[ANNOUNCEMENT] v1.36 Call for Enhancements

[Josh Michielsen]

Hello Kubernetes community!

The v1.36 release cycle has begun and we are now actively collecting enhancements.  

Actions Required:

• SIG Leads:

  • Discuss within your SIG which enhancements you will be proposing for this release

  • Opt in for enhancements by applying the current milestone (v1.36) and "lead-opted-in" label on the tracking issues in kubernetes/enhancements[1] 

• Enhancements owners:

• Ensure your enhancements meet the PRR Freeze requirements[2]

• Ensure your enhancements meet the Enhancements Freeze requirements[3]

• Open an issue in kubernetes/enhancements[1]

• Ensure that a kep.yaml exists with:

  • status[4] set to `implementable`

  • latest-milestone[5] set to the current release.

• A README.md exists that:

  • uses the latest template[6]

  • has the updated test plan[7] section filled out

• A Production Readiness Review[8] has been completed

• Reviewers/Approvers:

  • Please add the “kind/deprecation” label to PRs as appropriate (this is a big help for the Comms team!)

Enhancements will be tracked throughout the release using the 1.36 Enhancements Tracking GitHub Project board[9]. More information on the enhancements process can be found on the kubernetes/enhancements[1] repository.  

 

All enhancements should plan to opt-in well before the Production Readiness Review Freeze (Wednesday, 4th February 2026) to ensure adequate time for reviews. Enhancements opted-in after this deadline will be at risk for inclusion in the release as Production Readiness Review Freeze deadline is a hard deadline. If you miss the deadline, you'll need a PRR exception

 

v1.36 Release Cycle timeline:

The major milestones for the v1.36 release are the following:

• Release Cycle begins – Monday 12th January 2026

• Production Readiness Review Freeze – Wednesday 4th February 2026 (AoE) / Thursday 5th February 2026, 12:00 UTC

• Enhancements Freeze – Wednesday 11th February 2026 (AoE) / Thursday 12th February 2026, 12:00 UTC

• Code Freeze and Test Freeze – Wednesday 18th March 2026 (AoE) / Thursday 19th March 2026, 12:00 UTC

• Docs Freeze - Wednesday 8th April 2026 (AoE) / Thursday 9th April 2026, 12:00 UTC

• Release Day – Wednesday 22nd April 2026

   

Full schedule: – https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/tree/master/releases/release-1.36

Enhancements project board: https://rel.k8s.io/v136/enhancements

Slack Channels:

• #release-enhancements[10]

• #sig-release[11]

   

Have any questions? Please reach out!

Thanks,

Josh Michielsen

v1.36 Enhancements Lead

[1] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/issues

[2] https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/blob/master/releases/release_phases.md#prr-freeze

[3] https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/blob/master/releases/release_phases.md#enhancements-freeze

[4] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/5c1539d9616021d25a003ba68b2793ad5cdb31cf/keps/NNNN-kep-template/kep.yaml#L9

[5] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/5c1539d9616021d25a003ba68b2793ad5cdb31cf/keps/NNNN-kep-template/kep.yaml#L32

[6] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/tree/master/keps/NNNN-kep-template

[7] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/5c1539d9616021d25a003ba68b2793ad5cdb31cf/keps/NNNN-kep-template/README.md?plain=1#L257-L347

[8] https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/master/docs/glossary.md#production-readiness-review-prr

[9] https://rel.k8s.io/v136/enhancements

[10] https://kubernetes.slack.com/archives/C02BY55KV7E

[11] https://kubernetes.slack.com/archives/C2C40FMNF