How to Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed Resolute Raccoon, officially launched on April 23, 2026, and it brings some exciting improvements. It ships with Linux kernel 7.0, GNOME 50, Python 3.14, PHP 8.5, Java 25, TPM-backed full-disk encryption, post-quantum cryptography support in OpenSSL, and a Wayland-only GNOME session.

Since this is a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, you get five years of standard security updates, with extended support available through Ubuntu Pro.

If you are currently using Ubuntu and want to upgrade without reinstalling everything, this guide will walk you through the process step by step using the command line.

Can You Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS?

Before we begin, let’s clear up which versions can upgrade directly:

Ubuntu 25.10 users can upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS right now.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS users will receive the official upgrade prompt after the Ubuntu 26.04.1 point release arrives.
If you are using an older release, you may need to upgrade to Ubuntu 22.04, then 24.04, before moving to 26.04.

Prerequisites Before Upgrading

Before you start the upgrade process, make sure you are logged in as the root user or using an account with sudo privileges. You should also ensure that your internet connection is stable, as the system will need to download several gigabytes of packages during the upgrade.

If you are upgrading a remote server over SSH, it’s a good idea to have a backup access method ready in case your SSH session gets disconnected during the process.

How to Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Before performing any major system upgrade, we strongly recommend backing up your important files, documents, and application settings.

If you are running Ubuntu inside a virtual machine, create a full system snapshot first. This gives you an easy rollback option if anything goes wrong.

Even though Ubuntu upgrades are usually smooth, we have all learned the hard way that “usually” is not a backup strategy.

1. Check for Held Packages

Held packages can prevent the upgrade from completing properly.

Open the Terminal and run:

sudo apt-mark showhold

If the output is empty, you are good to go.

If you see held packages listed, unhold them using:

sudo apt-mark unhold package_name

Replace package_name with the actual package name.

2. Update Your Current Ubuntu Installation

Before jumping to Ubuntu 26.04, update all currently installed packages.

First, refresh the package list:

sudo apt update

Then install available updates:

sudo apt upgrade

If this step upgrades your kernel, restart your system before moving on.

After rebooting, run a full distribution upgrade:

sudo apt full-upgrade

This resolves dependency changes and installs or removes packages as needed.

Next, remove unnecessary packages:

sudo apt --purge autoremove

This helps keep the upgrade cleaner.

3. Install Update Manager Core

The release upgrade tool is called do-release-upgrade and is included in the update-manager-core package.

To make sure it’s installed, run:

sudo apt install update-manager-core

You should also verify the upgrade prompt policy.

Open this file:

sudo nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

Make sure it says one of these:

Prompt=lts

Prompt=normal

If it says:

Prompt=never

the upgrade won’t start.

4. Allow Port 1022 if Upgrading Over SSH

If you are connected through SSH, Ubuntu may launch an additional SSH daemon on port 1022 during the upgrade so you can reconnect if the main session disconnects.

If you use UFW firewall, allow it temporarily:

sudo ufw allow 1022/tcp

That’s actually a pretty smart safety net. I wish more tools thought ahead like this.

5. Start the Ubuntu 26.04 Upgrade

Now it’s time to begin the upgrade.

Run:

sudo do-release-upgrade

The upgrade tool will:

Disable third-party repositories
Update your package sources
Download Ubuntu 26.04 packages
Install new packages
Remove obsolete packages

During the process, you may see prompts asking: Restart Services Automatically?

Type:

to allow automatic service restarts.

Replace Configuration Files?

If you have not customized the config file, type:

to use the package maintainer’s version.

If you have made manual changes, keep your current version to avoid losing them.

The process runs inside a GNU screen session, so if your connection drops, it can continue in the background.

6. Reboot Your System

Once installation is complete, Ubuntu will ask whether to reboot.

Type:

and press Enter.

Your machine will restart and boot into Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

7. Verify the Upgrade

After logging back in, confirm the new Ubuntu version:

lsb_release -a

You should see output similar to this:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Release:        26.04
Codename:       resolute

To verify the kernel version:

uname -r

The output should show a 7.0.x kernel.

Wrapping Up

Upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS gives you the latest features, better security, and long-term support without reinstalling your system from scratch.

Once the upgrade is complete, re-enable any third-party repositories you use and test your important apps and services. Ubuntu has come a long way, and honestly, “Resolute Raccoon” might be one of the best code names Canonical has picked in years.