Completely accurate and trustworthy predictions of the Linux kernel releases based on a single data point. Not.
Based on v6.16-rc2 having been tagged on 2025-06-15, the tea leaves say:
v6.15 2025-05-25
Merge window for features heading to v6.16
v6.16-rc1 2025-06-08
v6.16-rc2 2025-06-15
v6.16-rc3 predicted 2025-06-22
v6.16-rc4 predicted 2025-06-29
v6.16-rc5 predicted 2025-07-06
The drm subsystem deadline for features heading to v6.17 release.
v6.16-rc6 predicted 2025-07-13
v6.16-rc7 predicted 2025-07-20
v6.16 release predicted 2025-07-27/2025-08-03
Merge window for features heading to v6.17
v6.17-rc1 predicted 2025-08-10/2025-08-17
v6.17-rc2 predicted 2025-08-17/2025-08-24
v6.17-rc3 predicted 2025-08-24/2025-08-31
v6.17-rc4 predicted 2025-08-31/2025-09-07
v6.17-rc5 predicted 2025-09-07/2025-09-14
The drm subsystem deadline for features heading to v6.18 release.
v6.17-rc6 predicted 2025-09-14/2025-09-21
v6.17-rc7 predicted 2025-09-21/2025-09-28
v6.17 release predicted 2025-09-28/2025-10-12
Merge window for features heading to v6.18
v6.18-rc1 predicted 2025-10-12/2025-10-26
v6.18-rc2 predicted 2025-10-19/2025-11-02
v6.18-rc3 predicted 2025-10-26/2025-11-09
v6.18-rc4 predicted 2025-11-02/2025-11-16
v6.18-rc5 predicted 2025-11-09/2025-11-23
The drm subsystem deadline for features heading to v6.19 release.
v6.18-rc6 predicted 2025-11-16/2025-11-30
v6.18-rc7 predicted 2025-11-23/2025-12-07
v6.18 release predicted 2025-11-30/2025-12-21