{"id":122860,"date":"2026-04-22T06:27:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T06:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/core\/?p=122860"},"modified":"2026-05-14T03:33:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T03:33:40","slug":"wordpress-7-0-release-party-updated-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/core\/2026\/04\/22\/wordpress-7-0-release-party-updated-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress 7.0 Release Party Updated Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good news, everyone! WordPress 7.0 has a new release date: May 20th, 2026<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: <\/strong>While the most recent pre-release version was RC2, the RC3 release will be treated like a\u00a0betaBeta<\/span> A 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0version 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Release Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>, publishing a post on the change, and updating this post as the canonical reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date (UTC)<\/strong><\/th>Milestone<\/strong><\/th>Emcee \/ Release LeadRelease Lead<\/span> The community member ultimately responsible for the Release.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/th>Committercommitter<\/span> A 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/th>Security<\/strong><\/th>Mission Control (Coordination)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
February 19, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>Beta 1<\/td>@<\/span>amykamala<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
February 26, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>Beta 2<\/td>@<\/span>amykamala<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
March 5, 2026 at 14:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a> <\/td>Beta 3<\/td>@<\/span>amykamala<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a>
Committing from WordCampWordCamp<\/span> WordCamps 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\u2019ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Nice Contributor DayContributor Day<\/span> Contributor 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\/<\/a> There are many teams that people can participate in, each with a different focus. https:\/\/2017.us.wordcamp.org\/contributor-day\/<\/a> https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/support\/handbook\/getting-started\/getting-started-at-a-contributor-day\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span>!<\/td>		@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
March 10, 2026 at 23:30 UTC<\/abbr><\/a>
Unplanned beta following the 6.9.2-6.9.3 security releases<\/em><\/td>		Beta 4<\/td>@<\/span>desrosj<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
March 12, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>Beta 5<\/td>@<\/span>chaion07<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
March 24, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>RCrelease candidate<\/span> One 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)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> 1<\/td>@<\/span>amykamala<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
March 26, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>RC 2<\/td>@<\/span>4thhubbard<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
April 24, 2026<\/td>Call for host testing<\/td>@<\/span>desrosj<\/a><\/td>n\/a<\/td>n\/a<\/td>n\/a<\/td><\/tr>
May 8, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>RC 3 (in name, but test as a \u201cnew Beta 1\u201d<\/s>)<\/td>@<\/span>amykamala<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
May 14, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a><\/td>RC 4 (in name, but acting as a \u201cnew RC1\u201d<\/s>)<\/td>@<\/span>4thhubbard<\/a><\/s> @<\/span>chaion07<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>ellatrix<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>audrasjb<\/a><\/td>@<\/span>sergeybiryukov<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 15:00 UTC<\/abbr><\/a>

<\/s><\/td>		Dry Run \/ 24-Hour Code Freeze<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td><\/tr>
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time TBA<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>		General Release<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Join the Party<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n