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NixOS 26.05, codenamed “Yarara,” has officially been released as the newest version of the independent Linux distribution built around the Nix package manager and the Nixpkgs software collection.
The new release ships with Linux kernel 6.18 LTS as the default choice and now enables a systemd-based stage 1 boot process by default. Users still retain access to all supported kernel variants and can switch between them through NixOS’s declarative configuration system.
With the arrival of version 26.05, the older NixOS 25.11 “Xantusia” release has entered deprecation status and will officially reach end-of-life after June 30, 2026. The traditional scripted early-boot mechanism is now considered obsolete and is scheduled for complete removal in the upcoming NixOS 26.11 release.
Nixpkgs receives one of its largest refreshes in this update. The project reports the addition of 20,442 new packages, updates to 20,641 existing packages, and the removal of 17,532 outdated entries as part of ongoing cleanup, maintenance, and security improvements.
NixOS 26.05 also expands its modular configuration ecosystem. The release introduces 85 new modules and 1,547 additional configuration options while retiring 25 outdated modules and 355 deprecated settings. Declarative modules remain one of NixOS’s defining features, allowing users to manage entire system configurations in a reproducible manner.
Desktop users receive updated environments as well, including GNOME 50 and KDE Plasma 6.6.5. Development toolchains have also been refreshed with GCC 15, while LLVM continues to ship with version 21.
For macOS users, this release marks the final Nixpkgs version supporting the x86_64-darwin platform. Although binary builds and platform compatibility will remain available through the end of 2026, support will be completely discontinued starting with Nixpkgs 26.11.
The NixOS team states that version 26.05 will continue receiving security patches and bug-fix updates until December 31, 2026.
Users interested in trying the new release can download NixOS 26.05 in two editions: a graphical installer image and a minimal installation image, both available for 64-bit AMD/Intel and ARM systems.
