DOC: Plans for 2.7 (#20540)

Author: TomAugspurger

doc/source/install.rst

@@ -15,6 +15,31 @@ Instructions for installing from source,
 `PyPI <http://pypi.python.org/pypi/pandas>`__, `ActivePython <https://www.activestate.com/activepython/downloads>`__, various Linux distributions, or a
 `development version <http://github.com/pandas-dev/pandas>`__ are also provided.
 
+.. _install.dropping_27
+
+Plan for dropping Python 2.7
+----------------------------
+
+The Python core team plans to stop supporting Python 2.7 on January 1st, 2020.
+In line with `NumPy's plans`_, all pandas releases through December 31, 2018
+will support Python 2.
+
+The final release before **December 31, 2018** will be the last release to
+support Python 2. The released package will continue to be available on
+PyPI and through conda.
+
+Starting **January 1, 2019**, all releases will be Python 3 only.
+
+If there are people interested in continued support for Python 2.7 past December
+31, 2018 (either backporting bugfixes or funding) please reach out to the
+maintainers on the issue tracker.
+
+For more information, see the `Python 3 statement`_ and the `Porting to Python 3 guide`_.
+
+.. _NumPy's plans: https://github.com/numpy/numpy/blob/master/doc/neps/nep-0014-dropping-python2.7-proposal.rst#plan-for-dropping-python-27-support
+.. _Python 3 statement: http://python3statement.org/
+.. _Porting to Python 3 guide: https://docs.python.org/3/howto/pyporting.html
+
 Python version support
 ----------------------
 

doc/source/whatsnew/v0.23.0.txt

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ deprecations, new features, enhancements, and performance improvements along
 with a large number of bug fixes. We recommend that all users upgrade to this
 version.
 
+.. warning::
+
+   Starting January 1, 2019, pandas feature releases will support Python 3 only.
+   See :ref:`install.dropping_27` for more.
+
 .. _whatsnew_0230.enhancements:
 
 New features