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Go Version Support Policy (2026)

DodaTech Updated 2026-06-20 4 min read

In this tutorial, you'll learn about Go Version Support Policy (2026). We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices to help you understand and apply this topic effectively.

Go follows a consistent 6-month release cycle with new versions shipping every February and August. Under the Go security policy, only the latest two major releases receive security fixes — when Go 1.25 ships, Go 1.23 stops receiving patches. Combined with Go's strong compatibility promise (code written for Go 1.x will continue to compile on future Go 1.y versions), this means upgrading is both low-risk and necessary for keeping your builds secure. Go does not have LTS releases; the two-release support window applies uniformly to every version.

Go Version Support Table

Version Release Date Security Fix Support End
1.19 Aug 2022 Sep 2023
1.20 Feb 2023 Feb 2024
1.21 Aug 2023 Aug 2024
1.22 Feb 2024 Feb 2025
1.23 Aug 2024 Aug 2025
1.24 Feb 2025 Feb 2026
1.25 Aug 2025 Aug 2026
1.26 Feb 2026 Feb 2027

Go Support Policy

The Go release cycle is managed by the Go team at Google:

  • Release cadence: Two releases per year — February and August.
  • Security support: The latest two major releases receive security fixes. For example, when Go 1.25 ships in August 2025, Go 1.23 loses security support, leaving Go 1.24 and 1.25 as the supported pair.
  • Minor releases (patch versions): Released as needed for bug and security fixes. Only the latest patch of each supported major release is maintained.
  • Go 1.x compatibility promise: Go guarantees that code written for an older Go 1.x version will continue to compile with newer Go 1.y versions. This makes upgrading essentially frictionless — in most cases, you just bump the version in your go.mod and rebuild.

There are no LTS releases or extended support Windows. If you need a version beyond the 2-release window, you must self-support or use a third-party distribution (e.g., a Linux distro's backported patches).

How to Check Your Go Version

go version
# go version go1.24.2 linux/amd64

To check the version in your go.mod:

head -1 go.mod
# module example.com/myapp
# go 1.24

Upgrade Path

Current Version Recommended Target Reason
1.19 (EOL Sep 2023) 1.25 or 1.26 1.19 is fully unsupported; upgrade to a supported version
1.20 (EOL Feb 2024) 1.25 or 1.26 1.20 is fully unsupported
1.21 (EOL Aug 2024) 1.25 or 1.26 1.21 is fully unsupported
1.22 (EOL Feb 2025) 1.25 or 1.26 1.22 is fully unsupported
1.23 (EOL Aug 2025) 1.25 or 1.26 1.23 is fully unsupported
1.24 1.26 1.24 security support ends Feb 2026; 1.26 is the latest
1.25 1.26 1.25 is supported; 1.26 is the latest with the longest support window

FAQ

How many Go versions are supported at a time?

Only the two latest major releases receive security fixes. For example, after Go 1.26 ships in February 2026, Go 1.24 loses support — leaving Go 1.25 and 1.26 as the supported pair.

What is Go's compatibility promise?

Go guarantees that code written for an older Go 1.x release will continue to compile and run correctly with newer Go 1.y releases. There may be minor exceptions documented in the release notes, but in practice upgrades are seamless.

How often does Go release new versions?

Every 6 months — a major release in February and another in August. Patch releases (e.g., 1.24.1, 1.24.2) are shipped as needed for bug and security fixes.

Does Go have LTS releases?

No. Go does not have LTS releases. All versions follow the same 2-release security support window. If you need longer support, consider using a Linux distribution that backports patches to their packaged Go version.

How do I upgrade my Go version?

Download the latest release from go.dev/dl or use your system package manager. Run go version to confirm. For modules, update the go directive in go.mod to the new version. In most cases, your code will compile without changes

What if I need to keep an older Go version for a legacy project?

You can keep older Go versions installed alongside newer ones (Go supports parallel installations). However, the old version will not receive security patches. For critical security, isolate the build environment or migrate to a supported version.

  • Python Version EOL Schedule
  • Node.js Release Schedule
  • Java / JDK LTS Schedule
  • Rust Edition & Version Schedule
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