diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 231ace8c768..7555de24817 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-ancestor: 2.18.0
+ancestor: 2.20.0
 releases: {}
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/66497-include_role-_from-dedup.yml b/changelogs/fragments/66497-include_role-_from-dedup.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 95497230160..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/66497-include_role-_from-dedup.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - include_role - allow host specific values in all ``*_from`` arguments (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/66497)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/81796-ansible-doc-roles.yml b/changelogs/fragments/81796-ansible-doc-roles.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3856d406427..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/81796-ansible-doc-roles.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - "ansible-doc - show ``notes``, ``seealso``, and top-level ``version_added`` for role entrypoints (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/81796)."
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85010-uri-multipart-file-on-retry.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85010-uri-multipart-file-on-retry.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d2404606889..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85010-uri-multipart-file-on-retry.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - uri - fix form-multipart file not being found when task is retried (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85009)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85217-stat-add-selinux-context.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85217-stat-add-selinux-context.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 44e32a5d90f..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85217-stat-add-selinux-context.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - stat module - add SELinux context as a return value, and add a new option to trigger this return, which is False by default. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85217).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85361-collection-name-from-path-none.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85361-collection-name-from-path-none.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4acbbe8af1a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85361-collection-name-from-path-none.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - "ansible-doc - prevent crash when scanning collections in paths that have more than one ``ansible_collections`` in it
-     (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84909, https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85361)."
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85475-fix-flush_handlers-play-tags.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85475-fix-flush_handlers-play-tags.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b4994345a4a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85475-fix-flush_handlers-play-tags.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - Fix issue where play tags prevented executing notified handlers (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85475)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85487-add-dependency-installation-to-deb822_repository.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85487-add-dependency-installation-to-deb822_repository.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3731b75f0b9..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85487-add-dependency-installation-to-deb822_repository.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - deb822_repository - Add automatic installation of the ``python3-debian`` package if it is missing by adding the parameter ``install_python_debian``
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85497-default-callback-indent.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85497-default-callback-indent.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 624c851f5a8..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85497-default-callback-indent.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - "default callback plugin - add option to configure indentation for JSON and YAML output (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85497)."
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85524-resolve-task-resolved_action-early.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85524-resolve-task-resolved_action-early.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5516837d87b..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85524-resolve-task-resolved_action-early.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - callback plugins - improve consistency accessing the Task object's resolved_action attribute.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85556-fix-pip-changed.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85556-fix-pip-changed.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 8d09a0db0b5..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85556-fix-pip-changed.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - pip - Fix pip module output so that it returns changed when the only operation is initializing a venv.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85596-hide-proto.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85596-hide-proto.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b6fb2127cf3..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85596-hide-proto.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-- >-
-  ``ansible-galaxy collection list`` - fail when none of the configured collection paths exist.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85599-fix-templating-import_tasks-parent-include.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85599-fix-templating-import_tasks-parent-include.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index c24c8531dc0..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85599-fix-templating-import_tasks-parent-include.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - import_tasks - fix templating parent include arguments.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85632-setup-logical-volume-name-uniqueness.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85632-setup-logical-volume-name-uniqueness.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 275a9db6292..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85632-setup-logical-volume-name-uniqueness.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-- >-
-  setup - added new subkey ``lvs`` within each entry of ``ansible_facts['vgs']``
-  to provide complete logical volume data scoped by volume group.
-  The top level ``lvs`` fact by comparison, deduplicates logical volume names
-  across volume groups and may be incomplete. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85632)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85638-ansible-test-validate-modules-doc-fragments.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85638-ansible-test-validate-modules-doc-fragments.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7f265d13e07..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85638-ansible-test-validate-modules-doc-fragments.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - "validate-modules sanity test - fix handling of missing doc fragments (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85638)."
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85682-rescue-flush_handlers.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85682-rescue-flush_handlers.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 115dd4b5faf..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85682-rescue-flush_handlers.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - The ``ansible_failed_task`` variable is now correctly exposed in a rescue section, even when a failing handler is triggered by the ``flush_handlers`` task in the corresponding ``block`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85682)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85743-lazy-ternary.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85743-lazy-ternary.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e6e4872e668..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85743-lazy-ternary.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - "``ternary`` filter - evaluate values lazily (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85743)"
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/85816-wsl-cache-files.yml b/changelogs/fragments/85816-wsl-cache-files.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ecf10abc6f..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/85816-wsl-cache-files.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - cache plugins - close temp cache file before moving it to fix error on WSL. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85816)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-doc-description-verbosity.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-doc-description-verbosity.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c000d995db..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-doc-description-verbosity.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-doc - Return a more verbose error message when the ``description`` field is missing.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-auth-update.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-auth-update.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index bbb611f3153..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-auth-update.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Implement new authentication methods for accessing the Ansible Core CI service.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-bootstrap-retry.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-bootstrap-retry.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index ce86a6f3f7c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-bootstrap-retry.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - ansible-test - Limit package install retries during managed remote instance bootstrapping.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-containers.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-containers.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 843a4329768..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-containers.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Update test containers.
-  - ansible-test - Update base/default containers to include Python 3.14.0.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-config.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-config.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 66a23c84f16..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-config.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
- - ansible-test - Use a consistent coverage config for all collection testing.
- - ansible-test - Always exclude the ``tests/output/`` directory from a collection's code coverage.
-   (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84244)
-
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Improve formatting of generated coverage config file.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-upgrade.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-upgrade.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 50edeeb486b..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-coverage-upgrade.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
- - ansible-test - Upgrade to ``coverage`` version 7.10.7 for Python 3.9 and later.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-14.3.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-14.3.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 26bed1f894a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-14.3.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Replace FreeBSD 14.2 with 14.3.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-bootstrap.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-bootstrap.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 39a6cc61d7d..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-freebsd-bootstrap.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Use OS packages to satisfy controller requirements on FreeBSD 13.5 during managed instance bootstrapping.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-ios.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-ios.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 671758596b2..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-ios.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Removed support for automatic provisioning of obsolete instances for network-integration tests.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-missing-dir-fix.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-missing-dir-fix.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index cc7e9b21f5f..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-missing-dir-fix.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - ansible-test - Fix a traceback that can occur when using delegation before the ansible-test temp directory is created.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-remotes.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-remotes.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 75ed942912c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-remotes.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Upgrade Fedora 41 to Fedora 42.
-  - ansible-test - Upgrade Alpine 3.21 to 3.22.
-  - ansible-test - Update Ubuntu containers.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-rhel-9.6.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-rhel-9.6.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 72aae77b96c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-rhel-9.6.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Replace RHEL 9.5 with 9.6.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements-again.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements-again.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 813d40247de..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements-again.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Update pinned sanity test requirements, including upgrading to pylint 4.0.0.
-  - ansible-test - Filter out pylint messages for invalid filenames and display a notice when doing so.
-  - ansible-test - Update astroid imports in custom pylint checkers.
-  - ansible-test - Default to Python 3.14 in the ``base`` and ``default`` test containers.
-  - ansible-test - Update pinned ``pip`` version to 25.2.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ed05f794c7..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-sanity-requirements.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-test - Update pinned sanity test requirements.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/apt_deb_install.yml b/changelogs/fragments/apt_deb_install.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f96af6c7d3..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/apt_deb_install.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-bugfixes:
-  - apt - mark dependencies installed as part of deb file installation as auto (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/78123).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/apt_repo_debug.yml b/changelogs/fragments/apt_repo_debug.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1513ec2d944..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/apt_repo_debug.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-    - apt_repository - use correct debug method to print debug message.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/blockinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml b/changelogs/fragments/blockinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d81fa104497..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/blockinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - blockinfile - add new module option ``encoding`` to support files in encodings other than UTF-8 (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85291).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/concat_coerce_none_to_empty.yml b/changelogs/fragments/concat_coerce_none_to_empty.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9fea388973a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/concat_coerce_none_to_empty.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - templating - Multi-node template results coerce embedded ``None`` nodes to empty string (instead of rendering literal ``None`` to the output).
-  - argspec validation - The ``str`` argspec type treats ``None`` values as empty string for better consistency with pre-2.19 templating conversions.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/data-loader-basedir-abspath.yml b/changelogs/fragments/data-loader-basedir-abspath.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 38097c6ffdb..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/data-loader-basedir-abspath.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-- DataLoader - Update ``DataLoader.get_basedir`` to be an abspath
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-six.yml b/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-six.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 034f1957982..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-six.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-deprecated_features:
-  - Deprecate the ``ansible.module_utils.six`` module. Use the Python standard library equivalent instead.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/deprecate_inject.yml b/changelogs/fragments/deprecate_inject.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2036ef35b5e..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/deprecate_inject.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-deprecated_features:
-- INJECT_FACTS_AS_VARS configuration currently defaults to ``True``, this is now deprecated and it will switch to ``False`` by Ansible 2.24.
-  You will only get notified if you are accessing 'injected' facts (for example, ansible_os_distribution vs ansible_facts['os_distribution']).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/display_internals.yml b/changelogs/fragments/display_internals.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b2b86e304e9..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/display_internals.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - display - Fixed reference to undefined `_DeferredWarningContext` when issuing early warnings during startup.
-    (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85886)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/dnf-remove-install_repoquery.yml b/changelogs/fragments/dnf-remove-install_repoquery.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b804acc3e0d..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/dnf-remove-install_repoquery.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - dnf/dnf5 - remove deprecated ``install_repoquery`` option.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/dnf_installroot_dir.yml b/changelogs/fragments/dnf_installroot_dir.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index dcb9bb2acdf..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/dnf_installroot_dir.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-bugfixes:
-    - dnf - Check if installroot is directory or not (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85680).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/drop-resolvelib-lt-0_8_0.yml b/changelogs/fragments/drop-resolvelib-lt-0_8_0.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 66c5a2a8c85..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/drop-resolvelib-lt-0_8_0.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - ansible-galaxy - remove support for resolvelib >= 0.5.3, < 0.8.0.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/elide_broken_conditional_result.yml b/changelogs/fragments/elide_broken_conditional_result.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 195db72155c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/elide_broken_conditional_result.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - conditionals - When displaying a broken conditional error or deprecation warning, 
-    the origin of the non-boolean result is included (if available), and the raw result is omitted.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/encrypt.yml b/changelogs/fragments/encrypt.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9507b166ed4..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/encrypt.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-removed_features:
-    - encrypt - remove deprecated passlib_or_crypt API.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/failed-when-exception.yml b/changelogs/fragments/failed-when-exception.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9affb86fc61..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/failed-when-exception.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - failed_when - When using ``failed_when`` to suppress an error, the ``exception`` key in the result is renamed to ``failed_when_suppressed_exception``.
-    This prevents the error from being displayed by callbacks after being suppressed.
-    (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85505)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fetch_file.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fetch_file.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 35c7e8412d0..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fetch_file.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-  - fetch_file - add ca_path and cookies parameter arguments (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85172).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix-displaying-delegate_to-ansible_host.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix-displaying-delegate_to-ansible_host.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 741b7379487..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fix-displaying-delegate_to-ansible_host.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - callback plugins - fix displaying the rendered ``ansible_host`` variable with ``delegate_to`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84922).
-  - ssh connection - fix documented variables for the ``host`` option. Connection options can be configured with delegated variables in general.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix-fetch-return-file.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix-fetch-return-file.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 003895d22c4..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fix-fetch-return-file.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - fetch - also return ``file`` in the result when changed is ``True`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85729).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix-listing-nested-filter-and-test-plugins.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix-listing-nested-filter-and-test-plugins.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e0115445635..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fix-listing-nested-filter-and-test-plugins.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - ansible-doc --list/--list_files/--metadata-dump - fixed relative imports in nested filter/test plugin files (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85753).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix-signal-propagation.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix-signal-propagation.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b646a571bdb..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fix-signal-propagation.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-- SIGINT/SIGTERM Handling - Make SIGINT/SIGTERM handling more robust by splitting concerns
-  between forks and the parent.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix_script_error.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix_script_error.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index dd45c3f0940..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/fix_script_error.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - script inventory plugin will now show correct 'incorrect' type when doing implicit conversions on groups.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/galaxy-use-import-task-url.yml b/changelogs/fragments/galaxy-use-import-task-url.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index f557e67e8ce..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/galaxy-use-import-task-url.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-- ansible-galaxy - Use the provided import task url, instead of parsing to get the task id and reconstructing the URL
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/getattr_marker_access.yml b/changelogs/fragments/getattr_marker_access.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d23ec5f9341..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/getattr_marker_access.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - templating - Undefined marker values sourced from the Jinja ``getattr->getitem`` fallback are now accessed correctly,
-    raising AnsibleUndefinedVariable for user plugins that do not understand markers.
-    Previously, these values were erroneously returned to user plugin code that had not opted in to marker acceptance.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/hide_proto.yml b/changelogs/fragments/hide_proto.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 6159156d047..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/hide_proto.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - ansible-galaxy no longer shows the internal protomatter collection when listing.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-dont-readd-tags.yml b/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-dont-readd-tags.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 506e56a00fc..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-dont-readd-tags.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - Do not re-add ``tags`` on blocks from within ``import_tasks``.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-fixes.yml b/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-fixes.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index cd5d56b0ba3..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/import_tasks-fixes.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - Fix traceback when trying to import non-existing file via nested ``import_tasks`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/69882)
-  - Fix issues with keywords being incorrectly validated on ``import_tasks`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85855, https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85856)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/include_vars.yml b/changelogs/fragments/include_vars.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index dd5d4764648..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/include_vars.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
----
-deprecated_features:
-    - include_vars - Specifying 'ignore_files' as a string is deprecated.
-minor_changes:
-    - include_vars - Raise an error if 'ignore_files' is not specified as a list.
-    - include_vars - Raise an error if 'extensions' is not specified as a list.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/known_hosts.yml b/changelogs/fragments/known_hosts.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 89363306781..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/known_hosts.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-    - known_hosts - return rc and stderr when ssh-keygen command fails for further debugging (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85850).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/known_issues_jinja_error.yml b/changelogs/fragments/known_issues_jinja_error.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 8208996a90a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/known_issues_jinja_error.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-known_issues:
-  - templating - Exceptions raised in a Jinja ``set`` or ``with`` block which are not accessed by the template are ignored in the same manner as undefined values.
-  - templating - Passing a container created in a Jinja ``set`` or ``with`` block to a method results in a copy of that container.
-    Mutations to that container which are not returned by the method will be discarded.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/lineinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml b/changelogs/fragments/lineinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 6c198dd8328..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/lineinfile-new-module-option-encoding.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - lineinfile - add new module option ``encoding`` to support files in encodings other than UTF-8 (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/84999).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/module_direct_exec.yml b/changelogs/fragments/module_direct_exec.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index edc407023d8..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/module_direct_exec.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - AnsibleModule - Add temporary internal monkeypatch-able hook to alter module result serialization by splitting serialization from ``_return_formatted`` into ``_record_module_result``.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/openrc.yml b/changelogs/fragments/openrc.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index c6d7f4a4ccf..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/openrc.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-   - service_facts - warn user about missing service details instead of ignoring.
-   - service_facts - handle keyerror exceptions with warning.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/paramiko-global-config-removal.yml b/changelogs/fragments/paramiko-global-config-removal.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 599e4c26805..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/paramiko-global-config-removal.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - paramiko - Removed the ``PARAMIKO_HOST_KEY_AUTO_ADD`` and ``PARAMIKO_LOOK_FOR_KEYS`` configuration keys, which were previously deprecated.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/password_hash_encrypt.yml b/changelogs/fragments/password_hash_encrypt.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5cbdfa7c053..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/password_hash_encrypt.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-  - encrypt - check datatype of salt_size in password_hash filter.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/play-argument-spec-validation.yml b/changelogs/fragments/play-argument-spec-validation.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4aa553ae7d1..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/play-argument-spec-validation.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-- >-
-  Add tech preview play argument spec validation, which can be
-  enabled by setting the play keyword ``validate_argspec`` to ``True``
-  or the name of an argument spec.
-  When ``validate_argspec`` is set to ``True``, a play ``name`` is
-  required and used as the argument spec name.
-  When enabled, the argument spec is loaded from a file matching the
-  pattern <playbook_name>.meta.yml.
-  At minimum, this file should contain ``{"argument_specs": {"name": {"options": {}}}}``,
-  where "name" is the name of the play or configured argument spec.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/plugins_fix_origin.yml b/changelogs/fragments/plugins_fix_origin.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 55d5b23228c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/plugins_fix_origin.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - plugins config, get_option_and_origin now correctly displays the value and origin of the option.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/powershell-quoting.yml b/changelogs/fragments/powershell-quoting.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b539f8ab7e2..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/powershell-quoting.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-breaking_changes:
-  - >-
-      powershell - Removed code that tried to remote quotes from paths when performing Windows operations like copying
-      and fetching file. This should not affect normal playbooks unless a value is quoted too many times.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/python-support.yml b/changelogs/fragments/python-support.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 437bfbb66e6..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/python-support.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-major_changes:
-  - ansible - Add support for Python 3.14.
-  - ansible - Drop support for Python 3.8 on targets.
-  - ansible - Drop support for Python 3.11 on the controller.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/regex_test.yml b/changelogs/fragments/regex_test.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 64ec5e358aa..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/regex_test.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-    - regex - Document the match_type fullmatch.
-    - regex - Ensure that match_type is one of match, fullmatch, or search (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85629).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/remove-role-entrypoint-attrs.yml b/changelogs/fragments/remove-role-entrypoint-attrs.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 97168e884b8..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/remove-role-entrypoint-attrs.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - "ansible-doc - role entrypoint attributes are no longer shown"
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/remove-v2-galaxy-api.yml b/changelogs/fragments/remove-v2-galaxy-api.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d173aea7430..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/remove-v2-galaxy-api.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-- ansible-galaxy - removed the v2 Galaxy server API. Galaxy servers hosting collections must support v3.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/remove_hash_params.yml b/changelogs/fragments/remove_hash_params.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index bc9e28c6f9c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/remove_hash_params.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-deprecated_features:
-  - hash_params function in roles/__init__ is being deprecated as it is not in use.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/remove_py3compat.yml b/changelogs/fragments/remove_py3compat.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2e2ad0739eb..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/remove_py3compat.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-removed_features:
-    - py3compat - remove deprecated ``py3compat.environ`` call.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/replace-update-string-comparison-method-to-unicode.yml b/changelogs/fragments/replace-update-string-comparison-method-to-unicode.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d07f65f9891..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/replace-update-string-comparison-method-to-unicode.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - replace - read/write files in text-mode as unicode chars instead of as bytes
-    and switch regex matching to unicode chars instead of bytes. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/85785).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/return_fragments.yml b/changelogs/fragments/return_fragments.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 89d8ddff158..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/return_fragments.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible-doc adds support for RETURN documentation to support doc fragment plugins
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/run_command_output_selector.yml b/changelogs/fragments/run_command_output_selector.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 22f2c968448..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/run_command_output_selector.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - run_command - Fixed premature selector unregistration on empty read from stdout/stderr that caused truncated output or hangs in rare situations.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/shell-wrap_for_exec_deprecation.yml b/changelogs/fragments/shell-wrap_for_exec_deprecation.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 89453c44608..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/shell-wrap_for_exec_deprecation.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-deprecated_features:
-  - >-
-    Deprecated the shell plugin's ``wrap_for_exec`` function. This API is not used in Ansible or any known collection
-    and is being removed to simplify the plugin API. Plugin authors should wrap their command to execute within an
-    explicit shell or other known executable.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/six_1.7.0.yml b/changelogs/fragments/six_1.7.0.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 88793085b2a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/six_1.7.0.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-    - six - bump six version from 1.16.0 to 1.17.0 (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85408).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/smart-transport-removal.yml b/changelogs/fragments/smart-transport-removal.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 15f16fc2469..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/smart-transport-removal.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - >-
-    Removed the option to set the ``DEFAULT_TRANSPORT`` configuration to ``smart`` that selects the default transport
-    as either ``ssh`` or ``paramiko`` based on the underlying platform configuraton.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/tag_u_it.yml b/changelogs/fragments/tag_u_it.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e32088e9e89..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/tag_u_it.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - tags now warn when using reserved keywords.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/template-tuple-fix.yml b/changelogs/fragments/template-tuple-fix.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e82760976d8..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/template-tuple-fix.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - templating - Fix slicing of tuples in templating (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85606).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/template_lookup_skip_finalize.yml b/changelogs/fragments/template_lookup_skip_finalize.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7cbc1dfd9cf..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/template_lookup_skip_finalize.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - template lookup - Skip finalization on the internal templating operation to allow markers to be returned and handled by, e.g. the ``default`` filter.
-    Previously, finalization tripped markers, causing an exception to end processing of the current template pipeline.
-    (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85674)
-  - templating - Avoid tripping markers within Jinja generated code.
-    (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85674)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/templating-filter-generators.yml b/changelogs/fragments/templating-filter-generators.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e0fcfe9116c..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/templating-filter-generators.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - templating - Ensure filter plugin result processing occurs under the correct call context.
-    (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85585)
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/to-text-to-bytes.yml b/changelogs/fragments/to-text-to-bytes.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2345539bb94..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/to-text-to-bytes.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - Python type hints applied to ``to_text`` and ``to_bytes`` functions for better type hint interactions with code utilizing these functions.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/tqm.yml b/changelogs/fragments/tqm.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d73157a8d51..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/tqm.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
----
-bugfixes:
-    - tqm - use display.error_as_warning instead of self.warning.
-    - tqm - use display.error_as_warning instead of display.warning_as_error.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ucs.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ucs.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d1a9baf83e6..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ucs.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-   - Added Univention Corporate Server as a part of Debian OS distribution family (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85490).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/v2.21.0-initial-commit.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/v2.21.0-initial-commit.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0967ef424bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/v2.21.0-initial-commit.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/vars-remove-get_hostgroup_vars.yml b/changelogs/fragments/vars-remove-get_hostgroup_vars.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index e5218bb41eb..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/vars-remove-get_hostgroup_vars.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - >-
-    vars plugins - removed the deprecated ``get_host_vars`` or ``get_group_vars`` fallback for vars plugins that do
-    not inherit from ``BaseVarsPlugin`` and define a ``get_vars`` method.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/vars_begone.yml b/changelogs/fragments/vars_begone.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0bf8b8f43da..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/vars_begone.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-deprecated_features:
-  - vars, the internal variable cache will be removed in 2.24. This cache, once used internally exposes variables in inconsistent states, the 'vars' and 'varnames' lookups should be used instead.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/vault-vaultid-removal.yml b/changelogs/fragments/vault-vaultid-removal.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d61fad7716d..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/vault-vaultid-removal.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - "``vault``/``unvault`` filters - remove the deprecated ``vaultid`` parameter."
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/warn_reserved_tags.yml b/changelogs/fragments/warn_reserved_tags.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b21014cd330..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/warn_reserved_tags.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-minor_changes:
-  - ansible now warns if you use reserved tags that were only meant for selection and not for use in play.
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/win_async-junk-output.yml b/changelogs/fragments/win_async-junk-output.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index d6616e4548a..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/win_async-junk-output.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-bugfixes:
-  - >-
-    Windows async - Handle running PowerShell modules with trailing data after the module result
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/wrapt_1.17.2.yml b/changelogs/fragments/wrapt_1.17.2.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 749a5ad63c6..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/wrapt_1.17.2.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
----
-minor_changes:
-    - wrapt - bump version from 1.15.0 to 1.17.2 (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85407).
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/yum_repository-remove-keepcache.yml b/changelogs/fragments/yum_repository-remove-keepcache.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 6c6222549c7..00000000000
--- a/changelogs/fragments/yum_repository-remove-keepcache.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-removed_features:
-  - yum_repository - remove deprecated ``keepcache`` option.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index e2c5b5fca3c..68d051d79f9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.20.0.dev0'
+__version__ = '2.21.0.dev0'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
-__codename__ = "Good Times Bad Times"
+__codename__ = "TBD"
diff --git a/test/sanity/ignore.txt b/test/sanity/ignore.txt
index 65d370587e7..00ebe672a0d 100644
--- a/test/sanity/ignore.txt
+++ b/test/sanity/ignore.txt
@@ -233,3 +233,14 @@ test/integration/targets/ansible-test-sanity-pylint/deprecated_thing.py pylint:a
 test/integration/targets/ansible-test-sanity-pylint/deprecated_thing.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-date-not-permitted  # required to verify plugin against core
 test/integration/targets/ansible-test-sanity-pylint/deprecated_thing.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-unnecessary-collection-name  # required to verify plugin against core
 test/integration/targets/ansible-test-sanity-pylint/deprecated_thing.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-collection-name-not-permitted  # required to verify plugin against core
+lib/ansible/executor/interpreter_discovery.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version-comment  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/common/process.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/common/validation.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/compat/datetime.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/module_utils/compat/paramiko.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/plugins/connection/paramiko_ssh.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py pylint:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+lib/ansible/modules/git.py validate-modules:ansible-deprecated-version  # TODO: 2.21
+.github/RELEASE_NAMES.txt release-names  # TODO: 2.21