Kubernetes v1.36 'Haru' Goes Live: 70 Enhancements Including 18 Stable Features

<h2>Kubernetes v1.36 'Haru' Released – 70 Enhancements Mark Spring 2026 Update</h2><p>The Kubernetes project has released version 1.36, codenamed 'Haru' (spring), delivering 70 enhancements in total. Eighteen of these have graduated to stable, 25 are entering beta, and 25 are now in alpha.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://kubernetes.io/blog/2026/04/22/kubernetes-v1-36-release/k8s-v1.36.svg" alt="Kubernetes v1.36 &#039;Haru&#039; Goes Live: 70 Enhancements Including 18 Stable Features" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: kubernetes.io</figcaption></figure><p>This release underscores the strength of the development cycle and the vibrant community support, according to the release team. Key focus areas include improved storage scalability, network policy enforcement, and enhanced security controls.</p><blockquote><p>“This release marks a turning point for Kubernetes as we continue to mature core capabilities,” said Chad Crowell, release lead for v1.36. “The community’s dedication to quality is evident in every enhancement.”</p></blockquote><h3 id="features">Key Enhancements at a Glance</h3><p>Among the <a href="#features">stable features</a>, notable additions include the <strong>GA graduation</strong> of the CSI migration for vSphere and support for IngressClass parameters. Beta features introduce the <strong>Pod Lifecycle Sleep Action</strong> and a new <strong>API for resource quotas</strong>.</p><ul><li>Stable: CSI Migration for vSphere, IngressClass parameters, and more.</li><li>Beta: Pod Lifecycle Sleep Action, Resource Quota API, and 23 others.</li><li>Alpha: 25 new features including cross-namespace storage references.</li></ul><p>Deprecations and removals are also part of this release—administrators should review the full changelog for details.</p><h3 id="background">Background: The Spring 2026 Release</h3><p>Kubernetes v1.36 follows a consistent three-month release cycle. The theme 'Haru' draws from Japanese culture, representing spring, clear skies, and distant horizons—reflecting the community’s forward momentum.</p><p>The logo, inspired by Hokusai’s “Fine Wind, Clear Morning,” features Mount Fuji with the Kubernetes helm and guardian cats Stella and Nacho. This imagery symbolizes the collective effort of SIGs, working groups, and contributors.</p><h3 id="what-this-means">What This Means for Kubernetes Users</h3><p>The graduation of 18 features to stable means enterprises can adopt these capabilities with confidence. The beta features offer early access to significant improvements in pod management and resource control.</p><p>“The stability of the release cycle ensures that users can plan upgrades with certainty,” noted Kirti Goyal, a release team member. “v1.36 continues to push Kubernetes toward greater production readiness.”</p><p>For those running clusters at scale, the CSI migration and network policy enhancements alone reduce operational overhead. The full set of enhancements is available in the <a href="#features">release notes</a>.</p><p>As the release ships, the team encourages users to upgrade and test new features in non‑production environments. The dawn of v1.36 marks a passage toward even more capable releases ahead.</p>