PHP 8.1 Release managers and release dates

Published On26 Mar 2021

PHP 8.1 release date

PHP 8.1 is currently in active development, this half the year is when most of the new features, removals, syntax changes, and other improvements are discussed.

PHP 8.0 was released on 11th of November last year, with Sara Golemon and Gabriel Caruso being the release managers. Traditionally, release managers call and often help the release managers appointed for the next PHP version.

PHP 8.1 Release Managers

Sara recently called for release-managers for PHP 8.1, and it received overwhelming enthusiastic responses.

Joe Watkins, one of the main contributors to PHP has stepped in to be the first release-manager, and he will be mentoring two potential release managers. Those who have signed up far are:

  • Adiel Cristo
  • Gunnard Engebreth
  • Harm Smits
  • Eric Van Johnson
  • Patrick Allaert
  • Sergey Panteleev
  • Ben Ramsey

The new release managers (usually two) will be chosen by a vote and by the current release-managers. The names will be announced soon.

PHP 8.1 Feature Freeze

Feature-freeze is the cut-off point for new changes and improvements to the current PHP master branch. After this point, a new PHP-8.1 branch will be created. In theory, all new changes must be made to the master branch, and the PHP-8.1 branch will only receive bug fixes and will be prepared for the eventual PHP 8.1 release.

PHP 8.1 feature-freeze is currently scheduled for 20th of July, 2021.

PHP 8.1 Release Date

PHP release are usually tagged on a Tuesday, and released Thursday. Following the traditional release dates, a new major version is released on the last week of November.

The first generally available (GA) version of PHP 8.1 will be released on 25th of Nov, 2021.


Note that none of the dates above are fixed. It is not uncommon for the PHP development team to cut interim releases as the release-managers see fit. Stability over fixed dates.

In other news on PHP.Watch

All NewsFeed
PHP 8.3 Released!

PHP 8.3 Released!

PHP 8.3 was released today, containing over 1,000 commits from over 100 contributors.
First PHP 8.3 Release Candidate is now available for testing

First PHP 8.3 Release Candidate is now available for testing

The first release candidate (RC1) for PHP 8.3 is now released, along with Windows QA builds and Docker images.
PHP 8.3 Beta Released

PHP 8.3 Beta Released

The first beta release of the upcoming PHP 8.3 is released.
Subscribe to PHP.Watch newsletter for monthly updates

You will receive an email on last Wednesday of every month and on major PHP releases with new articles related to PHP, upcoming changes, new features and what's changing in the language. No marketing emails, no selling of your contacts, no click-tracking, and one-click instant unsubscribe from any email you receive.