Revolution! Blender Founder Ton Roosendaal Steps Down, Blender 5.0 Set for Official Release by End of 2025

Blender announcing the change of management team.  Blender Founder Ton Rosandaal is stepping  down.

The annual Blender Conference, a globally anticipated event in the computer graphics community, opened today in Amsterdam with two landmark moments in Blender’s history: a leadership transition and the dawn of a new era.

Amid resounding applause, the conference witnessed a deeply moving moment as Blender founder Ton Roosendaal announced to step down as chairman and Blender CEO per January 1st 2026. After recounting Blender’s journey from an internal tool to a world-leading open-source 3D creation suite, Ton declared he would step down from day-to-day management at the Blender Foundation.

“Blender is no longer just a ‘project’—it has become an ecosystem, a shared home for developers, artists, enterprises, and community members worldwide,” Ton stated during his address. “To ensure this ecosystem evolves in a healthier, more independent manner, it’s time to pass leadership to a team that better represents its breadth and depth.”

Ton Roosendaal will be honored with the title of “Founder and Chairman Emeritus,” focusing his future efforts on strategic advisory roles and cutting-edge technology research. Following the announcement, the entire audience rose in a prolonged standing ovation, paying tribute to the pioneer of open-source graphics for over two decades of relentless leadership and extraordinary contributions.

The Blender Foundation simultaneously unveiled a new management structure. Henceforth, Blender’s development and operations will be overseen by a diverse professional steering committee comprising experts from core development, community management, corporate partnerships, and finance. This transformation aims to ensure Blender maintains efficient, transparent, and sustainable growth amid rapid expansion.

This move is widely interpreted by the community as a sign of Blender’s maturation, transitioning from a project driven by a charismatic leader to a mature open-source organization supported by community consensus and professional management.\

Then, the conference delivered another explosive announcement: Blender 5.0 is officially confirmed for release by the end of 2025!

Although official details remain limited, teasers and presentations by core developers outlined an exciting vision. Blender 5.0 is expected to be a major update focusing on:

1. Fully Optimized User Experience: A modernized UI/UX redesign aimed at lowering the learning curve for newcomers while enhancing workflow efficiency for power users.
2. Next-Generation Viewport & Real-Time Rendering: Leveraging modern GPU hardware for stronger viewport performance, higher-quality real-time material and lighting previews, making the creative process more intuitive and seamless.
3. AI-Powered Creation Workflow: Deep integration of AI-assisted tools is inevitable. Blender 5.0 is anticipated to introduce AI in texture generation, model optimization, animation assistance, and even conceptual creativity, significantly boosting artist productivity.
4. Core Engine Upgrade: Continued enhancement and consolidation of foundational technologies like geometry nodes, animation systems, and simulations (fluids, rigid bodies), providing a more robust technical base for complex future projects.

Throughout the conference, the word “gratitude” was repeatedly emphasized. A representative of Blender’s new management team stated: “Without the unwavering support of the global Blender community, Blender would not be where it is today. From code contributions and bug reports to tutorial creation and donations, every participant has helped build this miracle. Blender 5.0 will be our latest gift to this incredible community.”

Live report from AWNCHINA.cn at the Blender Conference in Amsterdam. AWNCHINA.CN IS ONE of the key sponsors at the Blender conference