k3s v1.35.3+k3s1 released on 28-03-2026
k3s v1.35.3+k3s1 is out now. It embeds Kubernetes v1.35.3 and updates the k3s build to v1.35.3-k3s1 with Go 1.25.7, bringing upstream fixes and stability updates for operators and homelab maintainers.
See the upstream Kubernetes changelog and the k3s GitHub release notes and documentation for full details.
What’s in this release
- Kubernetes updated to v1.35.3 and k3s build bumped to v1.35.3-k3s1 with Go 1.25.7.
- Embedded component bumps and runtime updates: CoreDNS 1.14.2, runc v1.4.1, containerd v2.2.2-k3s1, flannel v0.28.2, CNI plugins v1.9.1, Traefik v3.6.10 (chart bump), metrics-server v0.8.1, Kine v0.14.14, Etcd v3.6.7-k3s1, SQLite 3.51.2, plus helm-controller and local-path-provisioner updates.
- Reliability and backup fixes: save cluster state before re-encrypting secrets with a new key, simplified snapshot compress/decompress logic, and a set of March 2026 backports improving backup/restore and secret rotation behaviour.
Upgrade notes
- Runtime, CNI and ingress/DNS changes may affect live clusters — test the upgrade in staging, take a cluster backup and validate secret re-encryption workflows before rolling out.
- If you need to revert, restore from a validated backup or snapshot taken prior to the upgrade.
Share your experience with the upgrade on the k3s issue tracker or join the project Slack to report problems or ask questions.
