Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026
2025 was a landmark year for Ubuntu and the Linux environment, marked by significant advancements. The move to Wayland became stable, making it a standard across many distributions, and Linux gaming gained a level of mainstream acceptance thanks to Valve’s efforts. The Ubuntu desktop team continued to innovate with enhancements to applications and security measures emphasizing encryption.
However, several persistent issues remain. While Snap packages have improved functionality, they are often overlooked by developers, leading to many outdated or unofficial versions. The default App Center still tends to prioritize older Snap versions despite newer alternatives being available. Additionally, Ubuntu’s reluctance to acknowledge Flathub—a growing source of software for Linux—comes across as more of a political statement than a technical decision.
While observers often focus on what’s not working, it’s important to appreciate the solid foundation existing Linux distributions provide. Yet, progress means constantly identifying improvements and setting new goals.
Exciting Prospects for 2026
The upcoming year promises more positive developments for Ubuntu. The impending release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will provide a robust platform for users, affecting many derivatives like Linux Mint and Zorin OS. Users can expect significant changes with the upcoming version, including GNOME 50 and potentially a new Linux Kernel, alongside fresh applications such as Resources and Showtime. A notable feature in the works, the Prompting Client, which enhances security by requiring user confirmation for app access to hardware and files, will likely become standard.
Looking beyond the LTS release, Ubuntu 26.10 is expected to usher in bold changes. The developers are exploring the feasibility of raising the default ISO baseline for better compatibility with newer hardware, while the App Center aims to evolve into a unified package management tool that simplifies access to Snaps, DEBs, Flatpaks, and repositories.
The shift towards focusing on RISC-V support is also anticipated to yield results as compatible hardware becomes more accessible for developers and enthusiasts.
As we wait for more details on 2026’s plans, the community is encouraged to share their expectations and wishes. What is the one significant improvement you hope to see in Ubuntu? How would it impact your experience?
By voicing specific and ambitious desires for the upcoming updates, users can contribute to a dialogue about shaping a better platform.