PEP 596 – Python 3.9 Release Schedule

PEP: 596
Title: Python 3.9 Release Schedule
Author: Łukasz Langa <lukasz at python.org>
Discussions-To: https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-596-python-3-9-release-schedule-doubling-the-release-cadence/1828
Status: Active
Type: Informational
Created: 04-Jun-2019
Python-Version: 3.9

Contents

Abstract
Release Manager and Crew
Release Schedule
Features for 3.9
Copyright

Abstract

This document describes the development and release schedule for Python 3.9. The schedule primarily concerns itself with PEP-sized items.

Release Manager and Crew

3.9 Release Manager: Łukasz Langa
Windows installers: Steve Dower
Mac installers: Ned Deily
Documentation: Julien Palard

Release Schedule

3.9.0 schedule

Note: the dates below use a 17-month development period that results in a 12-month release cadence between major versions, as defined by PEP 602.

Actual:

3.9 development begins: Tuesday, 2019-06-04
3.9.0 alpha 1: Tuesday, 2019-11-19
3.9.0 alpha 2: Wednesday, 2019-12-18
3.9.0 alpha 3: Saturday, 2020-01-25
3.9.0 alpha 4: Wednesday, 2020-02-26
3.9.0 alpha 5: Monday, 2020-03-23
3.9.0 alpha 6: Tuesday, 2020-04-28
3.9.0 beta 1: Monday, 2020-05-18 (No new features beyond this point.)
3.9.0 beta 3: Tuesday, 2020-06-09 (beta 2 was recalled.)
3.9.0 beta 4: Friday, 2020-07-03
3.9.0 beta 5: Monday, 2020-07-20
3.9.0 candidate 1: Tuesday, 2020-08-11
3.9.0 candidate 2: Thursday, 2020-09-17
3.9.0 final: Monday, 2020-10-05

Bugfix releases

Actual:

3.9.1 candidate 1: Tuesday, 2020-11-24
3.9.1 final: Monday, 2020-12-07
3.9.2 candidate 1: Monday, 2021-02-16
3.9.2 final: Monday, 2021-02-19
3.9.3: Friday, 2021-04-02 (security hotfix; recalled due to bpo-43710)
3.9.4: Sunday, 2021-04-04 (ABI compatibility hotfix)
3.9.5: Monday, 2021-05-03
3.9.6: Monday, 2021-06-28
3.9.7: Monday, 2021-08-30
3.9.8: Friday, 2021-11-05 (recalled due to bpo-45235)
3.9.9: Monday, 2021-11-15
3.9.10: Monday, 2022-01-14
3.9.11: Wednesday, 2022-03-16
3.9.12: Wednesday, 2022-03-23

Expected:

3.9.13: Monday, 2022-05-16 (final regular bugfix release with binary installers)

Source-only security fix releases

Provided irregularly on an “as-needed” basis until October 2025, starting with 3.9.14.

3.9 will receive bugfix updates approximately every 2 months for approximately 18 months. Some time after the release of 3.10.0 final, the ninth and final 3.9 bugfix update will be released. After that, it is expected that security updates (source only) will be released until 5 years after the release of 3.9 final, so until approximately October 2025.