The WordPress coreCoreCore is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. development team builds WordPress! Follow this site for general updates, status reports, and the occasional code debate. There’s lots of ways to contribute:
Found a bugbugA bug is an error or unexpected result. Performance improvements, code optimization, and are considered enhancements, not defects. After feature freeze, only bugs are dealt with, with regressions (adverse changes from the previous version) being the highest priority.?Create a ticket in the bug tracker.
Good news, everyone! WordPress 7.0 has a new release date: May 20th, 2026!
Thank you all for your flexibility in these recent weeks while WordPress contributors around the world worked tirelessly on necessary architectural improvements for the 7.0 release. The team aims to ensure that this software version is the most stable and most performant it can be, while still delivering the much anticipated cornerstone features mapped out for WordPress 7.0.
Below is the new release schedule, with expected dates and times for each release party, and the release squad contributors involved in each party for the 7.0 milestone. It also includes the pre-release versions that have already been released, and a (pending) call for testing from web hosts meant to help ensure compatibility across hosting systems.
Note: While the most recent pre-release version was RC2, the RC3 release will be treated like a betaBetaA pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process. version in practice. That means that your continued testing and feedback, particularly on the part of web hosts, will be incredibly valuable in keeping the development process informed during the next phase of this release cycle. Thank you all for your continued testing!
Release Schedule
As always, last-minute adjustments to this schedule are possible, and there could be additional timeline iterations based on the impact of host feedback to ensure that feedback is properly addressed. The release squad will do its best to communicate any changes promptly by posting in the #core Slack channel, publishing a post on the change, and updating this post as the canonical reference.
Date (UTC)
Milestone
Emcee / Release LeadRelease LeadThe community member ultimately responsible for the Release.
CommittercommitterA developer with commit access. WordPress has five lead developers and four permanent core developers with commit access. Additionally, the project usually has a few guest or component committers - a developer receiving commit access, generally for a single release cycle (sometimes renewed) and/or for a specific component.
@audrasjb Committing from WordCampWordCampWordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Nice Contributor DayContributor DayContributor Days are standalone days, frequently held before or after WordCamps but they can also happen at any time. They are events where people get together to work on various areas of https://make.wordpress.org/ There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https://2017.us.wordcamp.org/contributor-day/https://make.wordpress.org/support/handbook/getting-started/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day/!
RCrelease candidateOne of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see alpha (beta). 1
