PEP 826 – Python 3.16 Release Schedule | peps.python.org Following system colour scheme Selected dark colour scheme Selected light colour scheme

Python Enhancement Proposals

PEP 826 – Python 3.16 Release Schedule

Author: Savannah Ostrowski Status: Active Type: Informational Topic: Release Created: 23-Feb-2026 Python-Version: 3.16 Table of Contents

This document describes the development and release schedule for Python 3.16.

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:

Expected:

Subsequent bugfix releases every two months.

Python 3.16 will receive bugfix updates approximately every second month for two years.
Around the time of the release of 3.18.0 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.

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

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