Backdrop 1.33.0 Release checklist

[jenlampton]

Scheduled for January15, 2026 4pm - 10pm PT

Pre-release tasks

• If this is the Jan 15 release, ensure that the end year in the "All Backdrop code is Copyright..." section towards the bottom of the README.md file has been updated to reflect the new/current year. @quicksketch
• Merge commits @quicksketch
• Move all unfinished issues to the next bug-fix release milestone @quicksketch
• Review all closed issues in milestone: @jenlampton
  • Issue titles should include a complete, but very brief summary of the problem.
• Close the milestone @jenlampton
• Draft Release notes @jenlampton
  • Copy Preview release release notes, update as follows
    • Include a short, descriptive summary of the release, for example:
      • The Backdrop community is proud to release version 1.xx of Backdrop CMS, following our 4-month release cycle.
    • 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.
    • Include a section heading ## Changes since version 1.xx.x
      • 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
      • 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.
      • Note: This list can also be copied from the list on the preview release, but review closed issuses in the milestone
    • Verify the list above matches all changes since the most recent bug-fix release

Release tasks

• Update bootstrap.inc with version number @quicksketch
• Tag for release, and push tag to GitHub @quicksketch
• Branch for new minor number (e.g. 1.10.x) and push to GitHub @quicksketch
• Revert version number back on 1.x branch with minor number increased @quicksketch
• Revert version number back on new minor number branch @quicksketch
• Create release notes on GitHub, and publish release @jenlampton
• Unpublish preview release on backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• Create a new language template file for the translation server @olafgrabienski

Immediate Post-release tasks

Publicity tasks

• Social Media: Post/Tweet/Toot/Skeet that a new version is out (assignments below)
  • Use text like "We're thrilled to announce Backdrop version 1.18. This is the 19th new feature release of #BackdropCMS. https://backdropcms.org"
  • Post to Bluesky @stpaultim
  • Post to Mastodon @stpaultim
  • Post to Twitter @stpaultim
  • Post to Facebook @stpaultim or @cellear
  • Post to LinkedIn @yorkshirepudding
• Generate an unpublished/draft blog post (and thoroughly rewrite if using AI tools) (@Wylbur)
  • Review blog post and provide feedback @izmeez, @stpaultim and anyone else
  • Publish blog post @stpaultim
• email katie@phpweekly.com for a note in the PHP Weekly Newsletter @jenlampton
• Update the project history page on b.org @klonos or @jenlampton
• Update the roadmap page on b.org @klonos or @jenlampton
• Update list of modules included in backdrop core @jenlampton
• Update list of modules included in backdrop_upgrade_status module @jenlampton
• Update the Wikipedia articles @stpaultim or @klonos
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:BackdropCMS_version&action=edit -
    • Auto applied to:
      • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdrop_CMS
      • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_content_management_systems

Code tasks

• Update Tugboat @klonos
• Update Composer @herbdool
• Update Docker @Wylbur
• Update Pantheon @herbdool
• Update Platform.sh @herbdool
• Update Amezmo @jenlampton
• Update DrupalForge @izmeez

Backdrop Website updates

• beta.backdropcms.org @bugfolder
• docs.backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• events.backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• localize.backdropcms.org @jenlampton

2-week Post-release tasks

• backdropcms.org @jenlampton
• forum.backdropcms.org @jenlampton

Publicity tasks

• Publish a Public Notification on BackdropCMS.org about the blog post / release. @stpaultim
• Send a newsletter to subscribers @stpaultim or @jenlampton or whoever has time

See Also

• Bug-Fix Release Checklist
• Preview Release Checklist

[quicksketch]

I've cut the 1.33.0 release tag here: https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.33.0

[quicksketch]

Release notes, mostly copied from the 1.33.0-preview and 1.32.2 release notes:

---

The Backdrop community is proud to release version 1.33.0 of Backdrop CMS, following our 4-month release cycle. This release also marks the 11th birthday of Backdrop CMS! 🎉 🎂

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 1.32.2 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

• Bad variable name and two typos in ConfigDatabaseStorage #7051
• Regression: Type error in views with view of nodes #7039
• Cannot designate a 'primary' or 'danger' form action unless both are specified #7023
• View Table Headings Slightly Skewed if sticky headers 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
• Wrong php.net link in date_views_filter_handler_simple.inc #6682
• Logo and favicon when uploaded must go into public folder even when default download method is private #6380
• No validation for the "Block content" field when making a custom content block reusable. #6247
• #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

• tableselect.js: trigger a 'change' event when the table heading checkbox is checked or uncheck programmatically. #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
• Remove file.admin.js and deprecate theme_file_display_order(), since they are not being used in Backdrop #6582

[quicksketch]

I went ahead and made the release! https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/tag/1.33.0

We can start with post-release tasks.

[jenlampton]

oops!

[quicksketch]

Tugboat demos updated! Also confirmed the homepage of BackdropCMS.org got updated automatically as expected.

[jenlampton]

I've updated https://docs.backdropcms.org/, but got distracted trying to also update to the new borg... but that's on hold now until I can get the other sites updated. Fun though!

[laryn]

Pantheon upstream has been updated.