diff --git a/config/_default/hugo.toml b/config/_default/hugo.toml
index 6a95c9bb..d49e6340 100644
--- a/config/_default/hugo.toml
+++ b/config/_default/hugo.toml
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ current_version_url = "https://spec.matrix.org/latest"
 # of the spec. CI will set these values here automatically when a release git tag (i.e `v1.5`) is created.
 # major = "1"
 # minor = "13"
-# release_date = "December 19, 2024"
 
 # User interface configuration
 [params.ui]
diff --git a/meta/releasing.md b/meta/releasing.md
index eb2c16b7..bc588592 100644
--- a/meta/releasing.md
+++ b/meta/releasing.md
@@ -72,9 +72,6 @@ release.
    # and `minor = "2"`
    major = "1"
    minor = "2"
-
-   # Today's date. Please use the format implied here for consistency.
-   release_date = "October 01, 2021"
    ```
 3. Commit the changes.
 4. Generate the changelog.
@@ -102,7 +99,6 @@ release.
     current_version_url = "https://spec.matrix.org/latest"
     # major = "1"
     # minor = "2"
-    # release_date = "October 01, 2021"
     ```
 11. Push pending commits and ensure the unstable spec updates accordingly from the
     GitHub Actions pipeline.