diff --git a/.buildkite/beta-builds.yml b/.buildkite/beta-builds.yml
index dda86b123e3b..3fe575f2d2ae 100644
--- a/.buildkite/beta-builds.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/beta-builds.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ steps:
     command: |
       checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
       validate_gradle_wrapper
+    priority: 1
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
 
   # Wait for Gradle Wrapper to be validated before running any other jobs
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ steps:
         command: |
           checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
           .buildkite/commands/lint.sh wordpress
+        priority: 1
         plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
         artifact_paths:
           - "**/build/reports/lint-results*.*"
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ steps:
         command: |
           checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
           .buildkite/commands/lint.sh jetpack
+        priority: 1
         plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
         artifact_paths:
           - "**/build/reports/lint-results*.*"
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ steps:
           checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
           .buildkite/commands/beta-build.sh wordpress
         depends_on: wplint
+        priority: 1
         plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
         notify:
           - slack: "#build-and-ship"
@@ -72,6 +76,7 @@ steps:
           checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
           .buildkite/commands/beta-build.sh jetpack
         depends_on: jplint
+        priority: 1
         plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
         notify:
           - slack: "#build-and-ship"
@@ -92,4 +97,5 @@ steps:
     command: |
       checkout_release_branch "$RELEASE_VERSION"
       .buildkite/commands/create-github-release.sh
+    priority: 1
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/code-freeze.yml b/.buildkite/code-freeze.yml
index 1cf78e3c066d..d8d4500421a4 100644
--- a/.buildkite/code-freeze.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/code-freeze.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: "Code Freeze"
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/complete-code-freeze.yml b/.buildkite/complete-code-freeze.yml
index 12e629ad3cc7..f5dd30c4761f 100644
--- a/.buildkite/complete-code-freeze.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/complete-code-freeze.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: "Complete Code Freeze"
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/finalize-hotfix-release.yml b/.buildkite/finalize-hotfix-release.yml
index 4dc286634d11..3df3709f0c4b 100644
--- a/.buildkite/finalize-hotfix-release.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/finalize-hotfix-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: Finalize Hotfix
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/finalize-release.yml b/.buildkite/finalize-release.yml
index 5bbf254c9f4c..3465eefe82e1 100644
--- a/.buildkite/finalize-release.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/finalize-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: "Finalize release"
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/new-beta-release.yml b/.buildkite/new-beta-release.yml
index c684880bb623..9804acf8606e 100644
--- a/.buildkite/new-beta-release.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/new-beta-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: "New Beta Release"
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/new-hotfix-release.yml b/.buildkite/new-hotfix-release.yml
index 6fea293dc6be..8b6808af6b2b 100644
--- a/.buildkite/new-hotfix-release.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/new-hotfix-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: New Hotfix Release
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/promote-beta.yml b/.buildkite/promote-beta.yml
index ca4db90fd7a4..8f7bdac2e9e8 100644
--- a/.buildkite/promote-beta.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/promote-beta.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 agents:
   queue: "android"
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: ":android: Gather builds to promote to beta"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/gather-beta-candidates.sh"
diff --git a/.buildkite/promote-production.yml b/.buildkite/promote-production.yml
index 4fed79069be9..d9142a211663 100644
--- a/.buildkite/promote-production.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/promote-production.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 agents:
   queue: "android"
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: ":android: Gather build to release to production"
     command: ".buildkite/commands/gather-production-candidate.sh"
diff --git a/.buildkite/publish-release.yml b/.buildkite/publish-release.yml
index dab81c0a08ca..5d639de6b2b4 100644
--- a/.buildkite/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/publish-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # yaml-language-server: $schema=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/buildkite/pipeline-schema/main/schema.json
 ---
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: Publish Release
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]
diff --git a/.buildkite/update-release-notes.yml b/.buildkite/update-release-notes.yml
index 3b774014a6b8..6858515b281f 100644
--- a/.buildkite/update-release-notes.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/update-release-notes.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 ---
 
 
+priority: 1
+
 steps:
   - label: "Update release notes"
     plugins: [$CI_TOOLKIT]