Argo CD Release v3.4

[FourFifthsCode]

Target RC1 date: 03.16.2026
Target GA date: 05.04.2026

RC1 Release Checklist

• 1wk before feature freeze post in #argo-contributors that PRs must be merged by DD-MM-YYYY to be included in the release - ask approvers to drop items from milestone they can't merge
• At least two days before RC1 date, draft RC blog post and submit it for review (or delegate this task)
• Create new release branch (or delegate this task to an Approver)
  • Add the release branch to ReadTheDocs
• Cut RC1 (or delegate this task to an Approver and coordinate timing)
  • Run the Init ArgoCD Release workflow from the release branch
  • Review and merge the generated version bump PR
  • Run ./hack/trigger-release.sh to push the release tag
  • Monitor the Publish ArgoCD Release workflow
  • Verify the release on GitHub releases
  • Verify the container image on Quay.io
  • Confirm the new version appears in Read the Docs
  • Verify the docs release build in https://app.readthedocs.org/projects/argo-cd/ succeeded and retry if failed (requires an Approver with admin creds to readthedocs)
• Announce RC1 release
  • Confirm that tweet and blog post are ready
  • Publish tweet and blog post
  • Post in #argo-cd and #argo-announcements requesting help testing:

    :mega: Argo CD v{MAJOR}.{MINOR}.{PATCH}-rc{RC_NUMBER} is OUT NOW! :argocd::tada:
    
    Please go through the following resources to know more about the release:
    
    Release notes: https://github.com/argoproj/argo-cd/releases/tag/v{VERSION}
    Blog: {BLOG_POST_URL}
    
    We'd love your help testing this release candidate! Please try it out in your environments and report any issues you find. This helps us ensure a stable GA release.
    
    Thanks to all the folks who spent their time contributing to this release in any way possible!
    

• Monitor support channels for issues, cherry-picking bugfixes and docs fixes as appropriate during the RC period (or delegate this task to an Approver and coordinate timing)
• After creating the RC, open a documentation PR for the next minor version using this template.

GA Release Checklist

• At GA release date, evaluate if any bugs justify delaying the release
• Prepare for EOL version (version that is 3 releases old)
  • If unreleased changes are on the release branch for {current minor version minus 3}, cut a final patch release for that series (or delegate this task to an Approver and coordinate timing)
  • Edit the final patch release on GitHub and add the following notice at the top:

  > [!IMPORTANT]
  > **END OF LIFE NOTICE**
  > 
  > This is the final release of the {EOL_SERIES} release series. As of {GA_DATE}, this version has reached end of life and will no longer receive bug fixes or security updates.
  > 
  > **Action Required**: Please upgrade to a [supported version](https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operator-manual/upgrading/overview/) (v{SUPPORTED_VERSION_1}, v{SUPPORTED_VERSION_2}, or v{NEW_VERSION}).

• Cut GA release (or delegate this task to an Approver and coordinate timing)
  • Run the Init ArgoCD Release workflow from the release branch
  • Review and merge the generated version bump PR
  • Run ./hack/trigger-release.sh to push the release tag
  • Monitor the Publish ArgoCD Release workflow
  • Verify the release on GitHub releases
  • Verify the container image on Quay.io
  • Verify the stable tag has been updated
  • Confirm the new version appears in Read the Docs
  • Verify the docs release build in https://app.readthedocs.org/projects/argo-cd/ succeeded and retry if failed (requires an Approver with admin creds to readthedocs)
• Announce GA release with EOL notice
  • Confirm that tweet and blog post are ready
  • Publish tweet and blog post
  • Post in #argo-cd and #argo-announcements announcing the release and EOL:

    :mega: Argo CD v{MAJOR}.{MINOR} is OUT NOW! :argocd::tada:
    
    Please go through the following resources to know more about the release:
    
    Upgrade instructions: https://argo-cd.readthedocs.io/en/latest/operator-manual/upgrading/{PREV_MINOR}-{MAJOR}.{MINOR}/
    Blog: {BLOG_POST_URL}
    
    :warning: IMPORTANT: With the release of Argo CD v{MAJOR}.{MINOR}, support for Argo CD v{EOL_VERSION} has officially reached End of Life (EOL).
    
    Thanks to all the folks who spent their time contributing to this release in any way possible!
    

• (For the next release champion) Review the items scheduled for the next release. If any item does not have an assignee who can commit to finish the feature, move it to the next release.
• (For the next release champion) Schedule a time mid-way through the release cycle to review items again.