diff --git a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
index d42af7e7892..087dda7b5c2 100644
--- a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
+++ b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
@@ -6,12 +6,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     source:
@@ -47,15 +41,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/api
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/api
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -109,21 +94,6 @@ rules:
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod ./...
       go test -mod=mod ./...
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/client-go
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod ./...
-      go test -mod=mod ./...
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -195,12 +165,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     source:
@@ -242,19 +206,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -322,19 +273,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -398,12 +336,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kms
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kms
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -467,23 +399,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -575,27 +490,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -707,32 +601,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/sample-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -858,26 +726,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/sample-controller
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -982,29 +830,6 @@ rules:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1113,21 +938,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1203,19 +1013,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1285,21 +1082,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1376,21 +1158,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1459,12 +1226,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     source:
@@ -1493,10 +1254,6 @@ rules:
 - destination: cri-client
   branches:
   - name: master
-    source:
-      branch: master
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/cri-client
     dependencies:
     - repository: api
       branch: master
@@ -1508,6 +1265,10 @@ rules:
       branch: master
     - repository: cri-api
       branch: master
+    source:
+      branch: master
+      dirs:
+      - staging/src/k8s.io/cri-client
   library: true
 - destination: kubelet
   branches:
@@ -1531,21 +1292,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1641,21 +1387,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1737,25 +1468,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1857,29 +1569,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -1999,31 +1688,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2137,17 +1801,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2205,17 +1858,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2268,12 +1910,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     source:
@@ -2301,35 +1937,6 @@ rules:
   library: true
 - destination: legacy-cloud-providers
   branches:
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: csi-translation-lib
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: mount-utils
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2455,29 +2062,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: metrics
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2591,25 +2175,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/pod-security-admission
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kms
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/pod-security-admission
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies:
@@ -2711,23 +2276,6 @@ rules:
       branch: master
       dirs:
       - staging/src/k8s.io/dynamic-resource-allocation
-  - name: release-1.26
-    go: 1.21.11
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.26
-    - repository: kubelet
-      branch: release-1.26
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.26
-      dirs:
-      - staging/src/k8s.io/dynamic-resource-allocation
   - name: release-1.27
     go: 1.21.11
     dependencies: