diff --git a/docs/developer/RELEASE.md b/docs/developer/RELEASE.md
index 448b26a6..6669bf14 100644
--- a/docs/developer/RELEASE.md
+++ b/docs/developer/RELEASE.md
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@ title: Release management
 license: 'CC-BY-SA-4.0'
 ---
 
+## Maintenance policy
+
+- _experimental_: the current development version receives new features (should not be used in production)
+- _stable_: the latest major version receives full support (bugfixes and security fixes)
+- _oldstable_: the previous major version receives only critical security support
+
+There are about two major versions every year.
+
 ## Release numbering
 
 The Forgejo release numbers are composed of the Gitea release number followed by a dash and a serial number. For instance: