Backdrop 1.33.0-preview Release checklist

[jenlampton]

Scheduled for January 5th, 2026

Pre-release tasks

• If this is the Jan 1 pre-release, then make sure to update the end year in the "All Backdrop code is Copyright..." section towards the bottom of the README.md file (Issue #7044: Updating README for 2026. backdrop#5189). @quicksketch
• Merge commits @quicksketch
• Create a new minor release milestone
• Move all unfinished issues to the next minor release milestone @quicksketch
• Review all closed issues in milestone: @jenlampton
• Draft Release notes @quicksketch
  • Include a short, descriptive summary of the release, for example:
    • This is the preview release of Backdrop 1.16.0. Please use this version if you would like to help us test the features in the new version of Backdrop prior to the official release on January/May/September 15th, 20xx.
  • Include a section heading ## Notes for updating*
    • Note if any changes were made to files outside the core directory, for example:
      • - No changes have been made to the `.htaccess`, `robots.txt` or default `settings.php` files in this release. Updating customized versions of those files is not necessary.
      • See this example for updates to .htaccess
      • See this example or this example for updates to settings.php
    • Note if updates (update.php) needs to be run, for example:
      • Use the text The database update script does **not** need to be run.
      • or **It will be necessary to run the update script** (located at /core/update.php) for this release.
      • Note: you can use this command to see if any install files were changed:
        ls -1 core/modules/*/*.install | while read filename; do echo "$(git log -1 --pretty="format:%ad %f" --date=format:"%F %R" -- $filename)" $filename; done|sort
  • Include a section heading ## Changes since version 1.xx.x
    • navigate to Actions
    • Select the most recent time "Release Notes Generator" has been run.
    • Download the release-notes artifact attached to the generator.
    • Unzip the file, and copy/pate contents into release notes draft.
      • Move the headings to H3, add another # before the ## to get ###.
    • Re-word issue titles to indicate that the problems have been fixed.

Pre-release Publicity + documentation tasks

• Review issues for new features (assign to @stpaultim / @jenlampton / @klonos / @cellear)
  • Add a conclusion suitable for blog post + release notes
  • Add Documentation label if the feature needs to be documented (or needs docs to be updated)
  • Add Needs change record label if the the issue contains an API change.
• Draft blog post for release on the 15th (assign to @stpaultim / @jenlampton / @klonos / @cellear)
• Draft roadmap updates for backdropcms.org (assign to @stpaultim / @klonos / @jenlampton)
• Update list of modules included in backdrop core @jenlampton
• Update list of modules included in backdrop_upgrade_status module @jenlampton
• Create new forum topic for feedback on the release @stpaultim

Release tasks

• Update bootstrap.inc with version number @quicksketch
• Tag for release, and push tag to GitHub @quicksketch
  • Note: New incremented branch for development is usually created on release day
• Revert version number back on 1.x branch with the same minor number (e.g. 1.10.x-dev) @quicksketch
• Create release notes on GitHub Important: Check "This is a pre-release" checkbox when creating release @jenlampton

Website updates (optional)

• beta.backdropcms.org @bugfolder (or jenlampton)

Post-release Publicity + documentation tasks

• Post/Tweet/Toot/Skeet that a new release is out (assignments below)
  • Post to Bluesky @stpaultim
  • Post to Mastodon @stpaultim
  • Post to Twitter @stpaultim

See Also

• Minor Release Checklist (coming soon)

[quicksketch]

Tag for preview release is cut! https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.33.0-preview

[quicksketch]

This is the preview release of Backdrop 1.33.0. Please use this version if you would like to help us test the features in the new version of Backdrop prior to the official release on January 15th, 2026.

Notes for updating

• It will be necessary to run the update script (located at /core/update.php) for this release.
• No significant changes have been made to the .htaccess, robots.txt or default settings.php files in this release. Updating customized versions of those files is not necessary.
  • Note: we have fixed a typo in settings.php

Changes since version 1.32.1 are listed below.

New features

• PHP 8.5 Support #7008
• Update CKEditor5 to version 47.3.0 #7019
• Allow a layout to be selected on multiple paths. #1528
• Add option to select all items across all pages for Views bulk operations #3798
• Add option to disable comments entirely per content type. #3016
• List modules requiring updates to run on Status report #7010
• Add an API and documentation for _config_static cache() #7009

Bug fixes

• Fixed: Custom Text format with multi-value field creates empty field each time after saving node #6987
• Fixed: Minor typo in settings.php. #7013

Additionally, people upgrading from Backdrop 1.32.1 will also receive the following bug fixes (these are also included in Backdrop 1.32.2):

Bug fixes since 1.32.1

• Regression: Type error in views with view of nodes #7039
• Cannot designate a 'primary' or 'danger' form action unless both are specified #7023
• Views table headings are slightly skewed if sticky headers are used and active #7017
• CKEditor emoji button broken since switching from DLL to dist #7014
• Redirect references nonexistent default_status_code config value on fresh installs #7006
• Fragment identifiers on Modules page and Permission page don't work #7004
• Fix timezone field length on registration form #7003
• Document hook_menu_block_tree_alter() #6992
• Sites upgraded from Drupal 7 to Backdrop missing _config_static true in json files. #6982
• Fixes for transparency with Webp and Gif images. #6978
• Using Layout template "Manual installation" link throws fatal error #6875
• PHP date formats page has moved, update links in description #6812
• Modules admin page can't check if hidden modules are enabled or not #6776
• Typo in views_ui.admin.inc: "as been cloned" #6739
• Logo and favicon when uploaded must go into public folder even when default download method is private #6380
• Missing validation for the "Block content" field when making a custom content block reusable. #6247
• The #default_value may or may not work in #options for radios depending on PHP version, option order, and/or key of 0 #6024
• Deprecation notice in bootstrap.inc when bootstrapping from CLI #5844

Documentation updates

• Document why the backdrop_install_schema('system') in system_install() is necessary #5997

Miscellaneous changes

• Trigger a 'change' event when the table heading checkbox is checked or uncheck programmatically in tableselect.js. #7040
• Account for latest release of phpcs in our GHA workflow #6973
• Add Manage layouts link to Content type and Taxonomy blocks for the dashboard. #6719