feat(framework): Update changelog for v1.27.0 release (#6729)

Co-authored-by: Daniel J. Beutel <daniel@flower.ai>
Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: 3 people

framework/docs/source/ref-changelog.md

@@ -1,6 +1,68 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## Unreleased
+## v1.27.0 (2026-03-10)
+
+### Thanks to our contributors
+
+We would like to give our special thanks to all the contributors who made the new version of Flower possible (in `git shortlog` order):
+
+`Charles Beauville`, `Chong Shen Ng`, `Daniel J. Beutel`, `Heng Pan`, `Javier`, `Micah Sheller`, `Mohammad Naseri`, `Roma Klapaukh`, `Ruth Galindo`, `Taner Topal`, `Yan Gao` <!---TOKEN_v1.27.0-->
+
+### What's new?
+
+- **Introduce local SuperLink for managing local simulations** ([#6599](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6599), [#6717](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6717))
+
+  Local simulations are now managed by a local SuperLink, which is automatically launched on demand. This enables running most `flwr` CLI commands locally, such as `flwr list` to list previous runs and `flwr log` to retrieve logs from earlier runs. See the [documentation](https://flower.ai/docs/framework/1.27/en/how-to-run-flower-locally.html) for more details.
+
+- **Allow SuperLink log rotation** ([#6700](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6700))
+
+  Adds support for timed log rotation in SuperLink. Log files can now be configured using `--log-file`, `--log-rotation-interval-hours`, and `--log-rotation-backup-count`.
+
+- **Update framework documentation** ([#6533](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6533), [#6537](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6537), [#6541](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6541), [#6546](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6546), [#6551](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6551), [#6593](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6593), [#6598](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6598), [#6612](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6612), [#6615](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6615), [#6629](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6629), [#6631](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6631), [#6635](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6635), [#6681](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6681), [#6694](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6694), [#6710](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6710), [#6718](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6718), [#6719](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6719), [#6731](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6731))
+
+  Improves and fixes various parts of the framework documentation, including a new FAQ for unexpected Windows PowerShell output ([FAQ entry](https://flower.ai/docs/framework/1.27/en/ref-faq.html#faq-windows-unexpected-output)).
+
+- **Adopt release-branch workflow for Flower framework releases** ([#6560](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6560), [#6566](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6566), [#6594](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6594))
+
+  Adopts a release-branch workflow for the Flower framework, enabling releases from dedicated `release/framework-X.Y` branches and introducing the `framework-X.Y.Z` release tag format.
+
+- **Introduce versioned Flower documentation built from release branches** ([#6564](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6564), [#6569](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6569), [#6596](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6596), [#6607](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6607), [#6609](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6609), [#6610](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6610))
+
+  Introduces a new documentation release workflow where versioned Flower documentation is built and published from release branches. One documentation version is generated for each minor series (`X.Y.x`), allowing documentation updates after a release.
+
+- **Introduce multi-federation management via `flwr federation` CLI commands** ([#6559](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6559), [#6582](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6582), [#6583](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6583), [#6588](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6588), [#6589](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6589), [#6611](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6611), [#6618](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6618), [#6623](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6623), [#6625](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6625), [#6632](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6632), [#6658](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6658), [#6662](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6662), [#6673](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6673), [#6674](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6674), [#6676](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6676), [#6680](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6680), [#6695](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6695), [#6703](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6703), [#6705](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6705), [#6707](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6707), [#6708](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6708), [#6722](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6722), [#6725](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6725), [#6726](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6726))
+
+  On supported SuperLinks, users can manage federations using the `flwr federation` CLI. This includes creating federations (`flwr federation create`), adding or removing SuperNodes (`flwr federation add-supernode` / `remove-supernode`), and archiving federations (`flwr federation archive`). Users can also collaborate through federation invitations using `flwr federation invite` commands to create, list, accept, reject, or revoke invitations.
+
+- **Add `--limit` option to `flwr list` to limit the number of runs listed** ([#6639](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6639), [#6737](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6737))
+
+- **Add Federated Analytics example** ([#6314](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6314))
+
+- **Improve Flower Hub app publishing and FAB building** ([#6656](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6656), [#6685](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6685), [#6686](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6686), [#6689](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6689), [#6736](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6736))
+
+- **Update examples** ([#6545](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6545), [#6555](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6555), [#6697](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6697), [#6709](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6709))
+
+- **Update packaging and dependency configuration** ([#6548](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6548), [#6558](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6558), [#6648](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6648), [#6651](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6651), [#6654](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6654), [#6683](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6683))
+
+- **Improve CI workflows** ([#6549](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6549), [#6550](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6550), [#6573](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6573), [#6575](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6575), [#6579](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6579), [#6585](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6585), [#6601](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6601), [#6617](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6617), [#6624](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6624), [#6633](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6633), [#6645](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6645), [#6647](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6647), [#6655](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6655), [#6665](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6665), [#6706](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6706))
+
+- **General improvements** ([#6540](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6540), [#6547](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6547), [#6553](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6553), [#6563](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6563), [#6568](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6568), [#6591](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6591), [#6595](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6595), [#6602](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6602), [#6616](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6616), [#6634](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6634), [#6637](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6637), [#6642](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6642), [#6643](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6643), [#6650](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6650), [#6652](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6652), [#6659](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6659), [#6670](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6670), [#6679](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6679), [#6696](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6696), [#6712](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6712), [#6716](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6716), [#6720](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6720), [#6721](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6721), [#6723](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6723), [#6724](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6724), [#6727](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6727), [#6728](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6728), [#6729](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6729), [#6735](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6735))
+
+  As always, many parts of the Flower framework and quality infrastructure were improved and updated.
+
+### Incompatible changes
+
+- **Unpublish `v1.8.0`–`v1.16.0` framework documentation** ([#6621](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6621))
+
+  Unpublishes very old documentation versions that are no longer compatible with the updated documentation structure and release workflow.
+
+- **Drop deprecated `--flwr-dir` CLI option** ([#6677](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6677))
+
+  Removes the deprecated `--flwr-dir` option from CLI commands. A custom Flower directory can still be configured using the `FLWR_HOME` environment variable.
+
+- **Remove `flower-simulation` CLI entrypoint** ([#6628](https://github.com/adap/flower/pull/6628))
+
+  Removes the `flower-simulation` CLI entrypoint. With the introduction of local SuperLink, this command is no longer needed.
 
 ## v1.26.1 (2026-02-07)