# Django 6.1 release - timeline and next steps **URL:** \ **Category:** Pre-Releases\ **Tags:** 6-1\ **Created:** [January 14, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929 "2026-01-14T20:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/1 "2026-01-14T20:55:48Z")
Hey Djangonauts, With the first patch release for Django 6.0 under our belts, it’s time to look ahead to our next feature release: Django 6.1. You can find the timeline in the [roadmap page](https://www.djangoproject.com/download/6.1/roadmap/). Believe it or not, we’re already halfway through the feature development phase! Some major features that have already landed include [model field fetch modes](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/releases/6.1/#model-field-fetch-modes) and [database-level delete options](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/releases/6.1/#database-level-delete-options-for-foreignkey-on-delete). (As always, there are too many minor features to call out individually, but those are much appreciated as well 🤝.) The live report of features that are ready for review can be found [here](https://code.djangoproject.com/query?has_patch=1&needs_better_patch=0&needs_docs=0&needs_tests=0&stage=Accepted&status=!closed&type=New+feature&order=changetime&desc=1). If you are working on something that is nearly ready, feel free to share it here. (This might even be your chance to arrange a “review swap” with someone!) We are happy to support progress where we can. Please keep in mind that not every in-progress feature will make it into this release, and anything that does not land will be reconsidered for future feature releases. As always, testing the `main` branch, reporting bugs, reviewing tickets, and providing feedback on [new feature proposals](https://github.com/django/new-features) makes a big difference. Thanks to everyone who’s able to help! ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/3 "2026-04-01T21:08:43Z")
One last shout 📣 , is there anything nearly ready for consideration for 6.1? ---
**Author:** ![medmunds](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/medmunds/32/22140_2.png) [@medmunds](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/medmunds)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/4 "2026-04-04T02:44:55Z")
Well, I’m still hoping to land `EMAIL_PROVIDERS` ([ticket-35514](https://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/35514) / [DEP 0018](https://github.com/django/deps/pull/105)), and just opened a new draft [PR #21052](https://github.com/django/django/pull/21052). The hard parts should _mostly_ be done; what’s left is primarily deprecations. (Well, and one probably-big documentation section. ) ---
**Author:** ![nanorepublica](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/nanorepublica/32/14211_2.png) [@nanorepublica](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/nanorepublica)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/5 "2026-04-04T10:54:33Z")
A completely selfish one. I think [Fixed #13376: Added kwargs argument to messages API to allow extension of functionality to the Storage & Message class. by nanorepublica · Pull Request #18332 · django/django · GitHub](https://github.com/django/django/pull/18332) is ready although not reviewed yet. I would love to see this get in as I have further ideas to explore in the messages app, but want to ship incrementally rather than try too much at once. ---
**Author:** ![smithdc1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/smithdc1/32/23160_2.png) [@smithdc1](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/smithdc1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 8:22am UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/6 "2026-04-08T08:22:40Z")
[Fixed #36441 -- Refactored GDAL functions to be lazily loaded. by joshuadavidthomas · Pull Request #19529 · django/django · GitHub](https://github.com/django/django/pull/19529) by @joshthomas I’d like to see this progressed if possible. This is the next item on my list to review to hopefully help move it along. ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/7 "2026-04-08T12:19:36Z")
Thanks for taking a look. I’m happy to review it once the requested system check is added, which shouldn’t be that large of a lift. ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/8 "2026-05-20T19:49:53Z")
## Django 6.1 alpha 1 released 📣 Announcement: [Django 6.1 alpha 1 released | Weblog | Django](https://www.djangoproject.com/weblog/2026/may/20/django-61-alpha-1-released/) 🎉 Release notes: - [Django 6.1 release notes - UNDER DEVELOPMENT | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/releases/6.1) ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/9 "2026-06-24T17:38:29Z")
## Django 6.1 beta 1 released 📣 Announcement: [Django 6.1 beta 1 released | Weblog | Django](https://www.djangoproject.com/weblog/2026/jun/24/django-61-beta-1-released/) 🎉 Release notes: - [Django 6.1 release notes - UNDER DEVELOPMENT | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/releases/6.1) ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/10 "2026-07-22T20:12:36Z")
## Django 6.1 release candidate 1 released 📣 Announcement: [Django 6.1 release candidate 1 released | Weblog | Django](https://www.djangoproject.com/weblog/2026/jul/22/django-61-rc-1-released/) 🎉 Release notes: - [Django 6.1 release notes - UNDER DEVELOPMENT | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/releases/6.1) ---
**Author:** ![jacobtylerwalls](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/jacobtylerwalls/32/30603_2.png) [@jacobtylerwalls](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/jacobtylerwalls)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/django-6-1-release-timeline-and-next-steps/43929/11 "2026-07-28T15:07:57Z")
Before next week’s final release, I’m hoping to get some input on a question that came up during review of the fetch modes feature, specifically around its interaction with `refresh_from_db(from_queryset=...)`. I have a test case demonstrating what I mean [here](https://github.com/django/django/pull/21660). Input is appreciated!