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SIG Release: Add 2025 annual report #8797

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65 changes: 42 additions & 23 deletions sig-release/annual-report-2025.md
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1. What work did the SIG do this year that should be highlighted?

<!--
Some example items that might be worth highlighting:
- Major KEP advancement
- Important initiatives that aren't tracked via KEPs
- Paying down significant tech debt
- Governance and leadership changes
-->
**Three Successful Kubernetes Releases:**
- [v1.33 "Octarine (The Color of Magic)"](https://kubernetes.io/blog/2025/04/23/kubernetes-v1-33-release/) - Released April 23, 2025
- [v1.34 "Of Wind & Will (O' WaW)"](https://kubernetes.io/blog/2025/08/27/kubernetes-v1-34-release/) - Released August 27, 2025
- [v1.35 "Timbernetes (The World Tree Release)"](https://kubernetes.io/blog/2025/12/17/kubernetes-v1-35-release/) - Released December 17, 2025

**Release Team Improvements:**
- Streamlined release processes with improved handbooks and documentation
- Enhanced exception criteria and templates for Production Readiness Freeze (PRR) and Code Freeze
- Updated release notes workflow and tooling for better accuracy
- Continued refinement of the release cadence to balance contributor sustainability with project needs

**Ongoing Infrastructure and Tooling Work:**
- Active development on rewriting the artifact promoter for more robust and fast artifact promotion
- Continued work on supported platforms documentation and tooling
- Improvements to SIG Release contributor ladder and sustainability initiatives
- Ongoing enhancements to release engineering processes and automation

**Leadership Continuity:**
- Stable leadership with chairs Jeremy Rickard ([@jeremyrickard](https://github.com/jeremyrickard)), Stephen Augustus ([@justaugustus](https://github.com/justaugustus)), and Sascha Grunert ([@saschagrunert](https://github.com/saschagrunert))
- Technical leads Verónica López ([@Verolop](https://github.com/Verolop)), Carlos Tadeu Panato Jr. ([@cpanato](https://github.com/cpanato)), and Adolfo García Veytia ([@puerco](https://github.com/puerco)) providing strong technical direction
- Release Engineering subproject led by Marko Mudrinić ([@xmudrii](https://github.com/xmudrii))
- Release Team subproject leadership transition: Grace Nguyen ([@gracenng](https://github.com/gracenng)) stepped down in September 2025, with Kat Cosgrove ([@katcosgrove](https://github.com/katcosgrove)) continuing as lead

2. Are there any areas and/or subprojects that your group needs help with (e.g. fewer than 2 active OWNERS)?

None at this time. All subprojects have adequate OWNERS coverage.

3. Did you have community-wide updates in 2025 (e.g. KubeCon talks)?

<!--
Examples include links to email, slides, or recordings.
-->
**[Maintainer Summit Europe 2025](https://maintainersummiteu2025.sched.com/) (London, March 31):**
- [An Imperfect Guide To Impact and Intent](https://maintainersummiteu2025.sched.com/event/1uSNt/an-imperfect-guide-to-impact-and-intent-hilliary-lipsig-red-hat-danielle-lancashire-fermyon-xander-grzywinski-independent-ana-margarita-medina-upbound-jeremy-rickard-microsoft) - Panel discussion featuring Jeremy Rickard

**KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2025 (London, April 1-4):**
- [Kubernetes SIG Meet & Greet](https://kccnceu2025.sched.com/event/1vTL7/kubernetes-sig-meet-greet-lunch-and-learn) (April 3) - SIG Release representatives engaged with new and existing contributors

**[Maintainer Summit North America 2025](https://maintainersummitna2025.sched.com/) (Atlanta, November 9):**
- SIG Release members participated in maintainer discussions and project collaboration sessions

**KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2025 (Atlanta, November 10-13):**
- [Shaping LTS Together: What We've Learned the Hard Way](https://kccncna2025.sched.com/event/27FWW/shaping-lts-together-what-weve-learned-the-hard-way-nikhita-raghunath-nikhila-kamath-broadcom-micah-hausler-aws-jeremy-rickard-microsoft-aniket-ponkshe-canonical) - Jeremy Rickard (SIG Release co-chair) participated in panel on long-term support initiatives

4. KEP work in 2025 (v1.33, v1.34, v1.35):
<!--
TODO: Uncomment the following auto-generated list of KEPs, once reviewed & updated for correction.

Note: This list is generated from the KEP metadata in kubernetes/enhancements repository.
If you find any discrepancy in the generated list here, please check the KEP metadata.
Please raise an issue in kubernetes/community, if the KEP metadata is correct but the generated list is incorrect.
-->
No KEPs were directly owned by SIG Release in the 2025 release cycles. SIG Release continues to focus on release process improvements, tooling enhancements, and infrastructure work that enables the broader Kubernetes community rather than feature development tracked via KEPs.

<!--
<!--

-->

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## Operational

Operational tasks in [sig-governance.md]:
- [ ] [README.md] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [ ] [CONTRIBUTING.md] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [ ] Other contributing docs (e.g. in devel dir or contributor guide) reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [ ] Subprojects list and linked OWNERS files in [sigs.yaml] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [ ] SIG leaders (chairs, tech leads, and subproject leads) in [sigs.yaml] are accurate and active, and updated if needed
- [ ] Meeting notes and recordings for 2025 are linked from [README.md] and updated/uploaded if needed
- [x] [README.md] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [x] [CONTRIBUTING.md] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [x] Other contributing docs (e.g. in devel dir or contributor guide) reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [x] Subprojects list and linked OWNERS files in [sigs.yaml] reviewed for accuracy and updated if needed
- [x] SIG leaders (chairs, tech leads, and subproject leads) in [sigs.yaml] are accurate and active, and updated if needed
- [x] Meeting notes and recordings for 2025 are linked from [README.md] and updated/uploaded if needed


[CONTRIBUTING.md]: https://git.k8s.io/community/sig-release/CONTRIBUTING.md
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