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PayPalThe next major version of Ubuntu Linux has been released, with Ubuntu 26.04 ("Resolute Raccoon") now available as a long-term support release. It will be supported until at least April 2031. So you're good to go on using this as a daily-driver on your PC for a long time.
What's new for you will depend on what version of Ubuntu you've been using. Between the last LTS and this one, there's masses new and improved. Even if you were using the previous interim release, there's still lots to look forward to.
For the standard Ubuntu edition you get GNOME 50 with lots of upgrades there like enhanced parental controls, a better Files app, improved remote desktop, better HDR colour management, smoother desktop with NVIDIA drivers and lots more. Plus Linux kernel 7.0 for improved hardware support, Mesa 26 for better graphics drivers performance and plenty of software updates.
You'll also see improved integration for applications installed via Snap, accessibility upgrades, theme tweaks, the App Center got upgrades for .deb packages and a big one - it's now Wayland-only.
Various flavours with different desktops were also updated with Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Unity, and Xubuntu.
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"Ubuntu 26.04 LTS sets the example for providing best-in-class resilience while simultaneously embracing innovation and the advancement of open source. By combining optimizations for silicon, the kernel, and the cloud with the latest upstream features, we’re delivering on our goal to bring the very best of open source to Ubuntu on whichever platform you choose." — Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical
And if you missed it, the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro is also Ubuntu Certified and will ship with it!
See the official release notes and download from the Ubuntu website.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Fester_Mudd 7 hours ago
Last edited by kernelkid on 24 Apr 2026 at 1:31 pm UTC
ItsRainingSomewhere 2 hours ago
it's now Wayland-onlyI'm still running 24.04 with X11, so wonder how smooth the upgrade will go, and what will break.
But yay for the fresh Kernel (this time round I was always too lazy to manually install a more recent one, and from my experience with 22.04 at some point the version of glibc present on the system prevented further upgrading anyway, and then you're stuck without security fixes). Using an up-to-date Mesa from a PPA isn't a big deal though, and will soon enough be required for 26.04 as well.
Gnome 50 will likely again break half my extensions (as did Gnome 46), and since I do little more with the system than browsing the web and playing games, I don't think any of its features really make any difference to me. Perhaps if I had a display with HDR support.
Nonetheless, upgrade I will come 26.04.1.
Kimyrielle 49 minutes ago
Oh, well, I won't have to deal with it until December anyway - which is when this release will make it into Mint 23.
Quoting: KimyrielleNot sure how I feel about the forced switch to Wayland. I know, I know! It's the future. But I am still not 100% convinced it's fully ready to take over yet.Look back at the first time Canonical said they would make Wayland the default. It's actually pretty funny.
Oh, well, I won't have to deal with it until December anyway - which is when this release will make it into Mint 23.
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