The Rust 1.98.0 release candidate is available for pre-release testing ahead of its scheduled release on August 20. Instructions are provided for installing it locally via rustup with the dev-static distribution server, and links are included for release notes, the internals feedback thread, and a GitHub issue for feedback on the pre-release process itself.
Questions this post answers
How do I test the Rust 1.98.0 pre-release before it ships?
Run RUSTUP_DIST_SERVER=https://dev-static.rust-lang.org rustup update stable to pull the 1.98.0 pre-release build through rustup. The release was scheduled for August 20, with the build index published at dev-static.rust-lang.org under the 2026-08-18 dist path, and release notes available on the dev-doc site. Rust contributors tracking upcoming toolchain releases can follow version rollouts like this on daily.dev.
Where can I give feedback on a Rust pre-release build?
Feedback on the Rust 1.98.0 pre-release itself belongs on the dedicated internals.rust-lang.org thread, while general feedback about the pre-release testing process should go to the release-team's GitHub issue tracker. Both channels are maintained separately so testers can report build-specific bugs versus process improvements. Following Rust's release process on daily.dev helps contributors stay ready to test each new build.