PEP: 693
Title: Python 3.12 Release Schedule
Author: Thomas Wouters <thomas@python.org>
Status: Active
Type: Informational
Topic: Release
Content-Type: text/x-rst
Created: 24-May-2022
Python-Version: 3.12


Abstract
========

This document describes the development and release schedule for
Python 3.12.

Release Manager and Crew
========================

- 3.12 Release Manager: Thomas Wouters
- Windows installers: Steve Dower
- Mac installers: Ned Deily
- Documentation: Julien Palard

Release Schedule
================

3.12.0 schedule
---------------

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

Actual:

- 3.12 development begins: Sunday, 2022-05-08
- 3.12.0 alpha 1: Monday, 2022-10-24
- 3.12.0 alpha 2: Monday, 2022-11-14
- 3.12.0 alpha 3: Tuesday, 2022-12-06
- 3.12.0 alpha 4: Tuesday, 2023-01-10
- 3.12.0 alpha 5: Tuesday, 2023-02-07
- 3.12.0 alpha 6: Tuesday, 2023-03-07
- 3.12.0 alpha 7: Tuesday, 2023-04-04
- 3.12.0 beta 1: Monday, 2023-05-22
  (No new features beyond this point.)
- 3.12.0 beta 2: Tuesday, 2023-06-06
- 3.12.0 beta 3: Monday, 2023-06-19
- 3.12.0 beta 4: Tuesday, 2023-07-11
- 3.12.0 candidate 1: Sunday, 2023-08-06
- 3.12.0 candidate 2: Wednesday, 2023-09-06
- 3.12.0 candidate 3: Tuesday, 2023-09-19
- 3.12.0 final:  Monday, 2023-10-02

Bugfix releases
---------------

Actual:

- 3.12.1: Thursday, 2023-12-07

Expected:

- 3.12.2: Tuesday, 2024-02-06
- 3.12.3: Tuesday, 2024-04-09
- 3.12.4: Tuesday, 2024-06-04
- 3.12.5: Tuesday, 2024-08-06
- 3.12.6: Tuesday, 2024-10-01
- 3.12.7: Tuesday, 2024-12-03
- 3.12.8: Tuesday, 2025-02-04
- 3.12.9: Tuesday, 2025-04-08

Source-only security fix releases
---------------------------------

Provided irregularly on an as-needed basis until October 2028.

3.12 Lifespan
-------------

3.12 will receive bugfix updates approximately every 2 months for
approximately 18 months.  Some time after the release of 3.13.0 final,
the ninth and final 3.12 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 3.12.0 final, so until approximately
October 2028.


Features for 3.12
=================

New features can be found in `What’s New In Python 3.12
<https://docs.python.org/3.12/whatsnew/3.12.html>`__.


Copyright
=========

This document is placed in the public domain or under the CC0-1.0-Universal
license, whichever is more permissive.