WordPress 7.0 RC5 Released, Final Launch Set for May 20, 2026

WordPress has rolled out its seventh major release candidate, RC5, as part of the build‑up to the final 7.0 launch scheduled for May 20, 2026. The RC5 build is available for download and testing through several channels, including the WordPress Beta Tester plugin, direct ZIP downloads, WP‑CLI commands, and the WordPress Playground. Contributors are urged to install the candidate on staging or local environments rather than live sites, as the release is still in the testing phase. The core team has published a detailed release schedule on the Make WordPress Core blog, outlining the remaining milestones and the 24‑hour code freeze that will commence after a dry‑run on May 19.

During the code freeze, no source‑code changes are permitted on the 7.0 branch. The release squad will monitor for critical bugs; if a severe issue surfaces, they may issue a new RC or defer the fix to the upcoming 7.1 release. The release party is slated for 17:00 UTC on May 20 in the #core Slack channel, where the final version will be announced. Testing tasks are extensive: new‑install checks, upgrades from all previous major versions, multisite upgrades, and plugin/theme compatibility. User‑flow tests cover publishing posts, commenting, plugin installation, language changes, and developer scenarios. The community is encouraged to run tests on less common server stacks such as IIS and older PHP/MySQL combinations to ensure broad compatibility.

Bug reporting is streamlined through the Alpha/Beta support forum or WordPress Trac, with a public list of known issues available for cross‑checking. Contributors can review commit logs and Trac tickets to understand the changes from Beta5 to RC5. The core team has also provided a comprehensive guide for testers, detailing the upgrade process and new features to focus on. Feedback from the testing community will directly influence the final polish before the release party, ensuring that WordPress 7.0 delivers a stable, feature‑rich experience for millions of sites worldwide.