Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, also known as Resolute Raccoon, has officially entered beta. If you’ve been itching to see what Canonical has been cooking for its next long-term support release, now is your chance to kick the tires. This isn’t some early alpha either. The beta is described as largely free of major installer or image-breaking bugs, making it a pretty solid preview of what will ship in late April.
As usual, this release spans the full Ubuntu ecosystem. That means Desktop, Server, WSL, and Cloud images are all included, along with the familiar flavors like Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio, and Ubuntu Unity. Folks who prefer KDE, XFCE, or something a bit more niche are covered here, not just GNOME users.
Under the hood, one of the headline changes is the inclusion of the Linux kernel 6.20. That alone should get the attention of Linux enthusiasts, since it brings newer hardware support, performance tweaks, and all the usual kernel-level improvements that quietly make everything feel smoother. If you’re running newer hardware or planning to upgrade soon, this matters more than any flashy UI change.
SEE ALSO: Canonical brings Ubuntu Pro to WSL, giving Windows 11 users a fully supported Linux experience
On the server side, Canonical is continuing to refine its Subiquity installer. The goal is pretty clear. Make server installs feel more like the desktop experience, with a live session and faster setup process. For admins who have spent years dealing with clunky installers, this is a welcome shift. It does not reinvent the wheel, but it makes the process less painful.
Of course, this is still a beta. While it is considered stable enough for testing, it is not something you should blindly install on a production machine. That said, Ubuntu’s LTS betas are typically quite usable, especially if you are comfortable troubleshooting the occasional hiccup. If you are the kind of person who enjoys filing bug reports or just wants to get ahead of the curve, this is your moment.
Upgrading is also on the table. Users coming from Ubuntu 25.10 or even Ubuntu 24.04 LTS can move to the beta using the standard upgrade process. It is not complicated, but as always, backing up your data first is just common sense. No one wants to learn that lesson the hard way.
One thing worth noting is how broad this release really is. Beyond the traditional desktop and server installs, Ubuntu continues to push into cloud environments and Windows Subsystem for Linux. WSL support, in particular, keeps growing in importance as more developers mix Windows and Linux workflows. Ubuntu remains one of the most popular choices there, and this beta continues that trend.
Between now and the final release, Canonical will keep pushing updated images with fixes. That means what you download today is not necessarily what you will get next week. Daily images will continue to evolve, especially for cloud deployments. If you are testing in that space, grabbing the latest build is probably the smarter move.
So what does this all mean in practical terms? Honestly, it is classic Ubuntu. Incremental improvements, newer packages, updated kernel, and a steady focus on stability. That is exactly what you want from an LTS release. It is not about wild experimentation. It is about reliability for the next several years.
Still, there is something satisfying about seeing a new LTS take shape. Resolute Raccoon may not scream for attention, but it looks like another dependable release in the making. And for many folks, especially those running Linux in production or daily workflows, dependable is exactly the point.
If you’re ready to try Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon for yourself, the beta images are already live across the full lineup. Whether you want the standard desktop experience, a lightweight flavor, or something geared toward servers or cloud deployments, it’s all here. Just remember, folks, this is still pre-release software, so it’s best suited for testing on a spare machine or in a virtual environment. Pick the variant that fits your setup and dive in.
| Ubuntu Variant | Download |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu Desktop / Server / WSL (x86) | Download ISO |
| Non-x86 (ARM, etc.) | Download |
| Kubuntu | Download ISO |
| Xubuntu | Download ISO |
| Lubuntu | Download ISO |
| Ubuntu Budgie | Download ISO |
| Ubuntu Studio | Download ISO |
| Ubuntu Unity | Download ISO |
