PEP 826: Python 3.16 Release Schedule

.github/CODEOWNERS

@@ -698,6 +698,7 @@ peps/pep-0819.rst  @emmatyping
 peps/pep-0820.rst  @encukou
 peps/pep-0821.rst  @JelleZijlstra
 peps/pep-0822.rst  @methane
+peps/pep-0823.rst  @savannahostrowski
 # ...
 peps/pep-2026.rst  @hugovk
 # ...

peps/pep-0823.rst

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+PEP: 823
+Title: Python 3.16 Release Schedule
+Author: Savannah Ostrowski
+Status: Active
+Type: Informational
+Topic: Release
+Created: 23-Feb-2026
+Python-Version: 3.16
+
+
+Abstract
+========
+
+This document describes the development and release schedule for Python 3.16.
+
+Release manager and crew
+========================
+
+- 3.16 release manager: Savannah Ostrowski
+- Windows installers: Steve Dower
+- Mac installers: Ned Deily
+- Documentation: Julien Palard
+
+
+Release schedule
+================
+
+3.16.0 schedule
+---------------
+
+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`.
+
+.. release schedule: feature
+
+Expected:
+
+- 3.16 development begins: Wednesday, 2026-05-06
+- 3.16.0 alpha 1: Tuesday, 2026-10-13
+- 3.16.0 alpha 2: Tuesday, 2026-11-10
+- 3.16.0 alpha 3: Tuesday, 2026-12-15
+- 3.16.0 alpha 4: Tuesday, 2027-01-12
+- 3.16.0 alpha 5: Tuesday, 2027-02-09
+- 3.16.0 alpha 6: Tuesday, 2027-03-09
+- 3.16.0 alpha 7: Tuesday, 2027-04-12
+- 3.16.0 beta 1: Tuesday, 2027-05-04
+  (No new features beyond this point.)
+- 3.16.0 beta 2: Tuesday, 2027-05-25
+- 3.16.0 beta 3: Tuesday, 2027-06-15
+- 3.16.0 beta 4: Tuesday, 2027-07-13
+- 3.16.0 candidate 1: Tuesday, 2027-07-27
+- 3.16.0 candidate 2: Tuesday, 2027-08-31
+- 3.16.0 final: Thursday, 2027-10-01
+
+.. release schedule: ends
+
+Subsequent bugfix releases every two months.
+
+
+3.16 lifespan
+-------------
+
+* Python 3.16 will receive bugfix updates approximately every second month for
+  two years.
+* Around the time of the release of 3.17.0 final, the final 3.16 bugfix update
+  will be released.
+* After that, it is expected that security updates (source only) will be
+  released for the next three years, until five years after the release of
+  3.16.0 final, so until approximately October 2032.
+
+
+Copyright
+=========
+
+This document is placed in the public domain or under the
+CC0-1.0-Universal license, whichever is more permissive.