Cardano Dijkstra Roadmap Targets Four Major Node Releases Before Hard Fork

In Brief:

• Cardano’s Dijkstra rollout separates Linear Leios and Nested Transactions from Peras, creating two phases spanning 2026 and 2027 mainnet upgrades.
• Four node releases will introduce testing features, resolve Genesis issues, support Leios, and prepare Cardano for the hard fork transition.
• DijkstraNet and MusashiNet will test separate capabilities, while governance amendments and diversity workshops support coordinated ecosystem readiness across Cardano’s infrastructure.

Cardano is preparing for four major node releases that will determine the network’s transition into the Dijkstra era. According to Intersect, these upgrades will introduce testable functionality before the hard fork.

The roadmap divides the Dijkstra rollout into two phases, allowing developers to deploy major capabilities through a measured process. Phase 1 will bring Nested Transactions and Linear Leios to mainnet before the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, Phase 2 will introduce Peras through an intra-era hard fork targeted for the second quarter of 2027. Cardano-node 11.1.1 represents the first scheduled release, with developers targeting mainnet deployment around September 7.

This version removes the legacy tracing system and resolves known Genesis issues affecting Cardano’s operational framework. Additionally, Cardano-node 11.2 will contain most Dijkstra features, giving developers an environment for structured testing. However, it will exclude Leios because those components primarily involve consensus mechanisms and block production.

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DijkstraNet Opens Testing Path for Plutus V4 and Nested Transactions

Following node 11.2, developers will launch DijkstraNet as a public environment for applications and infrastructure providers. DijkstraNet will support Plutus V4, Nested Transactions, CIP-50, and other technical features within the Dijkstra package.

At the same time, MusashiNet will evaluate Leios alongside the functionality tested separately across DijkstraNet. Cardano-node 11.3 will serve as the targeted hard fork release candidate, potentially arriving within one or two months.

Significantly, this version should contain every Dijkstra capability, including Leios, while enabling testers to cross the hard fork boundary. Cardano-node 12.0 will become the definitive hard fork software, although Intersect has not provided its final release schedule.

Governance and Testing Will Shape the Dijkstra Hard Fork Timeline

Besides software development, Cardano will host node diversity workshops in Singapore on October 6 and London during November 13–14. Governance participants can monitor proposed constitutional amendments connected with Dijkstra before those measures enter Cardano’s approval process.

Intersect placed the moderate-confidence enactment window between December 5, 2026, and January 4, 2027. The high-confidence window extends from February 24 through March 26, 2027, allowing additional testing and ecosystem coordination. Consequently, successful node releases, parallel test networks, and governance preparations will determine Cardano’s readiness for the Dijkstra hard fork.

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