, and age expansion, which may help address vaccine hesitancy and availability. HPV vaccines target L1 proteins from high-risk HPV subtypes, with Cervarix, Gardasil, and Gardasil 9 being the most commonly used. These vaccines have shown high efficacy in preventing cervical cancer and genital warts. However, challenges remain in vaccine coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries due to cost, supply, and delivery issues. Therapeutic HPV vaccines are being developed to stimulate immune responses against HPV-infected cells, with some showing promising results in clinical trials. Adjuvants such as AS04 and aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate are used to enhance immune responses. New adjuvants, including α-Galactosylceramide and Mn4⁺-doped silica nanoparticles, are being tested for their potential to improve vaccine efficacy. Future directions include exploring alternative antigenic targets, optimizing adjuvants, combining vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and developing formulations that are easier to administer, such as oral vaccines. Research is also focusing on expanding vaccine recipients to include males and younger children. The development of more effective and accessible HPV vaccines is crucial for reducing the global burden of HPV-related diseases.