diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/admin/manage/privileges.json b/public/language/en-GB/admin/manage/privileges.json
index a6b39716fd..dcd49779f4 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/admin/manage/privileges.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/admin/manage/privileges.json
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 	"access-topics": "Access Topics",
 	"create-topics": "Create Topics",
 	"reply-to-topics": "Reply to Topics",
+	"schedule-topics": "Schedule Topics",
 	"tag-topics": "Tag Topics",
 	"edit-posts": "Edit Posts",
 	"view-edit-history": "View Edit History",
diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/error.json b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
index 83f1751ae4..93f34f180f 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/error.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/error.json
@@ -104,6 +104,13 @@
 	"guest-upload-disabled": "Guest uploading has been disabled",
 	"cors-error": "Unable to upload image due to misconfigured CORS",
 
+  	"scheduling-to-past": "Please select a date in the future.",
+  	"invalid-schedule-date": "Please enter a valid date and time.",
+  	"cant-pin-scheduled": "Scheduled topics cannot be (un)pinned.",
+  	"cant-merge-scheduled": "Scheduled topics cannot be merged.",
+  	"cant-move-posts-to-scheduled": "Can't move posts to a scheduled topic.",
+  	"cant-move-from-scheduled-to-existing": "Can't move posts from a scheduled topic to an existing topic.",
+
 	"already-bookmarked": "You have already bookmarked this post",
 	"already-unbookmarked": "You have already unbookmarked this post",
 
diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/modules.json b/public/language/en-GB/modules.json
index 5d8500b287..fb16c945d7 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/modules.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/modules.json
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@
 	"composer.zen_mode": "Zen Mode",
 	"composer.select_category": "Select a category",
 	"composer.textarea.placeholder": "Enter your post content here, drag and drop images",
+	"composer.schedule-for": "Schedule topic for",
+	"composer.schedule-date": "Date",
+	"composer.schedule-time": "Time",
+	"composer.cancel-scheduling": "Cancel Scheduling",
+	"composer.set-schedule-date": "Set Date",
 
 
 	"bootbox.ok": "OK",
diff --git a/public/language/en-GB/topic.json b/public/language/en-GB/topic.json
index 363e1cc5c7..11f9d2547f 100644
--- a/public/language/en-GB/topic.json
+++ b/public/language/en-GB/topic.json
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 	"locked": "Locked",
 	"pinned": "Pinned",
 	"pinned-with-expiry": "Pinned until %1",
+	"scheduled": "Scheduled",
 	"moved": "Moved",
 	"moved-from": "Moved from %1",
 	"copy-ip": "Copy IP",
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@
 	"composer.handle_placeholder": "Enter your name/handle here",
 	"composer.discard": "Discard",
 	"composer.submit": "Submit",
+	"composer.schedule": "Schedule",
 	"composer.replying_to": "Replying to %1",
 	"composer.new_topic": "New Topic",
 	"composer.editing": "Editing",
diff --git a/public/openapi/components/schemas/PostObject.yaml b/public/openapi/components/schemas/PostObject.yaml
index 5ff918cd7f..ea91579cc6 100644
--- a/public/openapi/components/schemas/PostObject.yaml
+++ b/public/openapi/components/schemas/PostObject.yaml
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ PostObject:
           type: string
         deleted:
           type: number
+        scheduled:
+          type: number
+        timestamp:
+          type: number
+        timestampISO:
+          type: string
+          description: An ISO 8601 formatted date string (complementing `timestamp`)
         postcount:
           type: number
         mainPid:
diff --git a/public/openapi/components/schemas/TopicObject.yaml b/public/openapi/components/schemas/TopicObject.yaml
index 3cb76088aa..64de19aeb8 100644
--- a/public/openapi/components/schemas/TopicObject.yaml
+++ b/public/openapi/components/schemas/TopicObject.yaml
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ TopicObjectSlim:
           type: number
         postercount:
           type: number
+        scheduled:
+          type: number
         deleted:
           type: number
         deleterUid:
diff --git a/public/openapi/read/category/category_id.yaml b/public/openapi/read/category/category_id.yaml
index 1e6ce9b637..10a8523774 100644
--- a/public/openapi/read/category/category_id.yaml
+++ b/public/openapi/read/category/category_id.yaml
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ get:
                         type: boolean
                       topics:tag:
                         type: boolean
+                      topics:schedule:
+                        type: boolean
                       read:
                         type: boolean
                       posts:view_deleted:
diff --git a/public/openapi/read/topic/topic_id.yaml b/public/openapi/read/topic/topic_id.yaml
index b013de211c..4b890143f7 100644
--- a/public/openapi/read/topic/topic_id.yaml
+++ b/public/openapi/read/topic/topic_id.yaml
@@ -335,6 +335,8 @@ get:
                         type: boolean
                       view_deleted:
                         type: boolean
+                      view_scheduled:
+                        type: boolean
                       isAdminOrMod:
                         type: boolean
                       disabled:
diff --git a/public/src/client/category/tools.js b/public/src/client/category/tools.js
index bc27ea7416..0a10cec5be 100644
--- a/public/src/client/category/tools.js
+++ b/public/src/client/category/tools.js
@@ -190,16 +190,20 @@ define('forum/category/tools', [
 		var areAllDeleted = areAll(isTopicDeleted, tids);
 		var isAnyPinned = isAny(isTopicPinned, tids);
 		var isAnyLocked = isAny(isTopicLocked, tids);
+		const isAnyScheduled = isAny(isTopicScheduled, tids);
+		const areAllScheduled = areAll(isTopicScheduled, tids);
 
 		components.get('topic/delete').toggleClass('hidden', isAnyDeleted);
-		components.get('topic/restore').toggleClass('hidden', !isAnyDeleted);
+		components.get('topic/restore').toggleClass('hidden', isAnyScheduled || !isAnyDeleted);
 		components.get('topic/purge').toggleClass('hidden', !areAllDeleted);
 
 		components.get('topic/lock').toggleClass('hidden', isAnyLocked);
 		components.get('topic/unlock').toggleClass('hidden', !isAnyLocked);
 
-		components.get('topic/pin').toggleClass('hidden', isAnyPinned);
-		components.get('topic/unpin').toggleClass('hidden', !isAnyPinned);
+		components.get('topic/pin').toggleClass('hidden', areAllScheduled || isAnyPinned);
+		components.get('topic/unpin').toggleClass('hidden', areAllScheduled || !isAnyPinned);
+
+		components.get('topic/merge').toggleClass('hidden', isAnyScheduled);
 	}
 
 	function isAny(method, tids) {
@@ -232,6 +236,10 @@ define('forum/category/tools', [
 		return getTopicEl(tid).hasClass('pinned');
 	}
 
+	function isTopicScheduled(tid) {
+		return getTopicEl(tid).hasClass('scheduled');
+	}
+
 	function getTopicEl(tid) {
 		return components.get('category/topic', 'tid', tid);
 	}
diff --git a/public/src/client/topic/move-post.js b/public/src/client/topic/move-post.js
index bcd02582ac..9c04016654 100644
--- a/public/src/client/topic/move-post.js
+++ b/public/src/client/topic/move-post.js
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ define('forum/topic/move-post', [
 					if (!data || !data.tid) {
 						return app.alertError('[[error:no-topic]]');
 					}
+					if (data.scheduled) {
+						return app.alertError('[[error:cant-move-posts-to-scheduled]]');
+					}
 					var translateStr = translator.compile('topic:x-posts-will-be-moved-to-y', postSelect.pids.length, data.title);
 					moveModal.find('#pids').translateHtml(translateStr);
 				});
diff --git a/public/src/client/topic/posts.js b/public/src/client/topic/posts.js
index 2173f50af5..a0e098266a 100644
--- a/public/src/client/topic/posts.js
+++ b/public/src/client/topic/posts.js
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ define('forum/topic/posts', [
 		data.loggedIn = !!app.user.uid;
 		data.privileges = ajaxify.data.privileges;
 
-		// prevent timeago in future by setting timestamp to 1 sec behind now
-		data.posts[0].timestamp = Date.now() - 1000;
+		// if not a scheduled topic, prevent timeago in future by setting timestamp to 1 sec behind now
+		data.posts[0].timestamp = data.posts[0].topic.scheduled ? data.posts[0].timestamp : Date.now() - 1000;
 		data.posts[0].timestampISO = utils.toISOString(data.posts[0].timestamp);
 
 		Posts.modifyPostsByPrivileges(data.posts);
diff --git a/public/src/modules/helpers.js b/public/src/modules/helpers.js
index 14e985f1e9..78fec7d112 100644
--- a/public/src/modules/helpers.js
+++ b/public/src/modules/helpers.js
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@
 			style.push('unread');
 		}
 
+		if (topic.scheduled) {
+			style.push('scheduled');
+		}
+
 		return style.join(' ');
 	}
 
diff --git a/public/src/modules/topicList.js b/public/src/modules/topicList.js
index 0ef31e53f9..c3b90bffe1 100644
--- a/public/src/modules/topicList.js
+++ b/public/src/modules/topicList.js
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ define('topicList', [
 	var loadTopicsCallback;
 	var topicListEl;
 
+	const scheduledTopics = [];
+
 	$(window).on('action:ajaxify.start', function () {
 		TopicList.removeListeners();
 		categoryTools.removeListeners();
@@ -95,54 +97,48 @@ define('topicList', [
 	};
 
 	function onNewTopic(data) {
-		if (
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids.length &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids.indexOf(parseInt(data.cid, 10)) === -1
-			) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter.filter === 'watched'
-			) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.template.category &&
-				parseInt(ajaxify.data.cid, 10) !== parseInt(data.cid, 10)
-			)
-		) {
+		const d = ajaxify.data;
+
+		const categories = d.selectedCids &&
+			d.selectedCids.length &&
+			d.selectedCids.indexOf(parseInt(data.cid, 10)) === -1;
+		const filterWatched = d.selectedFilter &&
+			d.selectedFilter.filter === 'watched';
+		const category = d.template.category &&
+			parseInt(d.cid, 10) !== parseInt(data.cid, 10);
+
+		if (categories || filterWatched || category || scheduledTopics.includes(data.tid)) {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		if (data.scheduled && data.tid) {
+			scheduledTopics.push(data.tid);
+		}
 		newTopicCount += 1;
 		updateAlertText();
 	}
 
 	function onNewPost(data) {
 		var post = data.posts[0];
-		if (!post || !post.topic) {
+		if (!post || !post.topic || post.topic.isFollowing) {
 			return;
 		}
-		if (!post.topic.isFollowing && (
-			parseInt(post.topic.mainPid, 10) === parseInt(post.pid, 10) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids.length &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedCids.indexOf(parseInt(post.topic.cid, 10)) === -1
-			) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter.filter === 'new'
-			) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter &&
-				ajaxify.data.selectedFilter.filter === 'watched' &&
-				!post.topic.isFollowing
-			) ||
-			(
-				ajaxify.data.template.category &&
-				parseInt(ajaxify.data.cid, 10) !== parseInt(post.topic.cid, 10)
-			)
-		)) {
+
+		const d = ajaxify.data;
+
+		const isMain = parseInt(post.topic.mainPid, 10) === parseInt(post.pid, 10);
+		const categories = d.selectedCids &&
+			d.selectedCids.length &&
+			d.selectedCids.indexOf(parseInt(post.topic.cid, 10)) === -1;
+		const filterNew = d.selectedFilter &&
+			d.selectedFilter.filter === 'new';
+		const filterWatched = d.selectedFilter &&
+			d.selectedFilter.filter === 'watched' &&
+			!post.topic.isFollowing;
+		const category = d.template.category &&
+			parseInt(d.cid, 10) !== parseInt(post.topic.cid, 10);
+
+		if (isMain || categories || filterNew || filterWatched || category) {
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/api/helpers.js b/src/api/helpers.js
index 56247b18d6..27481318e9 100644
--- a/src/api/helpers.js
+++ b/src/api/helpers.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const events = require('../events');
 exports.setDefaultPostData = function (reqOrSocket, data) {
 	data.uid = reqOrSocket.uid;
 	data.req = exports.buildReqObject(reqOrSocket, { ...data });
-	data.timestamp = Date.now();
+	data.timestamp = parseInt(data.timestamp, 10) || Date.now();
 	data.fromQueue = false;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/api/topics.js b/src/api/topics.js
index c5ee6964c2..4925a62c7e 100644
--- a/src/api/topics.js
+++ b/src/api/topics.js
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@ topicsAPI.get = async function (caller, data) {
 		privileges.topics.get(data.tid, caller.uid),
 		topics.getTopicData(data.tid),
 	]);
-	if (!topic || !userPrivileges.read || !userPrivileges['topics:read'] || (topic.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
+	if (
+		!topic ||
+		!userPrivileges.read ||
+		!userPrivileges['topics:read'] ||
+		!privileges.topics.canViewDeletedScheduled(topic, userPrivileges)
+	) {
 		return null;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/categories/create.js b/src/categories/create.js
index eeb2b87f28..93121dc8b9 100644
--- a/src/categories/create.js
+++ b/src/categories/create.js
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 			'groups:topics:delete',
 		];
 		const modPrivileges = defaultPrivileges.concat([
+			'groups:topics:schedule',
 			'groups:posts:view_deleted',
 			'groups:purge',
 		]);
diff --git a/src/categories/recentreplies.js b/src/categories/recentreplies.js
index e56d31dc66..c1d1a540eb 100644
--- a/src/categories/recentreplies.js
+++ b/src/categories/recentreplies.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 				topicData = await topics.getTopicData(postData.tid);
 			}
 			index += 1;
-		} while (!topicData || topicData.deleted);
+		} while (!topicData || topicData.deleted || topicData.scheduled);
 
 		if (postData && postData.tid) {
 			await Categories.updateRecentTid(cid, postData.tid);
diff --git a/src/categories/topics.js b/src/categories/topics.js
index b874e0bf5c..df6c3c5df4 100644
--- a/src/categories/topics.js
+++ b/src/categories/topics.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const db = require('../database');
 const topics = require('../topics');
 const plugins = require('../plugins');
 const meta = require('../meta');
+const privileges = require('../privileges');
 const user = require('../user');
 
 module.exports = function (Categories) {
@@ -142,7 +143,12 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 			});
 			return result && result.pinnedTids;
 		}
-		const pinnedTids = await db.getSortedSetRevRange(`cid:${data.cid}:tids:pinned`, data.start, data.stop);
+		const [allPinnedTids, canSchedule] = await Promise.all([
+			db.getSortedSetRevRange(`cid:${data.cid}:tids:pinned`, data.start, data.stop),
+			privileges.categories.can('topics:schedule', data.cid, data.uid),
+		]);
+		const pinnedTids = canSchedule ? allPinnedTids : await filterScheduledTids(allPinnedTids);
+
 		return await topics.tools.checkPinExpiry(pinnedTids);
 	};
 
@@ -152,7 +158,7 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 		}
 
 		topics.forEach((topic) => {
-			if (topic.deleted && !topic.isOwner) {
+			if (!topic.scheduled && topic.deleted && !topic.isOwner) {
 				topic.title = '[[topic:topic_is_deleted]]';
 				topic.slug = topic.tid;
 				topic.teaser = null;
@@ -176,4 +182,10 @@ module.exports = function (Categories) {
 		await Promise.all(promises);
 		await Categories.updateRecentTidForCid(cid);
 	};
+
+	async function filterScheduledTids(tids) {
+		const scores = await db.sortedSetScores('topics:scheduled', tids);
+		const now = Date.now();
+		return tids.filter((tid, index) => tid && (!scores[index] || scores[index] <= now));
+	}
 };
diff --git a/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js b/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
index e009a4aa9a..599d0bab79 100644
--- a/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
+++ b/src/controllers/accounts/profile.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const user = require('../../user');
 const posts = require('../../posts');
 const categories = require('../../categories');
 const meta = require('../../meta');
+const privileges = require('../../privileges');
 const accountHelpers = require('./helpers');
 const helpers = require('../helpers');
 const utils = require('../../utils');
@@ -91,11 +92,13 @@ async function getPosts(callerUid, userData, setSuffix) {
 	const count = 10;
 	const postData = [];
 
-	const [isAdmin, isModOfCids] = await Promise.all([
+	const [isAdmin, isModOfCids, canSchedule] = await Promise.all([
 		user.isAdministrator(callerUid),
 		user.isModerator(callerUid, cids),
+		privileges.categories.isUserAllowedTo('topics:schedule', cids, callerUid),
 	]);
 	const cidToIsMod = _.zipObject(cids, isModOfCids);
+	const cidToCanSchedule = _.zipObject(cids, canSchedule);
 
 	do {
 		/* eslint-disable no-await-in-loop */
@@ -106,7 +109,8 @@ async function getPosts(callerUid, userData, setSuffix) {
 		if (pids.length) {
 			const p = await posts.getPostSummaryByPids(pids, callerUid, { stripTags: false });
 			postData.push(...p.filter(
-				p => p && p.topic && (isAdmin || cidToIsMod[p.topic.cid] || (!p.deleted && !p.topic.deleted))
+				p => p && p.topic && (isAdmin || cidToIsMod[p.topic.cid] ||
+					(p.topic.scheduled && cidToCanSchedule[p.topic.cid]) || (!p.deleted && !p.topic.deleted))
 			));
 		}
 		start += count;
diff --git a/src/controllers/topics.js b/src/controllers/topics.js
index 005c332976..6e48f19664 100644
--- a/src/controllers/topics.js
+++ b/src/controllers/topics.js
@@ -43,15 +43,17 @@ topicsController.get = async function getTopic(req, res, callback) {
 
 	let currentPage = parseInt(req.query.page, 10) || 1;
 	const pageCount = Math.max(1, Math.ceil((topicData && topicData.postcount) / settings.postsPerPage));
+	const validPagination = (settings.usePagination && (currentPage < 1 || currentPage > pageCount));
 	if (
 		!topicData ||
 		userPrivileges.disabled ||
-		(settings.usePagination && (currentPage < 1 || currentPage > pageCount))
+		validPagination ||
+		(topicData.scheduled && !userPrivileges.view_scheduled)
 	) {
 		return callback();
 	}
 
-	if (!userPrivileges['topics:read'] || (topicData.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
+	if (!userPrivileges['topics:read'] || (!topicData.scheduled && topicData.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
 		return helpers.notAllowed(req, res);
 	}
 
@@ -343,7 +345,7 @@ topicsController.pagination = async function (req, res, callback) {
 		return callback();
 	}
 
-	if (!userPrivileges.read || (topic.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
+	if (!userPrivileges.read || !privileges.topics.canViewDeletedScheduled(topic, userPrivileges)) {
 		return helpers.notAllowed(req, res);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/posts/diffs.js b/src/posts/diffs.js
index 68816d0853..9e8515ef97 100644
--- a/src/posts/diffs.js
+++ b/src/posts/diffs.js
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 	};
 
 	Diffs.save = async function (data) {
-		const { pid, uid, oldContent, newContent } = data;
-		const now = Date.now();
+		const { pid, uid, oldContent, newContent, edited } = data;
+		const editTimestamp = edited || Date.now();
 		const patch = diff.createPatch('', newContent, oldContent);
 		await Promise.all([
-			db.listPrepend(`post:${pid}:diffs`, now),
-			db.setObject(`diff:${pid}.${now}`, {
+			db.listPrepend(`post:${pid}:diffs`, editTimestamp),
+			db.setObject(`diff:${pid}.${editTimestamp}`, {
 				uid: uid,
 				pid: pid,
 				patch: patch,
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 	function getValidatedTimestamp(timestamp) {
 		timestamp = parseInt(timestamp, 10);
 
-		if (isNaN(timestamp) || timestamp > Date.now()) {
+		if (isNaN(timestamp)) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:invalid-data]]');
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/posts/edit.js b/src/posts/edit.js
index 371815572e..6714648f22 100644
--- a/src/posts/edit.js
+++ b/src/posts/edit.js
@@ -29,11 +29,13 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-post]]');
 		}
 
+		const topicData = await topics.getTopicFields(postData.tid, ['cid', 'title', 'timestamp', 'scheduled']);
 		const oldContent = postData.content; // for diffing purposes
-		const now = Date.now();
+		// For posts in scheduled topics, if edited before, use edit timestamp
+		const postTimestamp = topicData.scheduled ? (postData.edited || postData.timestamp) + 1 : Date.now();
 		const editPostData = {
 			content: data.content,
-			edited: now,
+			edited: postTimestamp,
 			editor: data.uid,
 		};
 		if (data.handle) {
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 
 		const [editor, topic] = await Promise.all([
 			user.getUserFields(data.uid, ['username', 'userslug']),
-			editMainPost(data, postData),
+			editMainPost(data, postData, topicData),
 		]);
 
 		await Posts.setPostFields(data.pid, result.post);
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 				uid: data.uid,
 				oldContent: oldContent,
 				newContent: data.content,
+				edited: postTimestamp,
 			});
 		}
 		await Posts.uploads.sync(data.pid);
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 		const returnPostData = { ...postData, ...result.post };
 		returnPostData.cid = topic.cid;
 		returnPostData.topic = topic;
-		returnPostData.editedISO = utils.toISOString(now);
+		returnPostData.editedISO = utils.toISOString(postTimestamp);
 		returnPostData.changed = oldContent !== data.content;
 
 		await topics.notifyFollowers(returnPostData, data.uid, {
@@ -93,15 +96,11 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 		};
 	};
 
-	async function editMainPost(data, postData) {
+	async function editMainPost(data, postData, topicData) {
 		const { tid } = postData;
 		const title = data.title ? data.title.trim() : '';
 
-		const [topicData, isMain] = await Promise.all([
-			topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['cid', 'title', 'timestamp']),
-			Posts.isMain(data.pid),
-		]);
-
+		const isMain = await Posts.isMain(data.pid);
 		if (!isMain) {
 			return {
 				tid: tid,
diff --git a/src/posts/summary.js b/src/posts/summary.js
index bad9849ab3..cefbb8cc15 100644
--- a/src/posts/summary.js
+++ b/src/posts/summary.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ module.exports = function (Posts) {
 	}
 
 	async function getTopicAndCategories(tids) {
-		const topicsData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['uid', 'tid', 'title', 'cid', 'slug', 'deleted', 'postcount', 'mainPid', 'teaserPid']);
+		const topicsData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['uid', 'tid', 'title', 'cid', 'slug', 'deleted', 'scheduled', 'postcount', 'mainPid', 'teaserPid']);
 		const cids = _.uniq(topicsData.map(topic => topic && topic.cid));
 		const categoriesData = await categories.getCategoriesFields(cids, ['cid', 'name', 'icon', 'slug', 'parentCid', 'bgColor', 'color', 'backgroundImage', 'imageClass']);
 		return { topics: topicsData, categories: categoriesData };
diff --git a/src/privileges/categories.js b/src/privileges/categories.js
index ff7605cd9f..90fcffd2c3 100644
--- a/src/privileges/categories.js
+++ b/src/privileges/categories.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ privsCategories.privilegeLabels = [
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:access-topics]]' },
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:create-topics]]' },
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:reply-to-topics]]' },
+	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:schedule-topics]]' },
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:tag-topics]]' },
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:edit-posts]]' },
 	{ name: '[[admin/manage/privileges:view-edit-history]]' },
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ privsCategories.userPrivilegeList = [
 	'topics:read',
 	'topics:create',
 	'topics:reply',
+	'topics:schedule',
 	'topics:tag',
 	'posts:edit',
 	'posts:history',
@@ -79,8 +81,8 @@ privsCategories.list = async function (cid) {
 
 privsCategories.get = async function (cid, uid) {
 	const privs = [
-		'topics:create', 'topics:read', 'topics:tag',
-		'read', 'posts:view_deleted',
+		'topics:create', 'topics:read', 'topics:schedule',
+		'topics:tag', 'read', 'posts:view_deleted',
 	];
 
 	const [userPrivileges, isAdministrator, isModerator] = await Promise.all([
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ privsCategories.getBase = async function (privilege, cids, uid) {
 		categories: categories.getCategoriesFields(cids, ['disabled']),
 		allowedTo: helpers.isAllowedTo(privilege, uid, cids),
 		view_deleted: helpers.isAllowedTo('posts:view_deleted', uid, cids),
+		view_scheduled: helpers.isAllowedTo('topics:schedule', uid, cids),
 		isAdmin: user.isAdministrator(uid),
 	});
 };
diff --git a/src/privileges/posts.js b/src/privileges/posts.js
index 7252c98185..8b32065df6 100644
--- a/src/privileges/posts.js
+++ b/src/privileges/posts.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const helpers = require('./helpers');
 const plugins = require('../plugins');
 const utils = require('../utils');
 const privsCategories = require('./categories');
+const privsTopics = require('./topics');
 
 const privsPosts = module.exports;
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ privsPosts.filter = async function (privilege, pids, uid) {
 	pids = _.uniq(pids);
 	const postData = await posts.getPostsFields(pids, ['uid', 'tid', 'deleted']);
 	const tids = _.uniq(postData.map(post => post && post.tid).filter(Boolean));
-	const topicData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['deleted', 'cid']);
+	const topicData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['deleted', 'scheduled', 'cid']);
 
 	const tidToTopic = _.zipObject(tids, topicData);
 
@@ -93,11 +94,15 @@ privsPosts.filter = async function (privilege, pids, uid) {
 
 	const cidsSet = new Set(allowedCids);
 	const canViewDeleted = _.zipObject(cids, results.view_deleted);
+	const canViewScheduled = _.zipObject(cids, results.view_scheduled);
 
 	pids = postData.filter(post => (
 		post.topic &&
 		cidsSet.has(post.topic.cid) &&
-		((!post.topic.deleted && !post.deleted) || canViewDeleted[post.topic.cid] || results.isAdmin)
+		(privsTopics.canViewDeletedScheduled({
+			deleted: post.topic.deleted || post.deleted,
+			scheduled: post.topic.scheduled,
+		}, {}, canViewDeleted[post.topic.cid], canViewScheduled[post.topic.cid]) || results.isAdmin)
 	)).map(post => post.pid);
 
 	const data = await plugins.hooks.fire('filter:privileges.posts.filter', {
diff --git a/src/privileges/topics.js b/src/privileges/topics.js
index 10ffdc5591..20ad19aa19 100644
--- a/src/privileges/topics.js
+++ b/src/privileges/topics.js
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ privsTopics.get = async function (tid, uid) {
 	uid = parseInt(uid, 10);
 
 	const privs = [
-		'topics:reply', 'topics:read', 'topics:tag',
+		'topics:reply', 'topics:read', 'topics:schedule', 'topics:tag',
 		'topics:delete', 'posts:edit', 'posts:history',
 		'posts:delete', 'posts:view_deleted', 'read', 'purge',
 	];
-	const topicData = await topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['cid', 'uid', 'locked', 'deleted']);
+	const topicData = await topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['cid', 'uid', 'locked', 'deleted', 'scheduled']);
 	const [userPrivileges, isAdministrator, isModerator, disabled] = await Promise.all([
 		helpers.isAllowedTo(privs, uid, topicData.cid),
 		user.isAdministrator(uid),
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ privsTopics.get = async function (tid, uid) {
 	const isAdminOrMod = isAdministrator || isModerator;
 	const editable = isAdminOrMod;
 	const deletable = (privData['topics:delete'] && (isOwner || isModerator)) || isAdministrator;
+	const mayReply = privsTopics.canViewDeletedScheduled(topicData, {}, false, privData['topics:schedule']);
 
 	return await plugins.hooks.fire('filter:privileges.topics.get', {
-		'topics:reply': (privData['topics:reply'] && ((!topicData.locked && !topicData.deleted) || isModerator)) || isAdministrator,
+		'topics:reply': (privData['topics:reply'] && ((!topicData.locked && mayReply) || isModerator)) || isAdministrator,
 		'topics:read': privData['topics:read'] || isAdministrator,
 		'topics:tag': privData['topics:tag'] || isAdministrator,
 		'topics:delete': (privData['topics:delete'] && (isOwner || isModerator)) || isAdministrator,
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ privsTopics.get = async function (tid, uid) {
 		editable: editable,
 		deletable: deletable,
 		view_deleted: isAdminOrMod || isOwner || privData['posts:view_deleted'],
+		view_scheduled: privData['topics:schedule'] || isAdministrator,
 		isAdminOrMod: isAdminOrMod,
 		disabled: disabled,
 		tid: tid,
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ privsTopics.filterTids = async function (privilege, tids, uid) {
 		return [];
 	}
 
-	const topicsData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'cid', 'deleted']);
+	const topicsData = await topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'cid', 'deleted', 'scheduled']);
 	const cids = _.uniq(topicsData.map(topic => topic.cid));
 	const results = await privsCategories.getBase(privilege, cids, uid);
 
@@ -78,10 +80,11 @@ privsTopics.filterTids = async function (privilege, tids, uid) {
 
 	const cidsSet = new Set(allowedCids);
 	const canViewDeleted = _.zipObject(cids, results.view_deleted);
+	const canViewScheduled = _.zipObject(cids, results.view_scheduled);
 
 	tids = topicsData.filter(t => (
 		cidsSet.has(t.cid) &&
-		(!t.deleted || canViewDeleted[t.cid] || results.isAdmin)
+		(results.isAdmin || privsTopics.canViewDeletedScheduled(t, {}, canViewDeleted[t.cid], canViewScheduled[t.cid]))
 	)).map(t => t.tid);
 
 	const data = await plugins.hooks.fire('filter:privileges.topics.filter', {
@@ -98,14 +101,20 @@ privsTopics.filterUids = async function (privilege, tid, uids) {
 	}
 
 	uids = _.uniq(uids);
-	const topicData = await topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['tid', 'cid', 'deleted']);
+	const topicData = await topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['tid', 'cid', 'deleted', 'scheduled']);
 	const [disabled, allowedTo, isAdmins] = await Promise.all([
 		categories.getCategoryField(topicData.cid, 'disabled'),
 		helpers.isUsersAllowedTo(privilege, uids, topicData.cid),
 		user.isAdministrator(uids),
 	]);
+
+	if (topicData.scheduled) {
+		const canViewScheduled = await helpers.isUsersAllowedTo('topics:schedule', uids, topicData.cid);
+		uids = uids.filter((uid, index) => canViewScheduled[index]);
+	}
+
 	return uids.filter((uid, index) => !disabled &&
-			((allowedTo[index] && !topicData.deleted) || isAdmins[index]));
+			((allowedTo[index] && (topicData.scheduled || !topicData.deleted)) || isAdmins[index]));
 };
 
 privsTopics.canPurge = async function (tid, uid) {
@@ -163,3 +172,20 @@ privsTopics.isAdminOrMod = async function (tid, uid) {
 	const cid = await topics.getTopicField(tid, 'cid');
 	return await privsCategories.isAdminOrMod(cid, uid);
 };
+
+privsTopics.canViewDeletedScheduled = function (topic, privileges = {}, viewDeleted = false, viewScheduled = false) {
+	if (!topic) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	const { deleted = false, scheduled = false } = topic;
+	const { view_deleted = viewDeleted, view_scheduled = viewScheduled } = privileges;
+
+	// conceptually exclusive, scheduled topics deemed to be not deleted (they can only be purged)
+	if (scheduled) {
+		return view_scheduled;
+	} else if (deleted) {
+		return view_deleted;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+};
diff --git a/src/routes/feeds.js b/src/routes/feeds.js
index 9be9acf366..ff2e508ce7 100644
--- a/src/routes/feeds.js
+++ b/src/routes/feeds.js
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async function generateForTopic(req, res) {
 		topics.getTopicData(tid),
 	]);
 
-	if (!topic || (topic.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
+	if (!privileges.topics.canViewDeletedScheduled(topic, userPrivileges)) {
 		return controllers404.send404(req, res);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/socket.io/topics/infinitescroll.js b/src/socket.io/topics/infinitescroll.js
index bae4ba3a61..03266a3059 100644
--- a/src/socket.io/topics/infinitescroll.js
+++ b/src/socket.io/topics/infinitescroll.js
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ module.exports = function (SocketTopics) {
 
 		const [userPrivileges, topicData] = await Promise.all([
 			privileges.topics.get(data.tid, socket.uid),
-			topics.getTopicFields(data.tid, ['postcount', 'deleted', 'uid']),
+			topics.getTopicFields(data.tid, ['postcount', 'deleted', 'scheduled', 'uid']),
 		]);
 
-		if (!userPrivileges['topics:read'] || (topicData.deleted && !userPrivileges.view_deleted)) {
+		if (!userPrivileges['topics:read'] || !privileges.topics.canViewDeletedScheduled(topicData, userPrivileges)) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/start.js b/src/start.js
index f5cf130aa2..5f7b42ce7b 100644
--- a/src/start.js
+++ b/src/start.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ start.start = async function () {
 			require('./notifications').startJobs();
 			require('./user').startJobs();
 			require('./plugins').startJobs();
+			require('./topics').scheduled.startJobs();
 			await db.delete('locks');
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/topics/create.js b/src/topics/create.js
index fb749485b4..a4b2c9ecac 100644
--- a/src/topics/create.js
+++ b/src/topics/create.js
@@ -38,23 +38,33 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		topicData = result.topic;
 		await db.setObject(`topic:${topicData.tid}`, topicData);
 
+		const timestampedSortedSetKeys = [
+			'topics:tid',
+			`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids`,
+			`cid:${topicData.cid}:uid:${topicData.uid}:tids`,
+		];
+
+		const scheduled = timestamp > Date.now();
+		if (scheduled) {
+			timestampedSortedSetKeys.push('topics:scheduled');
+		}
+
 		await Promise.all([
-			db.sortedSetsAdd([
-				'topics:tid',
-				`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids`,
-				`cid:${topicData.cid}:uid:${topicData.uid}:tids`,
-			], timestamp, topicData.tid),
+			db.sortedSetsAdd(timestampedSortedSetKeys, timestamp, topicData.tid),
 			db.sortedSetsAdd([
 				'topics:views', 'topics:posts', 'topics:votes',
 				`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:votes`,
 				`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:posts`,
 			], 0, topicData.tid),
-			categories.updateRecentTid(topicData.cid, topicData.tid),
 			user.addTopicIdToUser(topicData.uid, topicData.tid, timestamp),
 			db.incrObjectField(`category:${topicData.cid}`, 'topic_count'),
 			db.incrObjectField('global', 'topicCount'),
 			Topics.createTags(data.tags, topicData.tid, timestamp),
+			scheduled ? Promise.resolve() : categories.updateRecentTid(topicData.cid, topicData.tid),
 		]);
+		if (scheduled) {
+			await Topics.scheduled.pin(tid, topicData);
+		}
 
 		plugins.hooks.fire('action:topic.save', { topic: _.clone(topicData), data: data });
 		return topicData.tid;
@@ -118,10 +128,14 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		topicData.index = 0;
 		postData.index = 0;
 
+		if (topicData.scheduled) {
+			await Topics.delete(tid);
+		}
+
 		analytics.increment(['topics', `topics:byCid:${topicData.cid}`]);
 		plugins.hooks.fire('action:topic.post', { topic: topicData, post: postData, data: data });
 
-		if (parseInt(uid, 10)) {
+		if (parseInt(uid, 10) && !topicData.scheduled) {
 			user.notifications.sendTopicNotificationToFollowers(uid, topicData, postData);
 		}
 
@@ -136,28 +150,10 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		const { uid } = data;
 
 		const topicData = await Topics.getTopicData(tid);
-		if (!topicData) {
-			throw new Error('[[error:no-topic]]');
-		}
-
-		data.cid = topicData.cid;
 
-		const [canReply, isAdminOrMod] = await Promise.all([
-			privileges.topics.can('topics:reply', tid, uid),
-			privileges.categories.isAdminOrMod(data.cid, uid),
-		]);
-
-		if (topicData.locked && !isAdminOrMod) {
-			throw new Error('[[error:topic-locked]]');
-		}
-
-		if (topicData.deleted && !isAdminOrMod) {
-			throw new Error('[[error:topic-deleted]]');
-		}
+		await canReply(data, topicData);
 
-		if (!canReply) {
-			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
-		}
+		data.cid = topicData.cid;
 
 		await guestHandleValid(data);
 		if (!data.fromQueue) {
@@ -169,6 +165,11 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		}
 		Topics.checkContent(data.content);
 
+		// For replies to scheduled topics, don't have a timestamp older than topic's itself
+		if (topicData.scheduled) {
+			data.timestamp = topicData.lastposttime + 1;
+		}
+
 		data.ip = data.req ? data.req.ip : null;
 		let postData = await posts.create(data);
 		postData = await onNewPost(postData, data);
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			topicInfo,
 		] = await Promise.all([
 			posts.getUserInfoForPosts([postData.uid], uid),
-			Topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['tid', 'uid', 'title', 'slug', 'cid', 'postcount', 'mainPid']),
+			Topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['tid', 'uid', 'title', 'slug', 'cid', 'postcount', 'mainPid', 'scheduled']),
 			Topics.addParentPosts([postData]),
 			posts.parsePost(postData),
 		]);
@@ -263,4 +264,34 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	async function canReply(data, topicData) {
+		if (!topicData) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:no-topic]]');
+		}
+		const { tid, uid } = data;
+		const { cid, deleted, locked, scheduled } = topicData;
+
+		const [canReply, canSchedule, isAdminOrMod] = await Promise.all([
+			privileges.topics.can('topics:reply', tid, uid),
+			privileges.topics.can('topics:schedule', tid, uid),
+			privileges.categories.isAdminOrMod(cid, uid),
+		]);
+
+		if (locked && !isAdminOrMod) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:topic-locked]]');
+		}
+
+		if (!scheduled && deleted && !isAdminOrMod) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:topic-deleted]]');
+		}
+
+		if (scheduled && !canSchedule) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
+		}
+
+		if (!canReply) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
+		}
+	}
 };
diff --git a/src/topics/data.js b/src/topics/data.js
index 5ad5fa2a0b..db13036176 100644
--- a/src/topics/data.js
+++ b/src/topics/data.js
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		if (!Array.isArray(tids) || !tids.length) {
 			return [];
 		}
+
+		// "scheduled" is derived from "timestamp"
+		if (fields.includes('scheduled') && !fields.includes('timestamp')) {
+			fields.push('timestamp');
+		}
+
 		const keys = tids.map(tid => `topic:${tid}`);
 		const topics = await db.getObjects(keys, fields);
 		const result = await plugins.hooks.fire('filter:topic.getFields', {
@@ -100,6 +106,9 @@ function modifyTopic(topic, fields) {
 
 	if (topic.hasOwnProperty('timestamp')) {
 		topic.timestampISO = utils.toISOString(topic.timestamp);
+		if (!fields.length || fields.includes('scheduled')) {
+			topic.scheduled = topic.timestamp > Date.now();
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (topic.hasOwnProperty('lastposttime')) {
diff --git a/src/topics/delete.js b/src/topics/delete.js
index c55b1ba662..889f129c76 100644
--- a/src/topics/delete.js
+++ b/src/topics/delete.js
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 				'topics:posts',
 				'topics:views',
 				'topics:votes',
+				'topics:scheduled',
 			], tid),
 			deleteTopicFromCategoryAndUser(tid),
 			Topics.deleteTopicTags(tid),
diff --git a/src/topics/fork.js b/src/topics/fork.js
index 0eb0ccdfe2..6ba03a33a3 100644
--- a/src/topics/fork.js
+++ b/src/topics/fork.js
@@ -39,7 +39,14 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		if (!isAdminOrMod) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
 		}
-		const tid = await Topics.create({ uid: postData.uid, title: title, cid: cid });
+
+		const scheduled = postData.timestamp > Date.now();
+		const tid = await Topics.create({
+			uid: postData.uid,
+			title: title,
+			cid: cid,
+			timestamp: scheduled && postData.timestamp,
+		});
 		await Topics.updateTopicBookmarks(fromTid, pids);
 
 		await async.eachSeries(pids, async (pid) => {
@@ -47,10 +54,10 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			if (!canEdit.flag) {
 				throw new Error(canEdit.message);
 			}
-			await Topics.movePostToTopic(uid, pid, tid);
+			await Topics.movePostToTopic(uid, pid, tid, scheduled);
 		});
 
-		await Topics.updateLastPostTime(tid, Date.now());
+		await Topics.updateLastPostTime(tid, scheduled ? (postData.timestamp + 1) : Date.now());
 
 		await Promise.all([
 			Topics.setTopicFields(tid, {
@@ -65,17 +72,25 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		return await Topics.getTopicData(tid);
 	};
 
-	Topics.movePostToTopic = async function (callerUid, pid, tid) {
+	Topics.movePostToTopic = async function (callerUid, pid, tid, forceScheduled = false) {
 		tid = parseInt(tid, 10);
-		const exists = await Topics.exists(tid);
-		if (!exists) {
+		const topicData = await Topics.getTopicFields(tid, ['tid', 'scheduled']);
+		if (!topicData.tid) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-topic]]');
 		}
+		if (!forceScheduled && topicData.scheduled) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:cant-move-posts-to-scheduled]]');
+		}
 		const postData = await posts.getPostFields(pid, ['tid', 'uid', 'timestamp', 'upvotes', 'downvotes']);
 		if (!postData || !postData.tid) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-post]]');
 		}
 
+		const isSourceTopicScheduled = await Topics.getTopicField(postData.tid, 'scheduled');
+		if (!forceScheduled && isSourceTopicScheduled) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:cant-move-from-scheduled-to-existing]]');
+		}
+
 		if (postData.tid === tid) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:cant-move-to-same-topic]]');
 		}
diff --git a/src/topics/index.js b/src/topics/index.js
index bce9bc2fa9..2108eaeb6a 100644
--- a/src/topics/index.js
+++ b/src/topics/index.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ require('./posts')(Topics);
 require('./follow')(Topics);
 require('./tags')(Topics);
 require('./teaser')(Topics);
+Topics.scheduled = require('./scheduled');
 require('./suggested')(Topics);
 require('./tools')(Topics);
 Topics.thumbs = require('./thumbs');
diff --git a/src/topics/merge.js b/src/topics/merge.js
index 9a00163039..4d39280fb7 100644
--- a/src/topics/merge.js
+++ b/src/topics/merge.js
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ const plugins = require('../plugins');
 module.exports = function (Topics) {
 	Topics.merge = async function (tids, uid, options) {
 		options = options || {};
+
+		const topicsData = await Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['scheduled']);
+		if (topicsData.some(t => t.scheduled)) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:cant-merge-scheduled]]');
+		}
+
 		const oldestTid = findOldestTopic(tids);
 		let mergeIntoTid = oldestTid;
 		if (options.mainTid) {
diff --git a/src/topics/scheduled.js b/src/topics/scheduled.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2957634356
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/topics/scheduled.js
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const _ = require('lodash');
+const winston = require('winston');
+const { CronJob } = require('cron');
+
+const db = require('../database');
+const posts = require('../posts');
+const socketHelpers = require('../socket.io/helpers');
+const topics = require('./index');
+const user = require('../user');
+
+const Scheduled = module.exports;
+
+Scheduled.startJobs = function () {
+	winston.verbose('[scheduled topics] Starting jobs.');
+	new CronJob('*/1 * * * *', Scheduled.handleExpired, null, true);
+};
+
+Scheduled.handleExpired = async function () {
+	const now = Date.now();
+	const tids = await db.getSortedSetRangeByScore('topics:scheduled', 0, -1, '-inf', now);
+
+	if (!tids.length) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	let topicsData = await topics.getTopicsData(tids);
+	// Filter deleted
+	topicsData = topicsData.filter(topicData => Boolean(topicData));
+	const uids = _.uniq(topicsData.map(topicData => topicData.uid)).filter(uid => uid); // Filter guests topics
+
+	// Restore first to be not filtered for being deleted
+	// Restoring handles "updateRecentTid"
+	await Promise.all(topicsData.map(topicData => topics.restore(topicData.tid)));
+
+	await Promise.all([].concat(
+		sendNotifications(uids, topicsData),
+		updateUserLastposttimes(uids, topicsData),
+		...topicsData.map(topicData => unpin(topicData.tid, topicData)),
+		db.sortedSetsRemoveRangeByScore([`topics:scheduled`], '-inf', now)
+	));
+};
+
+// topics/tools.js#pin/unpin would block non-admins/mods, thus the local versions
+Scheduled.pin = async function (tid, topicData) {
+	return Promise.all([
+		topics.setTopicField(tid, 'pinned', 1),
+		db.sortedSetAdd(`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:pinned`, Date.now(), tid),
+		db.sortedSetsRemove([
+			`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids`,
+			`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:posts`,
+			`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:votes`,
+		], tid),
+	]);
+};
+
+function unpin(tid, topicData) {
+	return [
+		topics.setTopicField(tid, 'pinned', 0),
+		topics.deleteTopicField(tid, 'pinExpiry'),
+		db.sortedSetRemove(`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:pinned`, tid),
+		db.sortedSetAddBulk([
+			[`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids`, topicData.lastposttime, tid],
+			[`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:posts`, topicData.postcount, tid],
+			[`cid:${topicData.cid}:tids:votes`, parseInt(topicData.votes, 10) || 0, tid],
+		]),
+	];
+}
+
+async function sendNotifications(uids, topicsData) {
+	const usernames = await Promise.all(uids.map(uid => user.getUserField(uid, 'username')));
+	const uidToUsername = Object.fromEntries(uids.map((uid, idx) => [uid, usernames[idx]]));
+
+	const postsData = await posts.getPostsData(topicsData.map(({ mainPid }) => mainPid));
+	postsData.forEach((postData, idx) => {
+		postData.user = {};
+		postData.user.username = uidToUsername[postData.uid];
+		postData.topic = topicsData[idx];
+	});
+
+	return topicsData.map(
+		(t, idx) => user.notifications.sendTopicNotificationToFollowers(t.uid, t, postsData[idx])
+	).concat(
+		topicsData.map(
+			(t, idx) => socketHelpers.notifyNew(t.uid, 'newTopic', { posts: [postsData[idx]], topic: t })
+		)
+	);
+}
+
+async function updateUserLastposttimes(uids, topicsData) {
+	const lastposttimes = (await user.getUsersFields(uids, ['lastposttime'])).map(u => u.lastposttime);
+
+	let timestampByUid = {};
+	topicsData.forEach((tD) => {
+		timestampByUid[tD.uid] = timestampByUid[tD.uid] ? timestampByUid[tD.uid].concat(tD.timestamp) : [tD.timestamp];
+	});
+	timestampByUid = Object.fromEntries(
+		Object.entries(timestampByUid).filter(uidTimestamp => [uidTimestamp[0], Math.max(...uidTimestamp[1])])
+	);
+
+	const uidsToUpdate = uids.filter((uid, idx) => timestampByUid[uid] > lastposttimes[idx]);
+	return uidsToUpdate.map(uid => user.setUserField(uid, 'lastposttime', String(timestampByUid[uid])));
+}
diff --git a/src/topics/tools.js b/src/topics/tools.js
index a48b5d8eea..5bc7554407 100644
--- a/src/topics/tools.js
+++ b/src/topics/tools.js
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		if (!topicData) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-topic]]');
 		}
+		// Scheduled topics can only be purged
+		if (topicData.scheduled) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:invalid-data]]');
+		}
 		const canDelete = await privileges.topics.canDelete(tid, uid);
 
 		const data = await plugins.hooks.fire(isDelete ? 'filter:topic.delete' : 'filter:topic.restore', { topicData: topicData, uid: uid, isDelete: isDelete, canDelete: canDelete, canRestore: canDelete });
@@ -149,6 +153,10 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-topic]]');
 		}
 
+		if (topicData.scheduled) {
+			throw new Error('[[error:cant-pin-scheduled]]');
+		}
+
 		if (uid !== 'system' && !await privileges.topics.isAdminOrMod(tid, uid)) {
 			throw new Error('[[error:no-privileges]]');
 		}
diff --git a/src/topics/unread.js b/src/topics/unread.js
index 82a68d1af6..6627fc8074 100644
--- a/src/topics/unread.js
+++ b/src/topics/unread.js
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			db.getSortedSetRevRangeWithScores(`uid:${params.uid}:tids_unread`, 0, -1),
 		]);
 
-		const userReadTime = _.mapValues(_.keyBy(userScores, 'value'), 'score');
+		const userReadTimes = _.mapValues(_.keyBy(userScores, 'value'), 'score');
 		const isTopicsFollowed = {};
 		followedTids.forEach((t) => {
 			isTopicsFollowed[t.value] = true;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		});
 
 		const unreadTopics = _.unionWith(categoryTids, followedTids, (a, b) => a.value === b.value)
-			.filter(t => !ignoredTids.includes(t.value) && (!userReadTime[t.value] || t.score > userReadTime[t.value]))
+			.filter(t => !ignoredTids.includes(t.value) && (!userReadTimes[t.value] || t.score > userReadTimes[t.value]))
 			.concat(tids_unread.filter(t => !ignoredTids.includes(t.value)))
 			.sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score);
 
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		});
 
 		tids = await privileges.topics.filterTids('topics:read', tids, params.uid);
-		const topicData = (await Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'cid', 'uid', 'postcount', 'deleted'])).filter(t => !t.deleted);
+		const topicData = (await Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'cid', 'uid', 'postcount', 'deleted', 'scheduled']))
+			.filter(t => t.scheduled || !t.deleted);
 		const topicCids = _.uniq(topicData.map(topic => topic.cid)).filter(Boolean);
 
 		const categoryWatchState = await categories.getWatchState(topicCids, params.uid);
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 					tidsByFilter.unreplied.push(topic.tid);
 				}
 
-				if (!userReadTime[topic.tid]) {
+				if (!userReadTimes[topic.tid]) {
 					tidsByFilter.new.push(topic.tid);
 				}
 			}
@@ -273,19 +274,19 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 			return false;
 		}
 		const [topicScores, userScores] = await Promise.all([
-			Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'lastposttime']),
+			Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['tid', 'lastposttime', 'scheduled']),
 			db.sortedSetScores(`uid:${uid}:tids_read`, tids),
 		]);
 
-		tids = topicScores.filter((t, i) => t.lastposttime && (!userScores[i] || userScores[i] < t.lastposttime))
-			.map(t => t.tid);
+		const topics = topicScores.filter((t, i) => t.lastposttime && (!userScores[i] || userScores[i] < t.lastposttime));
+		tids = topics.map(t => t.tid);
 
 		if (!tids.length) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
 		const now = Date.now();
-		const scores = tids.map(() => now);
+		const scores = topics.map(topic => (topic.scheduled ? topic.lastposttime : now));
 		const [topicData] = await Promise.all([
 			Topics.getTopicsFields(tids, ['cid']),
 			db.sortedSetAdd(`uid:${uid}:tids_read`, scores, tids),
diff --git a/src/upgrades/1.17.0/schedule_privilege_for_existing_categories.js b/src/upgrades/1.17.0/schedule_privilege_for_existing_categories.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae2fef6d9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/upgrades/1.17.0/schedule_privilege_for_existing_categories.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const db = require('../../database');
+const privileges = require('../../privileges');
+
+module.exports = {
+	name: 'Add "schedule" to default privileges of admins and gmods for existing categories',
+	timestamp: Date.UTC(2021, 2, 11),
+	method: async () => {
+		const privilegeToGive = ['groups:topics:schedule'];
+
+		const cids = await db.getSortedSetRevRange('categories:cid', 0, -1);
+		for (const cid of cids) {
+			/* eslint-disable no-await-in-loop */
+			await privileges.categories.give(privilegeToGive, cid, ['administrators', 'Global Moderators']);
+		}
+	},
+};
diff --git a/src/user/posts.js b/src/user/posts.js
index 8537f7114d..b106897c05 100644
--- a/src/user/posts.js
+++ b/src/user/posts.js
@@ -53,9 +53,12 @@ module.exports = function (User) {
 	}
 
 	User.onNewPostMade = async function (postData) {
+		// For scheduled posts, use "action" time. It'll be updated in related cron job when post is published
+		const lastposttime = postData.timestamp > Date.now() ? Date.now() : postData.timestamp;
+
 		await User.addPostIdToUser(postData);
 		await User.incrementUserPostCountBy(postData.uid, 1);
-		await User.setUserField(postData.uid, 'lastposttime', postData.timestamp);
+		await User.setUserField(postData.uid, 'lastposttime', lastposttime);
 		await User.updateLastOnlineTime(postData.uid);
 	};
 
diff --git a/test/categories.js b/test/categories.js
index fc0262171c..d1e5cbf746 100644
--- a/test/categories.js
+++ b/test/categories.js
@@ -764,6 +764,7 @@ describe('Categories', () => {
 					'topics:create': false,
 					'topics:tag': false,
 					'topics:delete': false,
+					'topics:schedule': false,
 					'posts:edit': false,
 					'posts:history': false,
 					'posts:upvote': false,
@@ -815,6 +816,7 @@ describe('Categories', () => {
 					'groups:topics:create': true,
 					'groups:topics:reply': true,
 					'groups:topics:tag': true,
+					'groups:topics:schedule': false,
 					'groups:posts:delete': true,
 					'groups:read': true,
 					'groups:topics:read': true,
diff --git a/test/topics.js b/test/topics.js
index cf2ea098fe..a49d621cb2 100644
--- a/test/topics.js
+++ b/test/topics.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ describe('Topic\'s', () => {
 	let categoryObj;
 	let adminUid;
 	let adminJar;
+	let csrf_token;
 	let fooUid;
 
 	before(async () => {
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ describe('Topic\'s', () => {
 		fooUid = await User.create({ username: 'foo' });
 		await groups.join('administrators', adminUid);
 		adminJar = await helpers.loginUser('admin', '123456');
+		csrf_token = (await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/config`, { json: true, jar: adminJar })).body.csrf_token;
 
 		categoryObj = await categories.create({
 			name: 'Test Category',
@@ -2639,4 +2641,175 @@ describe('Topic\'s', () => {
 			});
 		});
 	});
+
+	describe('scheduled topics', () => {
+		let categoryObj;
+		let topicData;
+		let topic;
+		let adminApiOpts;
+		let postData;
+		const replyData = {
+			form: {
+				content: 'a reply by guest',
+			},
+			json: true,
+		};
+
+		before(async () => {
+			adminApiOpts = {
+				json: true,
+				jar: adminJar,
+				headers: {
+					'x-csrf-token': csrf_token,
+				},
+			};
+			categoryObj = await categories.create({
+				name: 'Another Test Category',
+				description: 'Another test category created by testing script',
+			});
+			topic = {
+				uid: adminUid,
+				cid: categoryObj.cid,
+				title: 'Scheduled Test Topic Title',
+				content: 'The content of scheduled test topic',
+				timestamp: new Date(Date.now() + 86400000).getTime(),
+			};
+		});
+
+		it('should create a scheduled topic as pinned, deleted, included in "topics:scheduled" zset and with a timestamp in future', async () => {
+			topicData = (await topics.post(topic)).topicData;
+			topicData = await topics.getTopicData(topicData.tid);
+
+			assert(topicData.pinned);
+			assert(topicData.deleted);
+			assert(topicData.scheduled);
+			assert(topicData.timestamp > Date.now());
+			const score = await db.sortedSetScore('topics:scheduled', topicData.tid);
+			assert(score);
+			// should not be in regular category zsets
+			const isMember = await db.isMemberOfSortedSets([
+				`cid:${categoryObj.cid}:tids`,
+				`cid:${categoryObj.cid}:tids:votes`,
+				`cid:${categoryObj.cid}:tids:posts`,
+			], topicData.tid);
+			assert.deepStrictEqual(isMember, [false, false, false]);
+		});
+
+		it('should not update poster\'s lastposttime', async () => {
+			const data = await User.getUsersFields([adminUid], ['lastposttime']);
+			assert.notStrictEqual(data[0].lastposttime, topicData.lastposttime);
+		});
+
+		it('should not load topic for an unprivileged user', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/topic/${topicData.slug}`);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.statusCode, 404);
+			assert(response.body);
+		});
+
+		it('should load topic for a privileged user', async () => {
+			const response = (await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/topic/${topicData.slug}`, { jar: adminJar })).res;
+			assert.strictEqual(response.statusCode, 200);
+			assert(response.body);
+		});
+
+		it('should not be amongst topics of the category for an unprivileged user', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/category/${categoryObj.slug}`, { json: true });
+			assert.strictEqual(response.body.topics.filter(topic => topic.tid === topicData.tid).length, 0);
+		});
+
+		it('should be amongst topics of the category for a privileged user', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/category/${categoryObj.slug}`, { json: true, jar: adminJar });
+			const topic = response.body.topics.filter(topic => topic.tid === topicData.tid)[0];
+			assert.strictEqual(topic && topic.tid, topicData.tid);
+		});
+
+		it('should load topic for guests if privilege is given', async () => {
+			await privileges.categories.give(['groups:topics:schedule'], categoryObj.cid, 'guests');
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/topic/${topicData.slug}`);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.statusCode, 200);
+			assert(response.body);
+		});
+
+		it('should be amongst topics of the category for guests if privilege is given', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/category/${categoryObj.slug}`, { json: true });
+			const topic = response.body.topics.filter(topic => topic.tid === topicData.tid)[0];
+			assert.strictEqual(topic && topic.tid, topicData.tid);
+		});
+
+		it('should not allow deletion of a scheduled topic', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('delete', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}/state`, adminApiOpts);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.res.statusCode, 400);
+		});
+
+		it('should not allow to unpin a scheduled topic', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('delete', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}/pin`, adminApiOpts);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.res.statusCode, 400);
+		});
+
+		it('should not allow to restore a scheduled topic', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('put', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}/state`, adminApiOpts);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.res.statusCode, 400);
+		});
+
+		it('should not allow unprivileged to reply', async () => {
+			await privileges.categories.rescind(['groups:topics:schedule'], categoryObj.cid, 'guests');
+			await privileges.categories.give(['groups:topics:reply'], categoryObj.cid, 'guests');
+			const response = await requestType('post', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}`, replyData);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.res.statusCode, 403);
+		});
+
+		it('should allow guests to reply if privilege is given', async () => {
+			await privileges.categories.give(['groups:topics:schedule'], categoryObj.cid, 'guests');
+			const response = await requestType('post', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}`, replyData);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.body.response.content, 'a reply by guest');
+			assert.strictEqual(response.body.response.user.username, '[[global:guest]]');
+		});
+
+		it('should have replies with greater timestamp than the scheduled topics itself', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/topic/${topicData.slug}`, { json: true });
+			postData = response.body.posts[1];
+			assert(postData.timestamp > response.body.posts[0].timestamp);
+		});
+
+		it('should have post edits with greater timestamp than the original', async () => {
+			const editData = { ...adminApiOpts, form: { content: 'an edit by the admin' } };
+			const result = await requestType('put', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/posts/${postData.pid}`, editData);
+			assert(result.body.response.edited > postData.timestamp);
+
+			const diffsResult = await requestType('get', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/posts/${postData.pid}/diffs`, adminApiOpts);
+			const { revisions } = diffsResult.body.response;
+			// diffs are LIFO
+			assert(revisions[0].timestamp > revisions[1].timestamp);
+		});
+
+		it('should allow to purge a scheduled topic', async () => {
+			const response = await requestType('delete', `${nconf.get('url')}/api/v3/topics/${topicData.tid}`, adminApiOpts);
+			assert.strictEqual(response.res.statusCode, 200);
+		});
+
+		it('should remove from topics:scheduled on purge', async () => {
+			const score = await db.sortedSetScore('topics:scheduled', topicData.tid);
+			assert(!score);
+		});
+
+		it('should able to publish a scheduled topic', async () => {
+			topicData = (await topics.post(topic)).topicData;
+			// Manually trigger publishing
+			await db.sortedSetRemove('topics:scheduled', topicData.tid);
+			await db.sortedSetAdd('topics:scheduled', Date.now() - 1000, topicData.tid);
+			await topics.scheduled.handleExpired();
+
+			topicData = await topics.getTopicData(topicData.tid);
+			assert(!topicData.pinned);
+			assert(!topicData.deleted);
+			// Should remove from topics:scheduled upon publishing
+			const score = await db.sortedSetScore('topics:scheduled', topicData.tid);
+			assert(!score);
+		});
+
+		it('should update poster\'s lastposttime after a ST published', async () => {
+			const data = await User.getUsersFields([adminUid], ['lastposttime']);
+			assert.strictEqual(data[0].lastposttime, topicData.lastposttime);
+		});
+	});
 });