Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS Is Live: The 24.04 Upgrade Path Is Now Open

by Geth Author

Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS arrived today, August 27, 2026 — and for most Ubuntu users, that date matters less for what it is than for what it unlocks. The first point release of Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" is the traditional signal from Canonical that the LTS-to-LTS upgrade path is now open. Millions of machines still running Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat" can now officially begin the transition.

The distinction is intentional. Canonical does not activate LTS-to-LTS upgrades on the initial release day — they wait for the point release to let the new version stabilize. As of today, running do-release-upgrade on a 24.04 system will offer the jump to 26.04. The point release also bundles all updates shipped since April into fresh installation media, meaning fewer post-install downloads for new setups.

So what are you actually upgrading to? Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" is a significant release. The official release notes detail several headline changes:

  • Linux kernel 7.0 replaces the 6.8 kernel from 24.04, with improved hardware support across AMD, Intel, and ARM platforms.
  • GNOME 50 ships as the default desktop, with Wayland now the default graphics protocol across virtually all hardware configurations.
  • X11 GNOME session removed. The GNOME X11 session is gone. If your GPU or workflow requires X11, confirm Wayland compatibility before upgrading.
  • HWE stack updates arrive through the 26.04.1 point release itself, offering an easier path for users on newer hardware.

The removal of X11 is the change most likely to cause friction. Gaming setups using older NVIDIA drivers, remote desktop tools relying on X11 forwarding, and certain legacy enterprise software may need attention before upgrading. For everyone else — particularly desktop users on modern Wayland-compatible hardware — 26.04 is a clean, capable LTS.

To upgrade from 24.04, ensure your system is fully updated first (sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade), then run sudo do-release-upgrade. The upgrade path has been tested and is considered stable as of today's point release.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is supported until April 2031, with extended security maintenance available through 2036.