Canonical is currently mainly working on the development of Ubuntu 26.10, which is codenamed the awesome Stonking Stingray. The official version will not be released until October 15. However, the first snapshot ISO image file of this version has been released. Early enthusiasts, developers and other interested users can download the image file for installation testing.
Of course, the first batch of snapshot versions are naturally based on the Ubuntu 26.04 LTS version, so the kernel is still Linux Kernel version 7.0, and the desktop environment uses GNOME version 50. With the gradual changes in the later period and the kernel and GNOME successively releasing new versions, Ubuntu 26.10 version will also gradually switch to the updated kernel and desktop environment. According to the version freezing cycle, Ubuntu 26.10 The version will most likely use Linux Kernel 7.2 and GNOME 51 desktop environment.
Other components may include the Mesa 26.2 graphics stack and the GCC 16.1 compiler, as well as various updates to the tool chain. Therefore, users who have been using the Ubuntu desktop version for a long time can now download the snapshot ISO image for early preview. Subsequent updates will bring more and more changes, allowing users to get a complete change experience from the early stages of development.
Special reminder is that the snapshot ISO image is a very early test version and may contain various errors and other problems. Users should only install and experience it in a virtual machine and never deploy it directly in a production environment to avoid problems that seriously affect the user experience and interfere with normal work.
Here is the Ubuntu 26.10 release plan:
April 23, 2026: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS version is released, and version 26.10 will be developed based on this version
April 30, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 development officially begins
August 20, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 enters feature freeze stage
September 24, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 open for public testing
October 01, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 enters kernel freeze phase
October 08, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 enters final freeze
October 15, 2026: Ubuntu 26.10 official version released
June 2027: Ubuntu 26.10 ends its life cycle and no longer provides software update support
Download address:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2026-May/043572.html