Folks, We are happy to release Matplotlib v2.2.0rc1! This is a feature release which includes new functionality (along with many bug-fixes). One of the hi-lights of this release is a constrained layout manager, please see https://matplotlib.org/devdocs/users/whats_new.html for details. API changes are at https://matplotlib.org/devdocs/api/api_changes.html The rc can be installed via pip pip install --pre matplotlib or via conda from conda-forge conda install -c conda-forge/label/rc matplotlib -c conda-forge The goal is to do 2.2.0 final around Mar. 2, please test these out and report bugs this week and next! mpl2.2 will be the last feature release in the Matplotlib 2.x series and the last feature release of Matplotlib to support python 2.7 and intend to provide bug fixes to 2.2 until 2020. We are looking for someone to take the lead on maintaining the 2.2.x branch, if you are interested please reach out! The next feature release after 2.2 will be 3.0 scheduled for July-August 2018. Thank you everyone (100+) who contributed to this release! Tom