Six consecutive Linux kernel releases landed exactly 63 days apart — a streak of scheduling precision that held from version 6.8 through 6.13. This article covers the Linux kernel’s release cadence, annual commit trends, long-term support timelines, contributor activity for version 6.15, and how the codebase has grown from 19 million to nearly 40 million lines over the past decade.
Linux Kernel Release Frequency: Key Statistics
- The mainline Linux kernel releases every 9–10 weeks, with a 2-week merge window followed by roughly 7 weeks of stabilization.
- Six consecutive releases from 6.8 through 6.13 each shipped exactly 63 days after the previous one.
- Linux 6.12, released November 17, 2024, reached version 6.12.80 by April 2, 2026, with weekly point updates still active.
- The kernel source crossed 39.8 million lines in late 2024 — more than double its 2015 size of approximately 19 million lines.
- Corporate developers authored 84.3% of kernel commits in 2025, spread across more than 1,780 contributing organizations.
How Often Does the Linux Kernel Release a New Version?
Each release cycle opens with a 2-week merge window where major new code lands. That closes into a stabilization phase of around 7 weeks, typically ending at release candidate 7 (rc7) before the final tag. On February 8, 2026, Linus Torvalds released Linux 6.19 — the last in the 6.x series — with Linux 7.0 expected around April 2026.
The table below shows every mainline 6.x release from early 2024 through early 2026, including the gap in days from the prior release.
| Version | Release Date | Days from Prior Release | LTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.7 | January 7, 2024 | 70 | No |
| 6.8 | March 10, 2024 | 63 | No |
| 6.9 | May 12, 2024 | 63 | No |
| 6.10 | July 14, 2024 | 63 | No |
| 6.11 | September 15, 2024 | 63 | No |
| 6.12 | November 17, 2024 | 63 | Yes |
| 6.13 | January 19, 2025 | 63 | No |
| 6.16 | July 27, 2025 | 73 | No |
| 6.19 | February 8, 2026 | ~63 | No |
Source: Linux Kernel Newbies, Wikipedia
The 73-day gap at 6.16 is the only visible outlier across recent cycles — likely caused by an extended RC phase running past rc7 to resolve late regressions. Every other recent release held within the standard window.
Linux Kernel Annual Commit Activity (2022–2024)
Total commits in 2024 dropped to 75,314 — the lowest annual figure in about a decade. The typical range since 2017 had been 80,000 to 90,000 commits per year. The drop did not come with a matching drop in code output: 2024 added 3.69 million new lines while removing 1.49 million, a net gain consistent with prior years.
About 4,807 developers contributed code in 2024. Linus Torvalds logged 2,877 commits, almost entirely merge operations.
| Year | Total Commits | Lines Added | Lines Removed | Unique Authors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~86,790 | ~5,300,000 | — | ~4,909 |
| 2023 | 87,993 | ~3,300,000 | ~1,590,000 | ~4,861 |
| 2024 | 75,314 | 3,694,098 | 1,490,601 | ~4,807 |
Source: Phoronix
The 6.15 release, one of the most active in recent memory, brought in 14,612 changesets — the busiest since 6.7 at the start of 2024 — suggesting the 2024 dip was a single-cycle compression rather than a shift in the project’s overall pace.
How Long Are Linux Kernel LTS Versions Supported?
LTS designation is not automatic. It reflects demand from distributions, embedded vendors, and commercial users who need a stable base for years after a mainline release moves on. As of early 2026, seven branches were still receiving active Linux kernel version updates.
| Kernel Version | LTS Designation | Supported Until |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | LTS | 2025 (winding down) |
| 5.10 | LTS | 2026 |
| 5.15 | LTS | 2026 |
| 6.1 | LTS | 2026 |
| 6.6 | LTS | 2026 |
| 6.12 | LTS | 2026+ |
| 6.18 | LTS | December 2027 |
Source: endoflife.date
Kernel 6.12 stands out in the LTS group: its release in November 2024 included full PREEMPT_RT real-time support after roughly two decades of development in downstream patches. By April 2, 2026, both 6.12 and 6.6 were receiving simultaneous weekly updates — 6.12 had reached 6.12.80, 6.6 had reached 6.6.131.
Linux Kernel Developer Contributions: Version 6.15 Breakdown
Kernel 6.15 attracted 2,068 contributing developers, 262 of whom were making their first commit to the project. The all-time record is 2,090 developers, set with kernel 6.2 in 2023. Intel maintained its position as the top corporate contributor by changeset volume, logging nearly double the output of second-place Google.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total developers contributing | 2,068 |
| First-time contributors | 262 |
| Total changesets | 14,612 |
| All-time developer record | 2,090 (kernel 6.2, 2023) |
| Corporate share of 2025 commits | 84.3% |
| Organizations contributing (2025) | 1,780+ |
Source: LWN.net, commandlinux.com
One in every eight patches merged into 6.15 passed through a maintainer at Meta. Kent Overstreet led individual contributions again, continuing work on the Bcachefs filesystem, which is still moving through stabilization.
How Big Is the Linux Kernel Source Code?
The kernel source crossed 39.8 million lines in late 2024. In 2015, kernel 4.1 contained around 19 million lines — so the codebase doubled in roughly a decade. The 40 million line threshold was crossed in early 2025.
| Year | Lines of Code (Approx.) | Kernel Version |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ~19,000,000 | 4.1 |
| 2024 | 39,816,411 | 6.12 |
Source: Phoronix, commandlinux.com
Device drivers account for around 60% of the total line count, with network drivers, GPU drivers, and multimedia drivers as the three largest categories within that group. The net addition runs to about 400,000 lines every two months — driven largely by hardware support for new GPU architectures, RISC-V enablement, and features like the PCIe and memory isolation work that arrived with 6.19.
FAQs
How often does a new Linux kernel version release?
The mainline kernel releases every 9 to 10 weeks. Each cycle includes a 2-week merge window for new features followed by roughly 7 weeks of stabilization via weekly release candidates.
What is an LTS Linux kernel and how long is it supported?
An LTS (Long-Term Support) kernel receives backported security and bug fixes for at least 2 years after release. Support duration depends on demand from distributions and vendors — kernel 6.18, for example, is supported until December 2027.
How many developers contribute to the Linux kernel?
Roughly 4,800 unique authors contributed in 2024. Kernel 6.15 specifically saw 2,068 contributors across a single release cycle, including 262 first-timers.
What share of Linux kernel commits come from corporations?
Corporate developers authored 84.3% of kernel commits in 2025, distributed across more than 1,780 organizations. Intel contributed the most changesets, followed by Google.
When will Linux kernel 7.0 release?
Linux 7.0 is expected around April 2026, following the February 8, 2026 release of Linux 6.19 — the final version in the 6.x series. The 9–10 week cadence puts the 7.0 window in mid-to-late April.
