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Ubuntu 26.10 “Stonking Stingray” Is Slated for Release on October 15th, 2026
Ubuntu 26.10 “Stonking Stingray” will be Canonical’s 45th Ubuntu release, and it’s an interim one that will be supported with software and security updates for only nine months, until June 2027, targeting bleeding-edge Ubuntu users who are willing to trade Ubuntu LTS’s stability for the latest technologies.
The beta of the Stonking Stingray release will be available for public testing on September 24th, 2026, while the final release will arrive on October 15th, 2026. Other interesting dates in the Ubuntu 26.10 release include two optional Ubuntu Testing Weeks on July 2nd and August 27th.
OMG Ubuntu:
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Ubuntu 26.10 codename revealed, and it sounds strange
As codenames go it’s certainly unique. The distro gives each release a codename: an alliterative pairing of adjective and animal, the latter of which becomes the release mascot. The tradition dates back to the first Ubuntu release in 2004 (dubbed ‘Warty Warthog’).
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS was ‘Resolute Raccoon’, making ‘s’ the next letter alphabetically, and ‘Stonking Stingray’ was the distro’s standout choice.
But what does it mean?
Stonking is a strange choice as (to my knowledge) it’s mainly used here in the UK as an informal term for something that’s huge or exceptionally good. Interim (short-term) releases often use colourful codenames1 (Wiley Werewolf, Disco Dingo, Groovy Gorilla) so it tracks.
Whether those outside of the UK will understand it in that context… You tell me down in the comments!