Cardano is moving forward with preparations for its Dijkstra era, a major network upgrade designed to introduce new transaction capabilities and consensus improvements. The plan centers on a two-phase implementation managed through successive node software releases, community testing, and governance steps overseen by the membership-based organization Intersect.

Two-Phase Feature Rollout

The upgrade follows a structured sequence. The first phase focuses on Nested Transactions and Linear Leios, with deployment targeted for the Cardano mainnet by the end of 2026. The second phase will bring in the Peras feature through a separate intra-era hard fork expected in the second quarter of 2027.

This approach allows incremental integration of the new capabilities while maintaining network stability. Development work continues across core node software, broader ecosystem readiness, and supporting tools.

Upcoming Node Releases

Four major Haskell-based node versions form the technical backbone of the transition. Cardano-node-11.1.1 is scheduled for availability around September 7, 2026, for mainnet use. It removes the legacy tracing system and resolves known issues originating from Genesis.

Cardano-node-11.2 is expected roughly one month later. This release will deliver the core Dijkstra feature set in a form suitable for testing, though it will exclude Leios components that primarily affect consensus and block production. It will not serve as the final hard fork candidate.

The subsequent Cardano-node-11.3 version, anticipated within one to two months after the previous release, is positioned as the hard fork candidate. It is set to incorporate the full suite of Dijkstra functionalities, including Leios, enabling the network to cross the hard fork threshold.

Cardano-node-12.0 will serve as the definitive hard fork release, though its exact launch date has not yet been fixed.

Public Testing Environment and Community Events

After the release of node 11.2, a public test network called DijkstraNet will become available. Participants will be able to evaluate components such as Plutus V4, Nested Transactions, and CIP-50. DijkstraNet will operate in parallel with MusashiNet, which continues to support ongoing Leios development and assessment.

Intersect has also scheduled node diversity workshops to support infrastructure readiness. One session is planned in Singapore on October 6 during TOKEN2049, followed by another in London on November 13 and 14.

Governance activity is expected to include public presentation of constitutional amendments connected to the Dijkstra changes, giving stakeholders an opportunity to engage with the proposed updates.

Hard Fork Timing Windows

After a recalibration of the technical delivery schedule, the projected window for the Dijkstra hard fork on mainnet has been refined. A moderate-confidence range runs from December 5, 2026, to January 4, 2027. A higher-confidence period extends from February 24, 2027, to March 26, 2027.

Progress on the intermediate node releases and testing phases will determine where the activation ultimately falls within these ranges. The phased structure is intended to provide extended opportunities for technical validation and community input before the full upgrade takes effect.