7.0

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 beta 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)MilestoneEmcee / Release LeadCommitterSecurity****Mission Control (Coordination)February 19, 2026 at 15:00 UTCBeta 1@amykamala@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovFebruary 26, 2026 at 15:00 UTCBeta 2@amykamala@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovMarch 5, 2026 at 14:00 UTC Beta 3@amykamala@audrasjb Committing from WordCamp Nice Contributor Day@sergeybiryukovMarch 10, 2026 at 23:30 UTC Unplanned beta following the 6.9.2-6.9.3 security releasesBeta 4@desrosj@sergeybiryukov@sergeybiryukov@sergeybiryukovMarch 12, 2026 at 15:00 UTCBeta 5@chaion07@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovMarch 24, 2026 at 15:00 UTCRC 1@amykamala@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovMarch 26, 2026 at 15:00 UTCRC 2@4thhubbard@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovApril 24, 2026Call for host testing@desrosjn/an/an/aMay 8, 2026 at 15:00 UTCRC 3 (in name, but test as a “new Beta 1”)@amykamala@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovMay 14, 2026 at 15:00 UTCRC 4 (in name, but acting as a “new RC1”)@4thhubbard@ellatrix@audrasjb@sergeybiryukovTuesday, May 19, 2026 at 15:00 UTC

Dry Run / 24-Hour Code FreezeTBDTBDTBDTBDWednesday, May 20, 2026

Time TBAGeneral ReleaseTBDTBDTBDTBD

How to Join the Party

• All parties happen in the #core channel on Slack.

• Everyone is welcome! First-timers, veteran contributors, and all those curious about the process are invited.

Here are detailed instructions on how to contribute to a release party.

Thank you to every contributor and community member that helps make 7.0 a success. See you at the parties!

*Props to @desrosj, @4thhubbard, @annezazu, @griffbrad,@peterwilsoncc, and @jeffpaul for helping devise the new schedule, and @desrosj, @jeffpaul, and @sumitsingh for reviewing this post. *

#7-0, #release