Ubuntu 26.10 Beta is now available. It gives testers an official preview of “Stonking Stingray” across desktop, server, WSL and cloud images. The Ubuntu Release Team announced the beta on October 1 after a short delay in the original schedule. The team expects the final release on October 15. Now is the time to check hardware support and report bugs.
What the Ubuntu 26.10 Beta includes
The official release announcement covers Ubuntu Desktop and Server as well as WSL and cloud images. It also lists beta builds for Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon and UbuntuKylin. Ubuntu MATE, Studio, Unity and Xubuntu also have images. That gives testers a choice of desktop environments while keeping the same release milestone.
Ubuntu says the beta contains updated core packages, including a current Linux 7.3 release-candidate kernel. That detail matters: a release candidate is still under test, and individual packages can change before October 15. The team says the images should avoid showstopper build or installer bugs. They remain test builds, however, and may change before release.
Why this milestone matters
Readers following our earlier report on the Ubuntu 26.10 beta delay can now move from waiting to testing. The schedule change did not cancel the beta. The Release Team has published the milestone and still targets the planned final date. A successful install today, however, is only one part of testing. Wi-Fi, graphics, suspend, printing and upgrades may behave differently on real machines.
How to try the beta safely
Download the image for your edition from the official Ubuntu release directory, then check the accompanying release notes before installing. A virtual machine or spare device is a sensible first stop. If you use everyday hardware, first make a verified backup. Expect more fixes in later images.
For a clean installation, write the downloaded image to USB and test the live session first. Check networking, display scaling, sound and sleep before replacing an existing installation. For an upgrade from Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, follow Canonical’s linked instructions. A regular software update will not necessarily move you to the beta.
What testers should report
Record the exact image build, hardware model, steps to reproduce a problem and any error messages. File bugs against the relevant package. For cloud image issues, use the cloud-images project. Specific reports help developers separate a local configuration issue from a release-wide regression.
Ubuntu 26.10 Beta previews the planned release. It does not guarantee that every feature is finished. Test the edition you plan to use during the next two weeks. Raise problems while maintainers can still act.