26.04 Beta Changes
Note
This page records Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Beta information. For final release information, see Release Highlights and Known Issues.
Beta Release Overview
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) Beta was released on March 26, 2026 and provides an early preview of the final release. The Beta is intended for developers and testers and is not recommended for production use.
Major Changes
Desktop Environment
- GNOME 50: Ships with the latest GNOME 50 desktop environment, featuring an improved file manager, better Wayland support, and performance optimizations
- Wayland-only: The Ubuntu Desktop session uses the Wayland backend exclusively; NVIDIA proprietary driver users also default to the Wayland session, and X11 apps run via XWayland
- New Wallpapers and Theme: Brand new default wallpaper with automatic light/dark mode switching
Kernel and Core Components
- Linux Kernel 7.0: The Beta/RC stage moved to the 7.0 kernel baseline, supporting more new hardware
- systemd 259: Updated system manager
- Mesa 25.x: Updated graphics driver stack with improved AMD and Intel GPU performance
Package Updates
- Python 3.13: Default Python version
- GCC 15: Default compiler
- Firefox 149/150: Latest Snap version of Firefox
- LibreOffice 25.8: Office suite
Installer
- The Flutter-based installer continues to be refined, with ZFS and encrypted installation support
- TPM-backed full disk encryption further improved
- Improved partition editor
Testing Notes
Downloading the Beta
Beta ISOs are available from:
https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/Recommended Test Scenarios
- Fresh Install: Test the installation process on a virtual machine or spare device
- Upgrade from 24.04 LTS: Test the
do-release-upgradeupgrade path - Hardware Compatibility: Test driver support on different hardware
- Application Compatibility: Test commonly used applications in the new environment
Upgrading to the Beta
From Ubuntu 25.10:
sudo do-release-upgrade -dNote that the -d flag indicates upgrading to a development version.
Reporting Issues
Submit bug reports on Launchpad :
# Using the ubuntu-bug tool
ubuntu-bug package-name
# Or visit directly
# https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebugBeta Known Issues
See the Known Issues page for a complete list of known issues.
Timeline
| Milestone | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Alpha Testing | January 2026 |
| Feature Freeze | February 2026 |
| Beta Release | Late March 2026 |
| Release Candidate | Early April 2026 |
| Official Release | April 23, 2026 |
Get Involved in Testing
Join the Ubuntu testing community:
- Ubuntu QA
- Ubuntu ISO Tracker
- Ubuntu Community Forums testing section
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