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Docker Engine Release Cycles and End-of-Life Dates

By 4FreeForums Editors · Published October 28, 2026 · Sources linked below

Docker Engine Release Cycles and EOL Dates: Admin Guide

Containerized community platforms rely heavily on Docker Engine to keep forum software, caching layers, and database engines running smoothly. However, runtime versions do not receive security updates forever. Understanding the lifecycle timelines published by the Docker Engine lifecycle tracker on endoflife.date is critical to ensure that underlying server stacks remain protected against emerging vulnerabilities. Forum administrators auditing their VPS infrastructure should compare their current installation against these key dates.

1 Active Branch: Cycle 29

Cycle 29 stands as the primary active release line for Docker Engine. Released on 2025-11-10, this cycle currently carries no set end-of-life date (listed as false for EOL status). Its most recent patch, version 29.9.2, arrived on 2026-10-20. For community administrators hosting containerized forums or checking forum software server requirements, maintaining hosts on cycle 29 provides ongoing maintenance and regular fixes directly from upstream maintainers.

1 Version Nearing Retirement: Cycle 25.0

A notable release nearing its scheduled end is cycle 25.0. Originally released on 2024-01-19, cycle 25.0 reached point release 25.0.18 on 2026-09-30. Its formal end-of-life date is set for 2026-12-04. Systems that remain on this branch have only a short operational window before upstream security patches cease, making migration to cycle 29 an immediate server maintenance priority before December arrives.

2026 Retirements: Cycle 28

Earlier in 2026, cycle 28 crossed its lifecycle boundary. This branch launched on 2025-02-20 and delivered its final listed patch, 28.5.2, on 2025-11-05. Upstream support officially concluded on 2026-05-13. Communities still operating on cycle 28 are running unsupported software without fresh security builds, underscoring the need for routine audits to reinforce baseline forum admin security.

2025 Retirements: Cycles 27, 26.1, and 23.0

Multiple Docker Engine branches reached their final cutoffs throughout 2025:

None of these cycles receive continued updates, and running them exposes server hosts to unpatched container daemon defects.

2024 Retirements: Cycles 26.0 and 24.0

Further back, the year 2024 saw the retirement of two major cycles on the very same day. Cycle 26.0 debuted on 2024-03-20, updated to 26.0.2 on 2024-04-18, and reached end-of-life on 2024-06-08. Concurrently, cycle 24.0, which originally launched on 2023-05-16 and published version 24.0.9 on 2024-02-01, also ended support on 2024-06-08.

Historical Releases: Cycles 20.10 Down to 17.03

Docker Engine versions preceding 2024 have long passed their support periods, as documented in the Docker Engine lifecycle API registry:

Across the entire history recorded in the dataset, all versions are classified with LTS marked as false. Tracking these exact dates ensures forum hosts remain aware of when runtime infrastructure drops off the active support tree.

Sources

Published October 28, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.