Canonical has officially confirmed that Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed "Resolute Raccoon," will feature the Linux Kernel 6.20, which could be renamed to Linux 7.0. This announcement came from Canonical’s kernel engineer, Paolo Pisati, who stated that the intention is to target the Linux 6.20 kernel for the upcoming release, provided there are no unexpected issues.
The timeline for these changes is quite strategic. Linux 7.0 is expected to be released on April 5th, 2026, while Ubuntu 26.04 is slated to launch on April 23rd, with a kernel freeze set for April 16th. Canonical has adopted a new method for kernel selection, aimed at delivering the latest kernel version, even if still under development, as shown by the experience with Ubuntu 25.10 when it launched with Linux 6.17 shortly after it became stable.
This updated approach is beneficial for all users, as hardware enablement (HWE) updates will backport newer kernels to previous LTS versions. Users of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS can expect the Linux 6.17 kernel soon thanks to the strategy established by Canonical.
Current daily builds for Ubuntu 26.04 are running the Linux 6.18 release, and as soon as Linux 6.19 comes out, it will roll out automatically to upcoming daily builds. Ultimately, the final stable release will come with Linux 6.20/7.0, allowing new LTS users to experience the latest in hardware support, performance improvements, and enhanced security features.
For more information, you can check the official announcement from Canonical.