diff --git a/docs/api-commands.md b/docs/api-commands.md
index cf592fcf4164..1468d8d92d2b 100644
--- a/docs/api-commands.md
+++ b/docs/api-commands.md
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ Alias: `build`.
 | Options                    | Default | Description                                                                                                           |
 | -------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `--skip-image-compression` | `false` | Skip compression of image assets. You usually won't want to skip this unless your images have already been optimized. |
+| `--skip-next-release` | `false` | Skip the next release documents when versioning is enabled. This will not build HTML files for documents in `/docs` directory.|
 
 Generates the static website, applying translations if necessary. Useful for building the website prior to deployment.
 
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/__tests__/build-files.test.js b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/__tests__/build-files.test.js
index d307cf813d69..589d433a1749 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/__tests__/build-files.test.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/__tests__/build-files.test.js
@@ -94,3 +94,20 @@ describe('Build files', () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe('Build files but skip next release', () => {
+  beforeAll(() => {
+    shell.cd('website-1.x');
+    shell.exec('yarn build --skip-next-release', {silent: true});
+  });
+
+  afterAll(() => {
+    clearBuildFolder();
+  });
+
+  test('Did not generate HTML files from markdown files for next release', () => {
+    expect(
+      glob.sync(`${buildDir}/${siteConfig.projectName}/docs/**/next`).length,
+    ).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/__tests__/start.test.js b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/__tests__/start.test.js
index c394a5081c6f..5453207d92d6 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/__tests__/start.test.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/__tests__/start.test.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const siteConfig = require(`${process.cwd()}/siteConfig.js`);
 // siteConfig virtually.
 jest.mock(`${process.cwd()}/siteConfig.js`, () => jest.fn(), {virtual: true});
 
-jest.mock('commander');
+jest.genMockFromModule('commander');
 jest.mock('react-dev-utils/openBrowser');
 jest.mock('portfinder');
 jest.mock('../liveReloadServer.js');
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/readMetadata.js b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/readMetadata.js
index 7c2048dd44af..6878583d5ae8 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/readMetadata.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-1.x/lib/server/readMetadata.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const CWD = process.cwd();
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const glob = require('glob');
+const program = require('commander');
 
 const metadataUtils = require('./metadataUtils');
 
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ const SupportedHeaderFields = new Set([
   'custom_edit_url',
 ]);
 
+program.option('--skip-next-release').parse(process.argv);
+
 let allSidebars;
 if (fs.existsSync(`${CWD}/sidebars.json`)) {
   allSidebars = require(`${CWD}/sidebars.json`);
@@ -54,6 +57,14 @@ function getDocsPath() {
   return siteConfig.customDocsPath ? siteConfig.customDocsPath : 'docs';
 }
 
+function shouldGenerateNextReleaseDocs() {
+  return !(
+    env.versioning.enabled &&
+    program.name() === 'docusaurus-build' &&
+    program.skipNextRelease
+  );
+}
+
 // returns map from id to object containing sidebar ordering info
 function readSidebar(sidebars = {}) {
   Object.assign(sidebars, versionFallback.sidebarData());
@@ -220,74 +231,76 @@ function generateMetadataDocs() {
   const metadatas = {};
   const defaultMetadatas = {};
 
-  // metadata for english files
-  const docsDir = path.join(CWD, '../', getDocsPath());
-  let files = glob.sync(`${docsDir}/**`);
-  files.forEach(file => {
-    const extension = path.extname(file);
+  if (shouldGenerateNextReleaseDocs()) {
+    // metadata for english files
+    const docsDir = path.join(CWD, '../', getDocsPath());
+    let files = glob.sync(`${docsDir}/**`);
+    files.forEach(file => {
+      const extension = path.extname(file);
 
-    if (extension === '.md' || extension === '.markdown') {
-      const res = processMetadata(file, docsDir);
+      if (extension === '.md' || extension === '.markdown') {
+        const res = processMetadata(file, docsDir);
 
-      if (!res) {
-        return;
-      }
-      const metadata = res.metadata;
-      metadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
-
-      // create a default list of documents for each enabled language based on docs in English
-      // these will get replaced if/when the localized file is downloaded from crowdin
-      enabledLanguages
-        .filter(currentLanguage => currentLanguage !== 'en')
-        .forEach(currentLanguage => {
-          const baseMetadata = Object.assign({}, metadata);
-          baseMetadata.id = baseMetadata.id
-            .toString()
-            .replace(/^en-/, `${currentLanguage}-`);
-          if (baseMetadata.permalink) {
-            baseMetadata.permalink = baseMetadata.permalink
-              .toString()
-              .replace(
-                new RegExp(`^${docsPart}en/`),
-                `${docsPart}${currentLanguage}/`,
-              );
-          }
-          if (baseMetadata.next) {
-            baseMetadata.next = baseMetadata.next
-              .toString()
-              .replace(/^en-/, `${currentLanguage}-`);
-          }
-          if (baseMetadata.previous) {
-            baseMetadata.previous = baseMetadata.previous
+        if (!res) {
+          return;
+        }
+        const metadata = res.metadata;
+        metadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
+
+        // create a default list of documents for each enabled language based on docs in English
+        // these will get replaced if/when the localized file is downloaded from crowdin
+        enabledLanguages
+          .filter(currentLanguage => currentLanguage !== 'en')
+          .forEach(currentLanguage => {
+            const baseMetadata = Object.assign({}, metadata);
+            baseMetadata.id = baseMetadata.id
               .toString()
               .replace(/^en-/, `${currentLanguage}-`);
-          }
-          baseMetadata.language = currentLanguage;
-          defaultMetadatas[baseMetadata.id] = baseMetadata;
-        });
-      Object.assign(metadatas, defaultMetadatas);
-    }
-  });
+            if (baseMetadata.permalink) {
+              baseMetadata.permalink = baseMetadata.permalink
+                .toString()
+                .replace(
+                  new RegExp(`^${docsPart}en/`),
+                  `${docsPart}${currentLanguage}/`,
+                );
+            }
+            if (baseMetadata.next) {
+              baseMetadata.next = baseMetadata.next
+                .toString()
+                .replace(/^en-/, `${currentLanguage}-`);
+            }
+            if (baseMetadata.previous) {
+              baseMetadata.previous = baseMetadata.previous
+                .toString()
+                .replace(/^en-/, `${currentLanguage}-`);
+            }
+            baseMetadata.language = currentLanguage;
+            defaultMetadatas[baseMetadata.id] = baseMetadata;
+          });
+        Object.assign(metadatas, defaultMetadatas);
+      }
+    });
 
-  // metadata for non-english docs
-  const translatedDir = path.join(CWD, 'translated_docs');
-  files = glob.sync(`${CWD}/translated_docs/**`);
-  files.forEach(file => {
-    if (!utils.getLanguage(file, translatedDir)) {
-      return;
-    }
+    // metadata for non-english docs
+    const translatedDir = path.join(CWD, 'translated_docs');
+    files = glob.sync(`${CWD}/translated_docs/**`);
+    files.forEach(file => {
+      if (!utils.getLanguage(file, translatedDir)) {
+        return;
+      }
 
-    const extension = path.extname(file);
+      const extension = path.extname(file);
 
-    if (extension === '.md' || extension === '.markdown') {
-      const res = processMetadata(file, translatedDir);
-      if (!res) {
-        return;
+      if (extension === '.md' || extension === '.markdown') {
+        const res = processMetadata(file, translatedDir);
+        if (!res) {
+          return;
+        }
+        const metadata = res.metadata;
+        metadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
       }
-      const metadata = res.metadata;
-      metadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
-    }
-  });
+    });
+  }
 
   // metadata for versioned docs
   const versionData = versionFallback.docData();
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/bin/docusaurus.js b/packages/docusaurus/bin/docusaurus.js
index 49d68f003240..e50412652c69 100755
--- a/packages/docusaurus/bin/docusaurus.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/bin/docusaurus.js
@@ -45,8 +45,12 @@ program
     '-sic, --skip-image-compression <skipImageCompression>',
     'Skip compression of image assets (default: false)',
   )
-  .action((siteDir = '.', {skipImageCompression}) => {
-    wrapCommand(build)(path.resolve(siteDir), {skipImageCompression});
+  .option('--skip-next-release', 'Skip documents from next release')
+  .action((siteDir = '.', {skipImageCompression, skipNextRelease}) => {
+    wrapCommand(build)(path.resolve(siteDir), {
+      skipImageCompression,
+      skipNextRelease,
+    });
   });
 
 program
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/lib/commands/build.js b/packages/docusaurus/lib/commands/build.js
index f7f989f4c1a5..b3e9d9b5f7c1 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/lib/commands/build.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/lib/commands/build.js
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ function compile(config) {
   });
 }
 
-module.exports = async function build(siteDir) {
+module.exports = async function build(siteDir, options) {
   process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production';
   console.log('Build command invoked ...');
 
-  const props = await load(siteDir);
+  const props = await load(siteDir, options.skipNextRelease);
 
   // Apply user webpack config.
   const {outDir, plugins} = props;
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/docs/index.js b/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/docs/index.js
index 88b976816430..0b3757cacacf 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/docs/index.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/docs/index.js
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ const createOrder = require('./order');
 const loadSidebars = require('./sidebars');
 const processMetadata = require('./metadata');
 
-async function loadDocs({siteDir, docsDir, env, siteConfig}) {
+async function loadDocs(
+  {siteDir, docsDir, env, siteConfig},
+  skipNextRelease = false,
+) {
   // @tested - load all sidebars including versioned sidebars
   const docsSidebars = loadSidebars({siteDir, env});
 
@@ -33,30 +36,34 @@ async function loadDocs({siteDir, docsDir, env, siteConfig}) {
   // Prepare metadata container.
   const docsMetadatas = {};
 
-  // Metadata for default docs files.
-  const docsFiles = await globby(['**/*.md'], {
-    cwd: docsDir,
-  });
-  await Promise.all(
-    docsFiles.map(async source => {
-      // Do not allow reserved version/ translated folder name in 'docs'
-      // e.g: 'docs/version-1.0.0/' should not be allowed as it can cause unwanted bug
-      const subFolder = getSubFolder(path.resolve(docsDir, source), docsDir);
-      const versionsFolders = versions.map(version => `version-${version}`);
-      if ([...enabledLangTags, ...versionsFolders].includes(subFolder)) {
-        throw new Error(`You cannot have a folder named 'docs/${subFolder}/'`);
-      }
+  if (!(versioningEnabled && skipNextRelease)) {
+    // Metadata for default docs files.
+    const docsFiles = await globby(['**/*.md'], {
+      cwd: docsDir,
+    });
+    await Promise.all(
+      docsFiles.map(async source => {
+        // Do not allow reserved version/ translated folder name in 'docs'
+        // e.g: 'docs/version-1.0.0/' should not be allowed as it can cause unwanted bug
+        const subFolder = getSubFolder(path.resolve(docsDir, source), docsDir);
+        const versionsFolders = versions.map(version => `version-${version}`);
+        if ([...enabledLangTags, ...versionsFolders].includes(subFolder)) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `You cannot have a folder named 'docs/${subFolder}/'`,
+          );
+        }
 
-      const metadata = await processMetadata(
-        source,
-        docsDir,
-        env,
-        order,
-        siteConfig,
-      );
-      docsMetadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
-    }),
-  );
+        const metadata = await processMetadata(
+          source,
+          docsDir,
+          env,
+          order,
+          siteConfig,
+        );
+        docsMetadatas[metadata.id] = metadata;
+      }),
+    );
+  }
 
   // Metadata for non-default-language docs.
   if (translationEnabled) {
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/index.js b/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/index.js
index 5f8d9a14c7ca..bbd7f92f0f4d 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/index.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/lib/load/index.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const loadRoutes = require('./routes');
 const loadPlugins = require('./plugins');
 const constants = require('../constants');
 
-module.exports = async function load(siteDir) {
+module.exports = async function load(siteDir, skipNextRelease = false) {
   const generatedFilesDir = path.resolve(
     siteDir,
     constants.GENERATED_FILES_DIR_NAME,
@@ -42,12 +42,15 @@ module.exports = async function load(siteDir) {
 
   // Docs
   const docsDir = path.resolve(siteDir, '..', siteConfig.customDocsPath);
-  const {docsMetadatas, docsSidebars} = await loadDocs({
-    siteDir,
-    docsDir,
-    env,
-    siteConfig,
-  });
+  const {docsMetadatas, docsSidebars} = await loadDocs(
+    {
+      siteDir,
+      docsDir,
+      env,
+      siteConfig,
+    },
+    skipNextRelease,
+  );
   await generate(
     generatedFilesDir,
     'docsMetadatas.js',
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/test/load/docs/index.test.js b/packages/docusaurus/test/load/docs/index.test.js
index 5d5d8f606358..d5113336f3bf 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/test/load/docs/index.test.js
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/test/load/docs/index.test.js
@@ -173,4 +173,28 @@ describe('loadDocs', () => {
       version: null,
     });
   });
+
+  test('versioned website with skip next release', async () => {
+    const props = await loadSetup('versioned');
+    const {siteDir, docsDir, versionedDir, env, siteConfig} = props;
+    const {docsMetadatas} = await loadDocs(
+      {siteDir, docsDir, env, siteConfig},
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(docsMetadatas['version-1.0.0-foo/bar']).toEqual({
+      category: 'Test',
+      id: 'version-1.0.0-foo/bar',
+      language: null,
+      localized_id: 'version-1.0.0-foo/bar',
+      next: 'version-1.0.0-foo/baz',
+      next_id: 'version-1.0.0-foo/baz',
+      next_title: 'Baz',
+      permalink: '/docs/1.0.0/foo/bar',
+      sidebar: 'version-1.0.0-docs',
+      source: path.join(versionedDir, 'version-1.0.0/foo/bar.md'),
+      title: 'Bar',
+      version: '1.0.0',
+    });
+    expect(docsMetadatas['foo/bar']).toBeUndefined();
+  });
 });