diff --git a/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/2042.clarification b/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/2042.clarification
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4abe8e4e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/2042.clarification
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Remove unused `release_date` from Hugo config.
diff --git a/config/_default/hugo.toml b/config/_default/hugo.toml
index 6a95c9bba..84362b3b5 100644
--- a/config/_default/hugo.toml
+++ b/config/_default/hugo.toml
@@ -65,10 +65,9 @@ status = "unstable"
 # A URL pointing to the latest, stable release of the spec. To be shown in the unstable version warning banner.
 current_version_url = "https://spec.matrix.org/latest"
 # The following is used when status = "stable", and is displayed in various UI elements on a released version
-# of the spec. CI will set these values here automatically when a release git tag (i.e `v1.5`) is created.
+# of the spec.
 # 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 273e4eaad..f64ee3540 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.
@@ -103,7 +100,6 @@ 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.