Linux Kernel · Release Calendar

Kernel Release 2026 / 2027

by Guodong Xu, Linux kernel developer at Qualcomm

Release Candidate

Stable Kernel

Merge Window

Cycle Details

Two-week merge window after each release.
Weekly -rc builds, tagged on Sundays.
Final release normally one-week after rc7.
Dates firm up as each release lands.
All 2027 dates are predictions, extrapolated from the v7.4 cycle. Each rc8 shifts the rest of the year by a week.

Ubuntu 27.04 Schedule

Target Kernel To be announced

Feature Freeze Feb 25, 2027

Kernel Feature Freeze Mar 25, 2027

Beta Freeze / HWE Freeze Mar 29, 2027

Kernel Freeze Apr 8, 2027

Final Freeze Apr 15, 2027

Final Release Apr 22, 2027

More Resources

Linux Kernel Release Calendar 2026
U-Boot Release Calendar 2026
Linux Kernel RVA23 Compliance Checker
RVA23 Profile Linux Kernel Coverage Analysis
RVA23 Extension Software Stack Matrix
Arm64 vs RISC-V: Supported Board (DTB) Growth