diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 1049b873b..2988a4b72 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -74,4 +74,5 @@ jobs:
           [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/2.5.5 ] && echo 'docs for 2.5.5 exists'
           [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/2.5.6 ] && echo 'docs for 2.5.6 exists'
           [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/2.5.6.1 ] && echo 'docs for 2.5.6.1 exists'
-          [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/2.5.7 ] && echo 'docs for 2.5.7 exists'
\ No newline at end of file
+          [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/2.5.7 ] && echo 'docs for 2.5.7 exists'
+          [ -d target/opennlp-site/docs/3.0.0-M1 ] && echo 'docs for 3.0.0-M1 exists'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c5a11d364..bd733efcf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,11 +26,14 @@ Welcome to OpenNLP Site Source Code
 
 #### Build
 
-`mvn clean install`
+```bash
+mvn clean install`
+```
 
 #### Test Site locally - starts a web server on Port 8080
-`mvn clean package jbake:inline -Djbake.port=8080 -Djbake.listenAddress=0.0.0.0`
-
+```bash
+mvn clean package jbake:inline -Djbake.port=8080 -Djbake.listenAddress=0.0.0.0
+```
 #### Build Bot
 
 Website is build via ASF BuildBot. You find it [here](https://ci.apache.org/).
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index b13e369a5..69c3718f8 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -593,6 +593,16 @@
                       <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/distr/2.5.7</outputDirectory>
                       <excludes>**/lib/**/*</excludes>
                   </artifactItem>
+                  <artifactItem>
+                      <groupId>org.apache.opennlp</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>opennlp-distr</artifactId>
+                      <version>3.0.0-M1</version>
+                      <overWrite>false</overWrite>
+                      <type>zip</type>
+                      <classifier>bin</classifier>
+                      <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/distr/3.0.0-M1</outputDirectory>
+                      <excludes>**/lib/**/*</excludes>
+                  </artifactItem>
               </artifactItems>
             </configuration>
           </execution>
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/assets/doap_opennlp.rdf b/src/main/jbake/assets/doap_opennlp.rdf
index 4814b7403..475dff35b 100644
--- a/src/main/jbake/assets/doap_opennlp.rdf
+++ b/src/main/jbake/assets/doap_opennlp.rdf
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
     <release>
       <Version>
         <name>Apache OpenNLP</name>
-        <created>2025-12-11</created>
-        <revision>2.5.7</revision>
+        <created>2026-02-23</created>
+        <revision>3.0.0-M1</revision>
       </Version>
     </release>
     <repository>
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/docs/index.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/docs/index.ad
index 478294eb2..d12552a05 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/docs/index.ad
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/docs/index.ad
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@ The manual explains how the various OpenNLP components can be used and trained.
 
 NOTE: All the documentation is also included in the binary distribution.
 
+== Apache OpenNLP {opennlp_3x_version} documentation
+
+* link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/manual/opennlp.html[Apache OpenNLP Manual]
+* link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/opennlp.pdf[Apache OpenNLP PDF Manual]
+* link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/apidocs/opennlp-tools/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Tools Javadoc]
+// FIXME: Current M1 artifact only contains tools javadoc - see https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/OPENNLP-1803
+// * link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/apidocs/opennlp-tools-models/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Tools Models Javadoc]
+// * link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/apidocs/opennlp-uima/index.html[Apache OpenNLP UIMA Javadoc]
+// * link:/docs/{opennlp_3x_version}/apidocs/opennlp-morfologik-addon/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Morfologik Addon Javadoc]
+
 == Apache OpenNLP {opennlp_version} documentation
 
 * link:/docs/{opennlp_version}/manual/opennlp.html[Apache OpenNLP Manual]
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/docs/legacy.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/docs/legacy.ad
index 41bb212ce..d9623570c 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/docs/legacy.ad
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/docs/legacy.ad
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ WARNING: This page contains the archived documentation. Please refer to link:/do
 There exists a manual and Javadoc API documentation for Apache OpenNLP. The manual
 explains how the various OpenNLP components can be used and trained.
 
+== Apache OpenNLP 2.5.7 documentation
+* link:/docs/2.5.7/manual/opennlp.html[Apache OpenNLP Manual]
+* link:/docs/2.5.7/apidocs/opennlp-tools/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Tools Javadoc]
+* link:/docs/2.5.7/apidocs/opennlp-tools-models/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Tools Models Javadoc]
+* link:/docs/2.5.7/apidocs/opennlp-uima/index.html[Apache OpenNLP UIMA Javadoc]
+* link:/docs/2.5.7/apidocs/opennlp-morfologik-addon/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Morfologik Addon Javadoc]
+
 == Apache OpenNLP 2.5.6.1 documentation
 * link:/docs/2.5.6.1/manual/opennlp.html[Apache OpenNLP Manual]
 * link:/docs/2.5.6.1/apidocs/opennlp-tools/index.html[Apache OpenNLP Tools Javadoc]
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/download.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/download.ad
index c2af9b8b6..c7f52abce 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/download.ad
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/download.ad
@@ -24,14 +24,40 @@
 :toc:
 :toc-title: Content
 
-== Latest Official Release
+== Official Releases
 
-Apache OpenNLP {opennlp_version} is now available for download.
+Apache OpenNLP {opennlp_3x_version} and {opennlp_version} are now available for download.
 
 IMPORTANT: Please note that the _tar.gz_ archive contains file names longer than 100 characters and has
 been created using https://www.gnu.org/software/tar/[GNU tar,window=_blank] extensions.
 It must be untarred with a GNU compatible version of tar.
 
+
+=== 3.x Series
+
+[options="header"]
+|===
+|.tar.gz | .zip
+
+| https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.tar.gz[apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.tar.gz]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.tar.gz.sha512[sha512]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.tar.gz.asc[asc]
+
+| https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.zip[apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.zip]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.zip.sha512[sha512]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-bin.zip.asc[asc]
+
+| https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.tar.gz[apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.tar.gz]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.tar.gz.sha512[sha512]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.tar.gz.asc[asc]
+
+| https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.zip[apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.zip]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.zip.sha512[sha512]
+https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}/apache-opennlp-{opennlp_3x_version}-src.zip.asc[asc]
+|===
+
+=== 2.x Series
+
 [options="header"]
 |===
 |.tar.gz | .zip
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/gradle-dependency.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/gradle-dependency.ad
index 316345df5..48c9818e1 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/gradle-dependency.ad
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/gradle-dependency.ad
@@ -30,7 +30,21 @@ The Apache OpenNLP project publishes the library, javadoc and source code jars.
 To use OpenNLP in your https://gradle.org[Gradle,window=_blank] project, specify exactly one of the following dependencies,
 all transient dependencies are resolved automatically.
 
-== Latest Release
+
+== 3.x Series
+
+To use OpenNLP as a library define the following dependency:
+
+[source,xml,indent=0,subs=attributes+]
+----
+compile group: "org.apache.opennlp", name: "opennlp-runtime", version: "${opennlp_3x_version}"
+compile group: "org.apache.opennlp", name: "opennlp-models", version: "${opennlp_3x_version}"
+----
+
+Only opennlp-runtime needs to be added as a dependency, and you can add additional modules
+(e.g. opennlp-ml-maxent, opennlp-models, etc.) as required by your project.
+
+== 2.x Series
 === OpenNLP Tools Dependency
 
 To use the OpenNLP Tools define the following dependency:
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/maven-dependency.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/maven-dependency.ad
index c6bb086a7..f39dd3b40 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/maven-dependency.ad
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/maven-dependency.ad
@@ -30,7 +30,29 @@ The Apache OpenNLP project publishes the library, javadoc and source code jars.
 To use OpenNLP in your https://maven.apache.org[Maven,window=_blank] project, specify exactly one of the following dependencies,
 all transient dependencies are resolved automatically.
 
-== Latest Release
+== 3.x Series
+
+To use OpenNLP as a library define the following dependency:
+
+[source,xml,indent=0,subs=attributes+]
+----
+<dependency>
+    <groupId>org.apache.opennlp</groupId>
+    <artifactId>opennlp-runtime</artifactId>
+    <version>${opennlp_3x_version}</version>
+</dependency>
+<!-- if model support is needed -->
+<dependency>
+    <groupId>org.apache.opennlp</groupId>
+    <artifactId>opennlp-models</artifactId>
+    <version>${opennlp_3x_version}</version>
+</dependency>
+----
+
+Only opennlp-runtime needs to be added as a dependency, and you can add additional modules
+(e.g. opennlp-ml-maxent, opennlp-models, etc.) as required by your project.
+
+== 2.x Series
 === OpenNLP Tools Dependency
 To use the OpenNLP Tools define the following dependency:
 
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/news/index.html b/src/main/jbake/content/news/index.html
index 622877ab0..0c1c6a10c 100644
--- a/src/main/jbake/content/news/index.html
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/news/index.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 title=News
-date=2025-12-11
+date=2026-02-23
 type=news
 status=published
 ~~~~~~
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/content/news/release-300-M1.ad b/src/main/jbake/content/news/release-300-M1.ad
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cfd0a567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/jbake/content/news/release-300-M1.ad
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+////
+   Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+   or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+   distributed with this work for additional information
+   regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+   to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+   "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+   with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+   software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+   "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+   KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+   specific language governing permissions and limitations
+   under the License.
+////
+= Apache OpenNLP 3.0.0-M1 released
+Apache OpenNLP
+2026-02-23
+:jbake-type: post
+:jbake-tags: community
+:jbake-status: published
+:category: news
+:idprefix:
+
+The Apache OpenNLP team is pleased to announce the release of Apache OpenNLP 3.0.0-M1.
+
+The Apache OpenNLP library is a machine learning based toolkit for the processing of natural language text.
+
+It supports the most common NLP tasks, such as tokenization, sentence segmentation, part-of-speech tagging, named entity extraction, chunking, parsing, and coreference resolution.
+
+Apache OpenNLP 3.0.0-M1 binary and source distributions are available for download from our link:/download.html[download page].
+
+The OpenNLP library is distributed by Maven Central as well. See the link:/maven-dependency.html[Maven dependency] page for more details.
+
+== What's new in Apache OpenNLP 3.0.0-M1
+
+The 3.x release line of Apache OpenNLP introduces no known breaking changes while significantly modularizing the project to improve library usage and future extensibility.
+The core API remains stable and fully compatible with 2.x, so existing projects can continue using the opennlp-tools artifact without modifications.
+
+Key Highlights and Recommendations:
+
+* Modularization: The project is now organized into multiple modules:
+* opennlp-api, opennlp-core, opennlp-cli, opennlp-extensions, ML modules (e.g., opennlp-ml-maxent, opennlp-ml-perceptron), and more.
+* Users can include only the modules needed, reducing dependency footprint.
+* Only opennlp-runtime is mandatory for basic functionality.
+* CLI Stability: Existing command-line usage remains unchanged.
+
+For further details, check the full list of link:https://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa?projectId=12311215&version=12355662[changes,role=external,window=_blank] via the project's issue tracker.
+
+== Migrating from 2.x to 3.x
+
+The 3.x release line of Apache OpenNLP introduces no known breaking changes but modularizes the project for better usage as a library and to support future extensibility. The core API remains stable and compatible with 2.x, but the project structure has been reorganized into multiple modules.
+
+That means, that you can continue to use the previous opennlp-tools artifact as a dependency. However, we strongly recommend to switch to the new modular structure and import only the components you need, which will result in a smaller dependency footprint.
+
+Only opennlp-runtime needs to be added as a dependency, and you can add additional modules (e.g. opennlp-ml-maxent, opennlp-models, etc.) as required by your project. For users of the traditional CLI toolkit, nothing changes with the 3.x release line. CLI usage remains stable
+
+--The Apache OpenNLP Team
diff --git a/src/main/jbake/jbake.properties b/src/main/jbake/jbake.properties
index a72ef789c..759ec0704 100755
--- a/src/main/jbake/jbake.properties
+++ b/src/main/jbake/jbake.properties
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ template.news.file=news.ftl
 asciidoctor.attributes.export=true
 asciidoctor.attributes.export.prefix=
 opennlp.version=2.5.7
-opennlp.next.version=2.5.8-SNAPSHOT
+opennlp.3x.version=3.0.0-M1
+opennlp.next.version=3.0.0-SNAPSHOT
 opennlp.models=ud-models-1.3
 opennlp.downloads=https://downloads.apache.org/opennlp/models
 ud.version=2.16
\ No newline at end of file