diff --git a/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.html.twig b/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.html.twig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f32aba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.html.twig
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+{#
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Default theme implementation for main View template.
+ *
+ * Available variables:
+ * - attributes: Remaining HTML attributes for the element.
+ * - attributes.class: HTML classes that can be used to style contextually 
+ *    through CSS. including:
+ *   -view
+ *   -view-[css_name]
+ *   -view-id-[view_name]
+ *   -view-display-id-[display_name]
+ *   -view-dom-id-[dom_id]
+ * - css_name: A CSS-safe version of the View name.
+ * - css_class: The user-specified class names, if any.
+ * - header: The View header.
+ * - footer: The View footer.
+ * - rows: The results of the View query, if any.
+ * - empty_message: The empty text to display if the View is empty.
+ * - pager: The pager next/prev links to display, if any.
+ * - exposed: Exposed widget form/info to display.
+ * - feed_icon: Feed icon to display, if any.
+ * - more: A link to view more, if any.
+ *
+ * @ingroup views_templates
+ */
+#}
+<div{{ attributes }}>
+  {{ title_prefix }}
+  {% if title is not empty %}
+    {{ title }}
+  {% endif %}
+  {{ title_suffix }}
+  {% if header is not empty %}
+    <div class="view-header">
+      {{ header }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if exposed %}
+    <div class="view-filters">
+      {{ exposed }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if attachment_before is not empty %}
+    <div class="attachment attachment-before">
+      {{ attachment_before }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+
+  {% if rows %}
+    <div class="view-content">
+      {{ rows }}
+    </div>
+  {% elseif empty_message is not empty  %}
+    <div class="view-empty">
+      {{ empty_message }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+
+  {% if pager %}
+    {{ pager }}
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if attachment_after is not empty %}
+    <div class="attachment attachment-after">
+      {{ attachment_after }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if more is not empty %}
+    {{ more }}
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if footer is not empty %}
+    <div class="view-footer">
+      {{ footer }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if feed_icon %}
+    <div class="feed-icon">
+      {{ feed_icon }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+</div>
diff --git a/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.tpl.php b/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.tpl.php
deleted file mode 100644
index ca8faef..0000000
--- a/core/modules/views/templates/views-view.tpl.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * @file
- * Main view template.
- *
- * Variables available:
- * - $attributes: An instance of Attributes class that can be manipulated as an
- *   array and printed as a string.
- *   It includes the 'class' information, which includes:
- *    .view
- *    .view-[css_name]
- *    .view-id-[view_name]
- *    .view-display-id-[display_name]
- *    .view-dom-id-[dom_id]
- * - $css_name: A css-safe version of the view name.
- * - $css_class: The user-specified classes names, if any
- * - $header: The view header
- * - $footer: The view footer
- * - $rows: The results of the view query, if any
- * - $empty: The empty text to display if the view is empty
- * - $pager: The pager next/prev links to display, if any
- * - $exposed: Exposed widget form/info to display
- * - $feed_icon: Feed icon to display, if any
- * - $more: A link to view more, if any
- *
- * @ingroup views_templates
- */
-?>
-<div <?php print $attributes; ?>>
-  <?php print render($title_prefix); ?>
-  <?php if ($title): ?>
-    <?php print $title; ?>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-  <?php print render($title_suffix); ?>
-  <?php if ($header): ?>
-    <div class="view-header">
-      <?php print render($header); ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($exposed): ?>
-    <div class="view-filters">
-      <?php print $exposed; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($attachment_before): ?>
-    <div class="attachment attachment-before">
-      <?php print render($attachment_before); ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($rows = render($rows)): ?>
-    <div class="view-content">
-      <?php print $rows; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php elseif ($empty): ?>
-    <div class="view-empty">
-      <?php print render($empty); ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($pager): ?>
-    <?php print $pager; ?>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($attachment_after): ?>
-    <div class="attachment attachment-after">
-      <?php print render($attachment_after); ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($more): ?>
-    <?php print $more; ?>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($footer): ?>
-    <div class="view-footer">
-      <?php print render($footer); ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($feed_icon): ?>
-    <div class="feed-icon">
-      <?php print $feed_icon; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-</div><?php /* class view */ ?>
diff --git a/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.html.twig b/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.html.twig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4154f8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.html.twig
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+{#
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Default theme implementation for main View template.
+ *
+ * Available variables:
+ * - attributes: Remaining HTML attributes for the element.
+ * - attributes.class: HTML classes that can be used to style contextually
+ *   through CSS. including:
+ *   -view
+ *   -view-[css_name]
+ *   -view-id-[view_name]
+ *   -view-display-id-[display_name]
+ *   -view-dom-id-[dom_id]
+ * - css_name: A CSS-safe version of the View name.
+ * - css_class: The user-specified class names, if any.
+ * - header: The View header.
+ * - footer: The View footer.
+ * - rows: The results of the View query, if any.
+ * - empty_message: The empty text to display if the View is empty.
+ * - pager: The pager next/prev links to display, if any.
+ * - exposed: Exposed widget form/info to display.
+ * - feed_icon: Feed icon to display, if any.
+ * - more: A link to view more, if any.
+ *
+ * @ingroup views_templates
+ */
+#}
+<div{{ attributes }}>
+  {% if header is not empty %}
+    <div class="view-header">
+      {{ header }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if exposed %}
+    <div class="view-filters">
+      {{ exposed }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if attachment_before is not empty %}
+    <div class="attachment attachment-before">
+      {{ attachment_before }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+
+  {% if rows %}
+    <div class="view-content">
+      {{ rows }}
+    </div>
+  {% elseif empty_message is not empty  %}
+    <div class="view-empty">
+      {{ empty_message }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+
+  {% if pager %}
+    {{ pager }}
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if attachment_after is not empty %}
+    <div class="attachment attachment-after">
+      {{ attachment_after }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if more is not empty %}
+    {{ more }}
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if footer is not empty %}
+    <div class="view-footer">
+      {{ footer }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+  {% if feed_icon %}
+    <div class="feed-icon">
+      {{ feed_icon }}
+    </div>
+  {% endif %}
+</div>
diff --git a/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.tpl.php b/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.tpl.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e6c8fa..0000000
--- a/core/modules/views/tests/views_test_data/templates/views-view--frontpage.tpl.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,85 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * @file
- * Main view template.
- *
- * Variables available:
- * - $attributes: An instance of Attributes class that can be manipulated as an
- *   array and printed as a string.
- *   It includes the 'class' information, which includes:
- *    .view
- *    .view-[css_name]
- *    .view-id-[view_name]
- *    .view-display-id-[display_name]
- *    .view-dom-id-[dom_id]
- * - $css_name: A css-safe version of the view name.
- * - $css_class: The user-specified classes names, if any
- * - $header: The view header
- * - $footer: The view footer
- * - $rows: The results of the view query, if any
- * - $empty: The empty text to display if the view is empty
- * - $pager: The pager next/prev links to display, if any
- * - $exposed: Exposed widget form/info to display
- * - $feed_icon: Feed icon to display, if any
- * - $more: A link to view more, if any
- *
- * @ingroup views_templates
- */
-?>
-<div <?php print $attributes; ?>>
-  <?php if ($header): ?>
-    <div class="view-header">
-      <?php print $header; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($exposed): ?>
-    <div class="view-filters">
-      <?php print $exposed; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($attachment_before): ?>
-    <div class="attachment attachment-before">
-      <?php print $attachment_before; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($rows): ?>
-    <div class="view-content">
-      <?php print $rows; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php elseif ($empty): ?>
-    <div class="view-empty">
-      <?php print $empty; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($pager): ?>
-    <?php print $pager; ?>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($attachment_after): ?>
-    <div class="attachment attachment-after">
-      <?php print $attachment_after; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($more): ?>
-    <?php print $more; ?>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($footer): ?>
-    <div class="view-footer">
-      <?php print $footer; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-  <?php if ($feed_icon): ?>
-    <div class="feed-icon">
-      <?php print $feed_icon; ?>
-    </div>
-  <?php endif; ?>
-
-</div> <?php /* class view */ ?>
diff --git a/core/modules/views/views.theme.inc b/core/modules/views/views.theme.inc
index 0bae0fc..734a6d4 100644
--- a/core/modules/views/views.theme.inc
+++ b/core/modules/views/views.theme.inc
@@ -40,14 +40,21 @@ function _views_theme_functions($hook, ViewExecutable $view, $display = NULL) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Preprocess the primary theme implementation for a view.
+ * Prepares variables for view templates.
+ *
+ * Default template: views-view.html.twig.
+ *
+ * @param array $variables
+ *   An associative array containing:
+ *   - view: The view object.
+ *   - directory: The location of the views module.
  */
 function template_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
   global $base_path;
 
   $view = $vars['view'];
 
-  $vars['rows'] = (!empty($view->result) || $view->style_plugin->even_empty()) ? $view->style_plugin->render($view->result) : '';
+  $vars['rows'] = (!empty($view->result) || $view->style_plugin->even_empty()) ? $view->style_plugin->render($view->result) : array();
   // Force a render array so CSS/JS can be added.
   if (!is_array($vars['rows'])) {
     $vars['rows'] = array('#markup' => $vars['rows']);
@@ -72,10 +79,10 @@ function template_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
     $vars['attributes']['class'][] = $vars['css_class'];
   }
 
-  $empty = empty($view->result);
-  $vars['header'] = $view->display_handler->renderArea('header', $empty);
-  $vars['footer'] = $view->display_handler->renderArea('footer', $empty);
-  $vars['empty'] = $empty ? $view->display_handler->renderArea('empty', $empty) : FALSE;
+  $empty_message = empty($view->result);
+  $vars['header'] = $view->display_handler->renderArea('header', $empty_message);
+  $vars['footer'] = $view->display_handler->renderArea('footer', $empty_message);
+  $vars['empty_message'] = $empty_message ? $view->display_handler->renderArea('empty', $empty_message) : FALSE;
 
   $vars['exposed']    = !empty($view->exposed_widgets) ? $view->exposed_widgets : '';
   $vars['more']       = $view->display_handler->renderMoreLink();
@@ -110,7 +117,7 @@ function template_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
   // attached to an array (not an object) in order to process them. For our
   // purposes, it doesn't matter what we attach them to, since once they are
   // processed by contextual_preprocess() they will appear in the $title_suffix
-  // variable (which we will then render in views-view.tpl.php).
+  // variable (which we will then render in views-view.html.twig).
   views_add_contextual_links($vars['view_array'], 'view', $view, $view->current_display);
 
   // Attachments are always updated with the outer view, never by themselves,
@@ -158,7 +165,7 @@ function template_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
     // Copy the rows so as not to modify them by reference when rendering.
     $rows = $vars['rows'];
     $rows = drupal_render($rows);
-    $output = !empty($rows) ? $rows : $vars['empty'];
+    $output = !empty($rows) ? $rows : $vars['empty_message'];
     $form = drupal_get_form(views_form_id($view), $view, $output);
     // The form is requesting that all non-essential views elements be hidden,
     // usually because the rendered step is not a view result.
@@ -1104,7 +1111,7 @@ function theme_views_mini_pager($vars) {
  * or some combination thereof.
  *
  * For each view, there will be a minimum of two templates used. The first
- * is used for all views: views-view.tpl.php.
+ * is used for all views: views-view.html.twig.
  *
  * The second template is determined by the style selected for the view. Note
  * that certain aspects of the view can also change which style is used; for
@@ -1124,7 +1131,7 @@ function theme_views_mini_pager($vars) {
  * - views-view--foobar--page.tpl.php
  * - views-view--page.tpl.php
  * - views-view--foobar.tpl.php
- * - views-view.tpl.php
+ * - views-view.html.twig
  *
  * - views-view-unformatted--foobar--page.tpl.php
  * - views-view-unformatted--page.tpl.php
diff --git a/core/modules/views/views_ui/views_ui.module b/core/modules/views/views_ui/views_ui.module
index a17e215..ea035f9 100644
--- a/core/modules/views/views_ui/views_ui.module
+++ b/core/modules/views/views_ui/views_ui.module
@@ -232,7 +232,14 @@ function views_ui_cache_set(ViewUI $view) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Theme preprocess for views-view.tpl.php.
+ * Prepares variables for container templates.
+ *
+ * Default template: views-view.html.twig.
+ *
+ * @param array $variables
+ *   An associative array containing:
+ *   - view: The view object.
+ *   - directory: The location of the views module.
  */
 function views_ui_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
   $view = $vars['view'];
@@ -244,11 +251,11 @@ function views_ui_preprocess_views_view(&$vars) {
           '#theme' => 'views_ui_view_preview_section',
           '#view' => $view,
           '#section' => $section,
-          '#content' => is_array($vars[$section]) ? drupal_render($vars[$section]) : $vars[$section],
+          '#content' => $vars[$section],
           '#theme_wrappers' => array('views_ui_container'),
           '#attributes' => array('class' => 'contextual-region'),
         );
-        $vars[$section] = drupal_render($vars[$section]);
+        $vars[$section] = $vars[$section];
       }
     }
   }
