diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index 86bf1158c06f..38249544e19e 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -204,7 +204,6 @@
               # code; we don't need to run this on all changes, nor do we run
               # it in the gate.
               - ^(?!nova/network/.*)(?!nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py).*$
-        - nova-cells-v1
         - nova-live-migration
         - nova-lvm
         - nova-multiattach
@@ -224,7 +223,6 @@
       jobs:
         - neutron-grenade:
             irrelevant-files: *dsvm-irrelevant-files
-        - nova-cells-v1
         - nova-live-migration
         - nova-multiattach
         - nova-tox-functional
@@ -254,6 +252,7 @@
             irrelevant-files: *dsvm-irrelevant-files
         - tempest-pg-full:
             irrelevant-files: *dsvm-irrelevant-files
+        - nova-cells-v1
         - nova-tempest-full-oslo.versionedobjects:
             irrelevant-files: *dsvm-irrelevant-files
         - legacy-tempest-dsvm-nova-libvirt-kvm-apr:
diff --git a/doc/source/contributor/testing.rst b/doc/source/contributor/testing.rst
index e78ef49fe4be..9f67b0308f1f 100644
--- a/doc/source/contributor/testing.rst
+++ b/doc/source/contributor/testing.rst
@@ -85,7 +85,16 @@ Integration tests
 -----------------
 
 Today, our integration tests involve running the Tempest test suite on a
-variety of Nova deployment scenarios.
+variety of Nova deployment scenarios. The integration job setup is defined
+in the ``.zuul.yaml`` file in the root of the nova repository. Jobs are
+restricted by queue:
+
+* ``check``: jobs in this queue automatically run on all proposed changes even
+  with non-voting jobs
+* ``gate``: jobs in this queue automatically run on all approved changes
+  (voting jobs only)
+* ``experimental``: jobs in this queue are non-voting and run on-demand by
+  leaving a review comment on the change of "check experimental"
 
 In addition, we have third parties running the tests on their preferred Nova
 deployment scenario.
diff --git a/doc/source/user/cells.rst b/doc/source/user/cells.rst
index 5b1bbac3a329..f43fb3872883 100644
--- a/doc/source/user/cells.rst
+++ b/doc/source/user/cells.rst
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ Because of this, there are a few restrictions placed on cells v1:
    tests are added to Tempest which trigger a latent bug in cells v1 it may not
    be fixed. However, regressions in working function should be tracked with
    bugs and fixed.
+#. Changes proposed to nova will not be automatically tested against a Cells v1
+   environment. To manually trigger Cells v1 integration testing on a nova
+   change in Gerrit, leave a review comment of "check experimental" and the
+   *nova-cells-v1* job will run on it, but the job is non-voting, meaning if
+   it fails it will not prevent the patch from being merged if approved by the
+   core team.
 
 **Suffice it to say, new deployments of cells v1 are not encouraged.**
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/stein-nova-cells-v1-experimental-ci-de47b3c62e5fb675.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/stein-nova-cells-v1-experimental-ci-de47b3c62e5fb675.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6bac013cd491
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/stein-nova-cells-v1-experimental-ci-de47b3c62e5fb675.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+other:
+  - |
+    CI testing of Cells v1 has been moved to the ``experimental`` queue meaning
+    changes proposed to nova will not be tested against a Cells v1 setup unless
+    explicitly run through the ``experimental`` queue by leaving a review
+    comment on the patch of "check experimental". Cells v1 has been deprecated
+    since the 16.0.0 Pike release and this is a further step in its eventual
+    removal.