Tasks for v1.15 release cycle

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.

## Tasks

**Notes**:
* Weeks are only specified to give some orientation.
* The following is based on the v1.15 release cycle.

Week 1 (Mon 17th Aug 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 for users and migration notes for provider implementers](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)

Week 1 to 4:
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Track] [Remove previously deprecated code](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#track-remove-previously-deprecated-code)

Week 4 (Tue 8th Sep 2026):
* [x] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.13.x & v1.14.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)

Week 8 (Tue 6th Oct 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.13.x & v1.14.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)

Week 11 to 12:
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Track] [Bump dependencies](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#track-bump-dependencies)

Week 12 (Tue 3rd Nov 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.0-beta.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.13.x & v1.14.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [Communications Manager] [Communicate beta to providers](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#communicate-beta-to-providerss)
* [ ] [Communications Manager] [Communicate upcoming code freeze to the community](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/communications#continuously-communicate-key-dates-to-the-community)

Week 13 (KubeCon):

* KubeCon idle week

Week 14 (Tue 17th Nov 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.0-beta.1 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release) - Only if required

Week 15 (Tue 24th Nov 2026 — Begin Code Freeze):
* [ ] [Release Lead] Create release-1.15 branch (**Begin Code Freeze**)
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.0-rc.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [CI Manager] [Setup jobs and dashboards for the release-1.15 release 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)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [Release Lead] Select release lead for the next release cycle

Week 16 (Tue 1st Dec 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.0-rc.1 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)

Week 17 (Tue 8th Dec 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.0 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.13.x & v1.14.x releases](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release)
* [ ] [Release Lead] Organize release retrospective
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [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)
* [ ] [CI Manager] [Post-release cleanup](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/ci-signal#post-release-cleanup)

Week 18 (Thur 17th Dec 2026):
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Cut the v1.15.1 release](https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api/tree/main/docs/release/role-handbooks/release-lead#repeatedly-cut-a-release) - add buffer after k8s 1.38 release

Post release:
* [ ] [Release Lead] Organize release retrospective

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)

If and when necessary:
* [ ] [Release Lead] [Track] [Bump 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 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)

/priority critical-urgent
/kind feature