As of October 22, 2025, Canonical has released the first daily build ISO images for the upcoming Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed "Resolute Raccoon." These builds are aimed at early adopters, developers, and public testing, following earlier versions that were non-functional.
The initial daily builds are constructed from the previous version, Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka," which was released on October 9, 2025. Therefore, the new daily builds are built on Linux kernel 6.17 and utilize the GNOME 49 desktop environment.
The development cycle for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will span six months, during which the available daily build ISOs will receive updates introducing significant technologies. Anticipated upgrades include the Mesa 25.3 graphics stack, Linux kernel 6.19, and the GNOME 50 desktop environment.
It is likely that the final release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will use Linux kernel 6.20, expected around April 2026. However, it would be prudent for Canonical to opt for the latest Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel series, which is anticipated to be Linux kernel 6.18.
Users can download the first daily build ISO images from the official website. Alongside Ubuntu, daily builds for flavors such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu are also available, each featuring their respective desktop environments from Ubuntu 25.10.
Users should be aware that these daily builds are pre-release versions and may include bugs or issues, so they are not recommended for production environments. The final release for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is scheduled for April 23, 2026, with a beta release expected in early April and a Release Candidate (RC) slated for the week preceding the final launch. The support period for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will extend for five years, concluding in April 2031.