WordPress 7.1.1 RC1 Drops and 7.2 Release Squad Announced
September 10, 2026 was a big day for the WordPress core team. Two major milestones landed within hours of each other: WordPress 7.1.1 RC1 was released on schedule, and the WordPress 7.2 Release Squad was officially announced.
WordPress 7.1.1 RC1: Bug-Fix Maintenance Release on Track
As planned in the official release schedule, WordPress 7.1.1 RC1 dropped on September 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM EDT. This is a bug-fix-only maintenance release targeting issues reported since the WordPress 7.1 Mary Lou launch on August 19, 2026.
Key dates:
- September 10, 2026 – WordPress 7.1.1 RC1 released
- September 17, 2026 – WordPress 7.1.1 final release
The RC1 phase is your window to test the upcoming maintenance release against your themes, plugins, and custom code before the final release drops next week.
WordPress 7.2 Release Squad: The Next Major Version Is Already in Motion
The WordPress 7.2 Release Squad has been officially announced, signaling that planning for the next major version is already underway. The Bug Scrub Schedule for WordPress 7.2 was also published, giving contributors a clear roadmap.
Notable goals already set for WordPress 7.2:
- Reduced build times – A goal has been set for the Build and Test tools component to reduce build time across the Core dev pipeline
- PHPUnit test cleanup – Developers are invited to join the PHPUnit test cleanup effort for 7.2
- Secrets API – An initial working draft of a Secrets API feature plugin is live, aiming to provide a standardized way to manage sensitive credentials in WordPress
Other Notable WordPress Core Updates This Week
- Runnable code examples are now live in the WordPress Code Reference
- Dashicons replacement is underway in the admin bar and menu
- Gutenberg 23.9 shipped on September 2 with new block editor improvements
How to Test WordPress 7.1.1 RC1
- Install and activate the WordPress Beta Tester plugin
- Go to Tools and then Beta Testing
- Select Bleeding edge and choose Release Candidates Only
- Update to the RC from your Dashboard
- Report any bugs on WordPress Trac
Key Takeaway: With 7.1.1 RC1 out and 7.2 planning already in full swing, the WordPress release cadence is firing on all cylinders. Developers should test RC1 now and keep an eye on the 7.2 squad announcements for what is coming in the next major version.
Hashtags: #WordPress #WordPressDev #WordPress711 #WordPress72 #OpenSource #WebDevelopment #CMS #PHP #Gutenberg
Sources:
- Dev Chat Summary September 9 2026 – Make WordPress Core
- WordPress 7.1.1 Release Schedule – Make WordPress Core
- Announcing the WordPress 7.2 Release Squad – Make WordPress Core