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Linux Mint is preparing a series of major changes, including a longer development cycle, a unified installer shared with LMDE, and a significant release planned for Christmas 2026.
In the March 2026 update, project leader Clement Lefebvre outlined several key decisions following an internal review. The most notable is the move to an extended release cycle, giving developers more time to improve the base system, desktop environment, and core tools without rushing major updates.
This shift is already shaping the next release. For now, it is referred to as “Alfa” with version number 23, though both the name and version are temporary. Final naming will depend on the release strategy, which is still being finalized.
The upcoming release will be based on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and is expected to ship with Linux kernel 7.0, along with Cinnamon 6.7-unstable, CJS 140, and the LMDE live installer, which will replace Ubiquity.
The new installer already supports OEM installations, BIOS and UEFI systems, Secure Boot, and LVM and LUKS configurations. Its adoption marks a significant technical shift, alongside ongoing efforts to improve Wayland support. Early testing has already begun, with Mint 23 Alfa including a new Wayland-compatible screensaver.
At this stage, development is primarily focused on the base system and installation process, while desktop components, applications, and toolkits will be addressed later in the cycle.
The broader release strategy is still under consideration. Open questions include the overall length of the release cycle, whether minor releases will remain fixed or adopt a more flexible model like LMDE, and whether alpha releases will become part of the development process moving forward.
For more details, see Mint’s March newsletter.
