@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ body:
         - label: Sweep deprecations whose stated removal version has arrived (`grep -rn 'deprecated::' cuda_core/cuda`) and remove any that are due
         - label: "Finalize the doc update, including release notes (\"Note: Touching docstrings/type annotations in code is OK during code freeze, apply your best judgement!\")"
         - label: Update the docs for the new version
-        - label: Create a public release tag
+        - label: Create the release branch (`release/cuda-core-vX.Y.x`) from `main` for a minor release, or check out the existing one for a patch release
+        - label: Create a public release tag on the release branch
         - label: Wait for the tag-triggered CI run to complete, and use that run ID for release workflows (this will upload the release to PyPI)
         - label: Publish the release at https://github.com/NVIDIA/cuda-python/releases (this will trigger the conda package update)
         - label: Approve the conda-package update PR
 
@@ -142,17 +142,44 @@ built and deployed automatically by the release workflow.
 
 ---
 
+## Create the release branch
+
+Each `cuda-core` minor series has one release branch,
+`release/cuda-core-vX.Y.x`. Releases are tagged on that branch, not on
+`main`. Patch releases of the series land there too.
+
+For a minor release (`X.Y.0`), create the branch after every pre-release
+pull request has merged into `main`. Branch from the `main` commit that
+holds the final release notes:
+
+```bash
+git fetch origin main
+git push origin origin/main:refs/heads/release/cuda-core-v0.6.x
+```
+
+For a patch release (`X.Y.Z`), use the existing branch. Changes reach it
+through pull requests that cherry-pick the fixes from `main`, with
+`(cherry picked from commit ...)` trailers. The release notes for the patch
+release also go to `main`, so the docs switcher and the `latest` docs list
+them.
+
+The repository ruleset protects `release/**`: a push to an existing release
+branch needs a pull request and passing checks.
+
+---
+
 ## Create a public release tag
 
 **Warning:** Pushing a tag is a potentially irrevocable action.  Be absolutely
 certain the tag points to the correct commit before pushing.
 
 Tags should be GPG-signed. The tag name format is `cuda-core-v<VERSION>`
-(e.g. `cuda-core-v0.6.0`). The tag must point to a commit on `main`.
+(e.g. `cuda-core-v0.6.0`). The tag must point to a commit on the release
+branch.
 
 ```bash
-git checkout main
-git pull origin main
+git fetch origin release/cuda-core-v0.6.x
+git checkout --detach origin/release/cuda-core-v0.6.x
 git tag -s cuda-core-v0.6.0 -m "cuda-core v0.6.0"
 git push origin cuda-core-v0.6.0
 ```