docs: announce release 1.26.0-rc3

Closes #300

Signed-off-by: Gabriele Bartolini <gabriele.bartolini@enterprisedb.com>

Author: gbartolini

content/releases/cloudnative-pg-1-26.0-rc3-released/58364dde1adc4a0a8.37186404-2048x1445.jpg

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+---
+title: "CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3 Released!"
+date: 2025-05-13T10:50:17+02:00
+draft: false
+author: gbartolini
+image:
+    url: "58364dde1adc4a0a8.37186404-2048x1445.jpg"
+    attribution: from <a href="https://wordpress.org/photos/photo/58364dde1a/">Saurabh</a>
+tags:
+ - release
+ - postgresql
+ - postgres
+ - kubernetes
+ - k8s
+ - cloudnativepg
+ - preview
+ - cnpg
+summary: "CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3 is out, featuring key fixes for major upgrades and Barman Cloud plugin migration—test it now and help shape the final release!"
+---
+
+# CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3 Released!
+
+The **CloudNativePG Community** is pleased to announce the release of
+**CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3**, the third release candidate before general
+availability.
+
+This release delivers important fixes identified during the first wave of
+large-scale testing—particularly in two critical areas:
+
+- the transition from in-tree **Barman Cloud object store** support to the new **plugin-based architecture**, and
+- the **major version upgrade** process.
+
+Read the full changelog in the
+[1.26.0 RC3 release notes](https://cloudnative-pg.io/documentation/preview/release_notes/v1.26/).
+
+## Barman Cloud Migration
+
+With the 1.26 release, the **deprecation period** for in-tree Barman Cloud
+support officially begins. While it remains fully functional in 1.26, we
+**strongly encourage** users to begin planning the migration to the
+[Barman Cloud Plugin](https://cloudnative-pg.io/plugin-barman-cloud/)
+as early as possible and to adopt it for all new deployments.
+
+To help with this, we’ve published a comprehensive
+[migration guide](https://cloudnative-pg.io/plugin-barman-cloud/docs/migration/)—
+and this RC is the perfect opportunity to test it out and share your feedback.
+
+Also, a warning will now be triggered by the admission webhook when using the
+deprecated `.spec.backup.barmanObjectStore` and `.spec.backup.retentionPolicy`
+fields.
+
+---
+
+## New Experimental Feature: Primary Liveness Network Isolation
+
+RC3 introduces an opt-in **experimental enhancement** to the liveness probe that
+enables detection of network isolation scenarios for primary instances. When
+enabled via the `alpha.cnpg.io/livenessPinger` annotation, this feature allows
+a primary that is isolated to proactively shut itself down.
+
+---
+
+## Thank You
+
+We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the preview program
+and contributed valuable feedback. Your involvement continues to shape the
+direction of CloudNativePG and helps us deliver high-quality, production-ready
+features.
+
+---
+
+## Help Us Test
+
+We invite you to test **CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3** in your **non-production
+environments** and report any issues or suggestions. This is your chance to
+help us fine-tune the final release!
+
+- [View open issues for the 1.26 milestone](https://github.com/cloudnative-pg/cloudnative-pg/milestone/25)
+- [Report a bug or provide feedback](https://github.com/cloudnative-pg/cloudnative-pg/issues/new/choose)
+
+Learn more about how to get involved on the [preview testing page](https://cloudnative-pg.io/documentation/preview).
+
+---
+
+## Release Timeline
+
+RC3 is the latest in our release candidate series. Additional RCs may be issued
+if needed, but we currently expect the **final release of 1.26.0 during the
+week of May 19, 2025**.
+
+---
+
+## Join the Community
+
+CloudNativePG is a **vendor-neutral, open-source** project backed by a vibrant
+community of PostgreSQL and Kubernetes enthusiasts. Join us to help shape the
+future of cloud-native Postgres!
+
+- [How to connect and contribute](https://github.com/cloudnative-pg/cloudnative-pg?tab=readme-ov-file#communications)
+
+---
+
+Thank you for your continued trust and support.
+Together, we’re building the future of **PostgreSQL on Kubernetes**.
+
+<!--
+# About CloudNativePG
+
+[CloudNativePG](https://cloudnative-pg.io) is an open-source Kubernetes
+Operator specifically designed for PostgreSQL workloads. It manages the entire
+lifecycle of a PostgreSQL cluster, including bootstrapping, configuration, high
+availability, connection routing, and comprehensive backup and disaster
+recovery mechanisms. By leveraging PostgreSQL's native streaming replication,
+CloudNativePG efficiently distributes data across pods, nodes, and zones using
+standard Kubernetes patterns, enabling seamless scaling of replicas in a
+Kubernetes-native manner. Originally developed and supported by
+[EDB](https://www.enterprisedb.com/), CloudNativePG is a
+[CNCF Sandbox project](https://www.cncf.io/projects/cloudnativepg/)
+and the sole PostgreSQL operator in this category.
+
+-->
+<!--
+Tweet
+🚀 Exciting news! CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3 is here! Help us test exciting new features like major in-place upgrades, startup and readiness probes for replicas, and declarative extensions management.
+
+LINK
+
+#CloudNativePG #PostgreSQL #Kubernetes #OpenSource
+
+--->
+<!--
+LinkedIn
+🚀 CloudNativePG 1.26.0 RC3 is Here! 🚀
+
+We’re excited to announce the release of the third release candidate for CloudNativePG 1.26.0! 🎉
+
+This milestone helps us test and refine key new features coming in the final release:
+
+🔹 Declarative Offline In-Place Major Upgrades of PostgreSQL
+🔹 Improved Startup and Readiness Probes for replicas
+🔹 Declarative Management of Extensions and Schemas
+🔹 The new Barman Cloud Plugin for backup and recovery using object stores
+
+We’re calling on the community to try out this preview version in non-production environments and share your feedback. Your input is crucial to ensuring a robust and reliable release!
+
+LINK
+
+Let’s build the future of PostgreSQL on Kubernetes—together.
+
+Follow us for updates and join our community to get involved!
+
+#CloudNativePG #PostgreSQL #Kubernetes #OpenSource #RC2 #CloudNative #DataOps #ReleaseCandidate
+-->