Ubuntu 26.10: Download, Release Date & New Features
Ubuntu 26.10, codename Stonking Stingray, is the regular release that follows 26.04 LTS: it is due on October 15, 2026, and the beta has been available since October 1. Its focus is a fresher stack — Linux 7.3, GNOME 51, fully Rust coreutils and dbus-broker — rather than long-term support. This page is the one-stop resource for 26.10: download, schedule, new features, component versions and upgrade advice, updated as the release progresses.
26.10 is an interim release supported for only 9 months (until July 2027). For long-term stability choose 26.04 LTS; pick 26.10 if you want the newest kernel and desktop.
At a glance
| Item | Ubuntu 26.10 |
|---|---|
| Codename | Stonking Stingray |
| Type | Interim release (not LTS) |
| Final release | October 15, 2026 (planned) |
| Support window | 9 months, until July 2027 |
| Kernel | Linux 7.3 (RC in the beta) |
| Desktop | GNOME 51 |
| Base | 26.04 LTS toolchain and package archive |
Release date & timeline
Ubuntu 26.10 follows the standard six-month cycle. Current schedule (status as of October 4, 2026):
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Feature freeze | 2026-08-20 | ✅ Done (announced Aug 24) |
| UI freeze | 2026-09-10 | ✅ Done |
| Beta release | 2026-10-01 | ✅ Released (one week late) |
| Final freeze | 2026-10-08 | ⏳ Upcoming |
| Final release | 2026-10-15 | 📅 Planned |
| End of support | July 2027 | — |
The monthly test snapshots (Snapshot 1–3) have served their purpose; Canonical calls them “throwaway artifacts”. Finer-grained progress tracking lives on the 26.10 progress page.
Download Ubuntu 26.10 (beta)
Before the final release, daily builds are available from cdimage (rolling, current):
- Desktop: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/stonking/daily-live/current/
- Server: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-server/stonking/daily-live/current/
After October 15, 2026, the final ISOs will appear on releases.ubuntu.com/26.10 and the official mirrors. Always verify your download:
sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS --ignore-missingFor the full walkthrough see downloading and verifying Ubuntu images. On newer CPUs (roughly 2015 onward, with AVX2/FMA) pick the amd64-v3 optimized ISO, whose packages are rebuilt for the v3 hardware level.
What’s new in Ubuntu 26.10
- Linux 7.3 kernel: the beta ships a 7.3 RC, preparing for AMD Zen 6, with a streamlined EXT4 allocator and a KSM fix; the final kernel version will be confirmed by the release notes
- GNOME 51: smoother desktop animations, a “New Document” context menu, automatic rotation on displays with an accelerometer, easier fingerprint enrolment; desktop basics will follow the release
- Fully Rust coreutils:
cp,mvandrmnow come from uutils too — coreutils is provided entirely by Rust for the first time, plus new Rust PGP tools - dbus-broker everywhere: both the system and user buses switch, retiring the 22-year-old dbus-daemon; users should notice nothing
- amd64-v3 optimized ISO: an out-of-the-box image tuned for newer CPUs
- Window tiling layout picker: Tiling Assistant gains a layout indicator with grid snapping
- Low-memory protection: the OOM daemon protects core desktop processes first, and Mutter improves its frame clock estimation
- RISC-V desktop: support for SpacemiT K3 and SiFive BigSky, on the way to the first complete RVA23 desktop experience
- Enterprise capabilities: authd + Microsoft Entra ID, NetworkManager PKCS#11/smart-card support and TPM-backed FDE keep maturing
Component versions: 26.04 LTS vs 26.10
As of the beta (final versions will be confirmed by the October 15 release notes):
| Component | 26.04 LTS | 26.10 Beta |
|---|---|---|
| Linux kernel | 7.0.0-30 | 7.3 (RC) |
| GNOME | 50 | 51 |
| Mesa | 26.0.8 | 26.2 |
| NVIDIA driver | — | 615 |
| APT | 3.2.0 | 3.3.3 |
| Python | 3.14.3 | 3.14.7 |
| Rust | 1.93.1 | 1.97.1 |
| systemd | 259.5 | 261.2 |
| OpenSSL | 3.5.5 | 4.0.1 |
| PipeWire | 1.4.x | 1.6.8 |
| LibreOffice | 25.8 | 26.8 |
26.10 or 26.04 LTS?
- Stability, office work, production: choose 26.04 LTS — 5 years of standard support, extendable to 2038 with Ubuntu Pro
- Early adopters, new hardware: 26.10’s 7.3 kernel supports the latest CPUs and GPUs better; RISC-V and amd64-v3 users benefit most
- Machines relying on legacy NVIDIA drivers: GNOME 51 removed the compatibility code — stay on 26.04 LTS
- Already on 26.04? Move over after the release with the upgrade guide; for server choices see server vs desktop
Known issues & caveats
- Per Canonical, the beta images are “reasonably free of showstopper build or installer bugs”, but keep them off production machines
- If the GRUB slimming proposal lands, Secure Boot users with btrfs/ZFS/LUKS
/bootlayouts may be unable to upgrade - App Center’s GPU driver management only appears under certain conditions; the final experience is still to be proven
- Devices depending on legacy NVIDIA drivers cannot run 26.10
FAQ
When will Ubuntu 26.10 be released?
October 15, 2026, as planned. The beta arrived on October 1 and the final freeze is set for October 8; the date may shift if serious issues appear, per Canonical’s announcements.
How long will Ubuntu 26.10 be supported?
Nine months, until July 2027. Interim releases get no ESM extension; for long-term support use 26.04 LTS (5 years standard, up to 2038 with Ubuntu Pro).
What kernel and desktop does Ubuntu 26.10 use?
The beta ships Linux 7.3 (RC) and GNOME 51. Whether the final release ships the stable 7.3 kernel will be confirmed by the release notes on October 15.
Should I pick Ubuntu 26.10 or 26.04 LTS?
In one sentence: 26.04 LTS for stability, 26.10 for the new stack. There is no reason for office or production machines to leave the LTS; users with new hardware, or who want GNOME 51 and Rust coreutils first, can upgrade after the release. Machines on legacy NVIDIA drivers must stay on 26.04 LTS.
How do I download the Ubuntu 26.10 ISO?
Before the final release, use the cdimage daily builds ; from October 15, download from releases.ubuntu.com/26.10 or an official mirror and verify with SHA256SUMS.
What does the Ubuntu 26.10 codename mean?
Stonking Stingray: “stonking” is British slang for outstanding, and the stingray is the animal. It continues the adjective + animal tradition of 26.04’s Resolute Raccoon.
Can I upgrade from 26.04 LTS to 26.10?
Yes. After the final release, update-manager / do-release-upgrade will offer the upgrade — see the upgrade guide. Back up your data first and make sure you are not on legacy NVIDIA drivers.
What is the amd64-v3 ISO?
An installer image rebuilt for the x86-64-v3 hardware level (Intel/AMD CPUs from roughly 2015 with AVX2/FMA/BMI), with packages compiled against the v3 baseline for a modest performance gain. Older CPUs should use the standard amd64 image.
Sources & updates
This page is updated as 26.10 development progresses. For finer-grained progress and the 27.04/28.04 LTS outlook, see the 26.10 progress page; for 26.04 LTS news see post-release news.
Main sources: the beta announcement (Discourse) , the 26.10 release notes , the official cdimage and OMG! Ubuntu .