diff --git a/.github/renovate.json b/.github/renovate.json
index dab5a592..7f35bf0c 100644
--- a/.github/renovate.json
+++ b/.github/renovate.json
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   ],
   "baseBranches": [
     "main",
+    "/^release-1\\..*/",
     "/^1\\..*\\.x/"
   ],
   "constraints": {
@@ -71,9 +72,9 @@
       ]
     },
     {
-      "description": "k8s go: patch updates only in 1.y.x (suspended till UBI w/ go 1.22)",
+      "description": "k8s go: patch updates only in 1.y (suspended till UBI w/ go 1.22)",
       "enabled": false,
-      "groupName": "k8s-go 1.y.x",
+      "groupName": "k8s-go 1.y",
       "matchDatasources": [
         "go"
       ],
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@
         "patch"
       ],
       "baseBranches": [
+        "/^release-1\\..*/",
         "/^1\\..*\\.x/"
       ],
       "automerge": false,
@@ -112,9 +114,9 @@
       ]
     },
     {
-      "description": "ginkgo: patch updates only in 1.y.x",
+      "description": "ginkgo: patch updates only in 1.y",
       "enabled": true,
-      "groupName": "ginkgo 1.y.x",
+      "groupName": "ginkgo 1.y",
       "matchDatasources": [
         "go"
       ],
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@
         "patch"
       ],
       "baseBranches": [
+        "/^release-1\\..*/",
         "/^1\\..*\\.x/"
       ],
       "automerge": false,
@@ -149,9 +152,9 @@
       ]
     },
     {
-      "description": "gomega: patch updates only in 1.y.x",
+      "description": "gomega: patch updates only in 1.y",
       "enabled": true,
-      "groupName": "gomega 1.y.x",
+      "groupName": "gomega 1.y",
       "matchDatasources": [
         "go"
       ],
@@ -159,6 +162,7 @@
         "patch"
       ],
       "baseBranches": [
+        "/^release-1\\..*/",
         "/^1\\..*\\.x/"
       ],
       "automerge": false,
diff --git a/.github/workflows/next-container-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/next-container-build.yaml
index 47810f15..3ac19158 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/next-container-build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/next-container-build.yaml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-# for main branch, use next tags; for 1.x branches, use :latest tags
+# for main branch, use next tags; for 1.y branches, use :latest tags
 name: Build and push operator, bundle, and catalog images
 
 on:
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ on:
       - main
       - rhdh-1.[0-9]+
       - 1.[0-9]+.x
+      - release-1.[0-9]+
 
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
 
           export CONTAINER_ENGINE=podman
           latestNext="next"
-          # for main branch, use next tags; for 1.x branches, use :latest tags
+          # for main branch, use next tags; for 1.y branches, use :latest tags
           if [[ $(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD) != "main" ]]; then
             latestNext="latest" 
           fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml b/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
index b04c2658..d477716d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly.yaml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        branch: [ main, 1.3.x, 1.2.x, 1.1.x ]
+        branch: [ main, release-1.3, 1.2.x, 1.1.x ]
         test_upgrade: [ 'true', 'false' ]
         exclude:
           - branch: 1.1.x # Testing upgrade from 1.1.x
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-bundle-diff-checks.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr-bundle-diff-checks.yaml
index f58fb2a0..5fe7a19b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-bundle-diff-checks.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-bundle-diff-checks.yaml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ on:
     - main
     - rhdh-1.[0-9]+
     - 1.[0-9]+.x
+    - release-1.[0-9]+
 
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.number }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-container-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr-container-build.yaml
index cb1af305..1857142a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-container-build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-container-build.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ on:
       - main
       - rhdh-1.[0-9]+
       - 1.[0-9]+.x
+      - release-1.[0-9]+
 
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.event.number || github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
index 27675de6..9978a325 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ on:
     - main
     - rhdh-1.[0-9]+
     - 1.[0-9]+.x
+    - release-1.[0-9]+
 
 jobs:
   pr-validate: