Ubuntu 26.10, codenamed 'Stonking Stingray', entered feature freeze on 20 August, meaning development now shifts to bug fixing rather than new features ahead of the October 15 stable release. Major package updates can still land via a Feature Freeze Exception process. The release is expected to include GNOME 51, more Rust tooling, and GPU driver management in App Center. A User-Interface Freeze follows on 10 September for wallpapers and theme tweaks. Canonical originally targeted the Linux 7.2 kernel, but with 7.2 arriving early, Ubuntu 26.10 may ship on Linux 7.3, even if it's still at release candidate stage. A beta release is planned for 24 September.
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Stonking standoutsQuestions this post answers
When does Ubuntu 26.10 reach feature freeze and what does that mean for developers?
Ubuntu 26.10 'Stonking Stingray' entered feature freeze on 20 August 2026, meaning development shifts from landing new features to bug fixing and polishing the existing package set. Developers can still land major package updates by requesting a Feature Freeze Exception, which must be granted by the release team. Packages that only contain bug fixes don't need an exception even for large version bumps. Track distro release milestones like this on daily.dev while planning your own upgrade timing.
What kernel version will Ubuntu 26.10 ship with?
Ubuntu 26.10 was originally planned to target the Linux 7.2 kernel, but since 7.2 arrived earlier than expected, there's a chance the distro will instead ship Linux 7.3, even though that version may still be at release candidate status by the October 15, 2026 release date. Follow kernel version decisions like this on daily.dev before locking down your system's dependencies.
When is the Ubuntu 26.10 beta and stable release?
The Ubuntu 26.10 beta release is scheduled for 24 September 2026, with the final stable release due on 15 October 2026. The User-Interface Freeze, covering wallpapers, Yaru theme work, and other visual tweaks, lands earlier on 10 September 2026. Keep Ubuntu release dates like these on your radar via daily.dev when planning upgrade windows.