Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Is Out: What Is New in Resolute Raccoon

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Is Out: What Is New in Resolute Raccoon

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed "Resolute Raccoon," was released on April 23, 2026. This is a Long Term Support release, meaning it receives five years of security and maintenance updates for Desktop, Server, Cloud, WSL, and Core editions. All ten official Ubuntu flavors — Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, and others — shipped simultaneously. Here is what is actually new and why it matters.

The Security Headline: TPM-Backed Full-Disk Encryption

The most significant new feature for enterprise deployments is TPM-backed full-disk encryption. This ties disk encryption to the system's Trusted Platform Module chip, meaning the decryption key is hardware-bound and the disk cannot be decrypted on a different machine even if physically removed. For organizations managing fleets of laptops or servers with sensitive data, this closes a real attack vector that has existed in previous Ubuntu LTS releases.

Ubuntu 26.04 also adds memory-safe components — replacing C-based system utilities with Rust equivalents where feasible — and improved application permission controls that bring Linux desktop security closer to mobile OS sandboxing models.

Arm Gets Livepatch

Livepatch, Canonical's kernel live patching service that applies security fixes without rebooting, now supports Arm architecture. This matters for the growing number of Arm-based servers in cloud and edge deployments. Previously, Arm Ubuntu servers required planned maintenance windows for kernel updates; Livepatch removes that constraint.

What Is Missing

Ubuntu MATE is not included in this release cycle — the flavor is seeking new maintainers. Users of Ubuntu MATE should plan to migrate to another flavor or the standard Ubuntu desktop before their current installation's support window closes. This is an unusual omission for an LTS cycle and suggests the MATE project faces ongoing sustainability challenges.

Support Timeline

Desktop, Server, Cloud, WSL, and Core editions receive five years of standard support through April 2031, with optional Extended Security Maintenance available through 2034 for paid subscribers. The remaining eight official flavors receive three years of support through April 2029.

My Take

TPM-backed encryption and Arm Livepatch are the two features that will drive enterprise adoption decisions. For the vast majority of Ubuntu users — developers running it on laptops and VMs — the upgrade is mostly invisible. The underlying OS is more secure and better maintained, which is exactly what an LTS release should deliver. If you are on 24.04 LTS, there is no urgency to upgrade immediately, but 26.04 is the version to land on before 24.04's support window narrows.

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