Tasks for v1.14 release cycle

# Cluster API v1.14 – Release Tracking
Please see the corresponding sections of the [role-handbooks](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks) for documentation of individual tasks.
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## Tasks
**Notes**:
* Weeks are provided only for orientation.
* Dates are included for easier reference.
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### Week 1 (Apr 27 – May 1, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Finalize release schedule and team](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#finalize-release-schedule-and-team)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Add/remove release team members](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#addremove-release-team-members)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Prepare main branch for development of the new release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#prepare-main-branch-for-development-of-the-new-release)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Add docs to collect release notes and migration notes](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#add-docs-to-collect-release-notes-for-users-and-migration-notes-for-provider-implementers)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Update supported versions](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#update-supported-versions)
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### Weeks 1–4 (Apr 27 – May 22, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Track removal of previously deprecated code](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#track-remove-previously-deprecated-code)
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### Week 3 (May 13, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.11.x, v1.12.x & v1.13.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
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### Week 8 (June 18–19, 2026)
* KubeCon India (idle week)
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### Week 9 (June 23, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.12.x , v1.13.x & v1.14.0-alpha.0 releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
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### Week 12 (July 14, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.0-beta.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.12.x & v1.13.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Communicate beta to providers](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#communicate-beta-to-providers)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Communicate upcoming code freeze](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#communicate-upcoming-code-freeze-to-the-community)
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### Week 13 (July 21, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.0-beta.x release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Create a new GitHub milestone for the next release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#create-a-new-github-milestone-for-the-next-release)
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### Week 14 (July 28, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** Create `release-1.14` branch (Begin Code Freeze)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Update milestone applier and GitHub Actions](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#update-milestone-applier-and-github-actions)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.0-rc.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[CI Manager]** [Setup jobs and dashboards for the release-1.14 branch](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/ci-signal#setup-jobs-and-dashboards-for-a-new-release-branch)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Ensure the book for the new release is available](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#ensure-the-book-for-the-new-release-is-available)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Set a tentative release date for the next minor release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#set-a-tentative-release-date-for-the-next-minor-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Assemble next release team](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#set-a-tentative-release-date-for-the-next-minor-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Enable CI for the release branch](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/pull/13578/changes)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** Select release lead for the next release cycle
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### Week 15 (August 4, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.0-rc.x release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
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### Week 16 (August 11, 2026)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.12.x & v1.13.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [x] **[Release Lead]** Organize release retrospective
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Change production branch in Netlify to the new release branch](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#change-production-branch-in-netlify-to-the-new-release-branch)
* [x] **[Communications Manager]** [Update clusterctl links in the quickstart](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#update-clusterctl-links-in-the-quickstart)
* [x] **[CI Manager]** [Post-release cleanup](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/ci-signal#post-release-cleanup)
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### Week 17 (August 18, 2026)
* [ ] **[Release Lead]** [Cut v1.14.1 release (tentative)](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
---
### Continuously
* **[Release Lead]** [Maintain the GitHub release milestone](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#continuously-maintain-the-github-release-milestone)
* **[Release Lead]** [Bump the Go version](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#continuously-bump-the-go-version)
* **[Communications Manager]** [Communicate key dates to the community](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#continuously-communicate-key-dates-to-the-community)
* **[Communications Manager]** Improve release process documentation
* **[Communications Manager]** Maintain and improve user facing documentation about releases, release policy and release calendar
* **[CI Manager]** [Monitor CI signal](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/ci-signal#continuously-monitor-ci-signal)
* **[CI Manager]** [Reduce the amount of flaky tests](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/ci-signal#continuously-reduce-the-amount-of-flaky-tests)
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### If and when necessary
* [ ] **[Release Lead]** [Track bump of the Cluster API apiVersion](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#optional-track-bump-the-cluster-api-apiversion)
* [ ] **[Release Lead]** [Track bump of the Kubernetes version](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#optional-track-bump-the-kubernetes-version)
* [ ] **[Release Lead]** [Track release and improvement tasks](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#optional-track-release-and-improvement-tasks)
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/priority critical-urgent
/kind feature

Start with the linked role handbooks under docs/release/role-handbooks and review the remaining checklist items, especially the v1.14.1 release task. Done means coordinating and recording the outstanding release work until the checklist is complete; no source file or test is identified.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.