In　this　study,　the　effects　of　stress-relief　annealing　(SRA)　on　the　rolled　texture　of　nickel-based　alloys　were　extensively　analysed.　Biaxially　textured　Ni-W　alloy　substrates　with　strong　cube　textures　were　fabricated　by　cold　rolling　and　recrystallisation　annealing　for　coated　conductor　applications.　The　results　indicate　that　the　evolution　of　the　rolled　texture,　and　hence　the　annealed　cube　texture,　were　greatly　influenced　by　the　stress-induced　by　deformation.　The　stress　and　rolled　texture　were　found　to　be　significantly　correlated.　X-ray　diffraction　and　electron　backscattered　diffraction　analyses　were　used　to　explore　the　effect　of　SRA　on　the　cold-rolled　microstructure.　The　stress　distribution　was　found　to　be　associated　with　the　copper　texture.　The　addition　of　SRA　effectively　eliminated　stress　and　strengthened　the　copper　and　S　textures,　thereby　facil-itating　the　formation　of　the　final　annealed　cube　texture.　Finally,　the　mechanism　by　which　stress　influences　the　rolled　texture　of　nickel-based　alloys　was　elaborated　in　detail.(c)　2022　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.