diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..088ed07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+name: 'Release tracker'
+about: Use this template to request for a new rules_java release
+title: 'Release: rules_java X.Y.Z'
+labels: ['release','P1']
+assignees:
+  - iancha1992
+  - sgowroji
+---
+
+**Link to relevant issue and/or commit:**
+
+**Other details:**
+<!-- Does this need to be updated in Bazel? -->
+<!-- Does this need to be cherry-picked into a Bazel release? -->
+<!-- Any constraints to note? -->
+
+cc @bazelbuild/triage