PEP 826: Python 3.16 Release Schedule (#4829)

Author: savannahostrowski

.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-0826.rst  @savannahostrowski
 # ...
 peps/pep-2026.rst  @hugovk
 # ...

peps/pep-0826.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+PEP: 826
+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: Tuesday, 2026-05-05
+- 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, 2027-04-13
+- 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: Tuesday, 2027-10-05
+
+.. 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 3.18.0 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.
+
+
+Copyright
+=========
+
+This document is placed in the public domain or under the
+CC0-1.0-Universal license, whichever is more permissive.

release_management/python-releases.toml

@@ -3614,3 +3614,86 @@ date = 2026-09-01
 stage = "3.15.0 final"
 state = "expected"
 date = 2026-10-01
+
+# -- Python 3.16 --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+[metadata."3.16"]
+pep = 826
+status = ""
+branch = ""
+release-manager = "Savannah Ostrowski"
+start-of-development = 2026-05-05
+feature-freeze = 2027-05-04
+first-release = 2027-10-06
+end-of-bugfix = 2029-10-06
+end-of-life = 2032-10-01
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 1"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2026-10-13
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 2"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2026-11-10
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 3"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2026-12-15
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 4"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-01-12
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 5"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-02-09
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 6"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-03-09
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 alpha 7"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-04-13
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 beta 1"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-05-04
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 beta 2"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-05-25
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 beta 3"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-06-15
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 beta 4"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-07-13
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 candidate 1"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-07-27
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 candidate 2"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-08-31
+
+[[release."3.16"]]
+stage = "3.16.0 final"
+state = "expected"
+date = 2027-10-05