How to Upgrade Ubuntu to Version 26.04

Ubuntu 26.04, the latest Ubuntu LTS version codenamed Resolute Raccoon, was released in April 2026. Upgrade your Ubuntu system to ensure it stays secure, stable, and compatible with newer software. On servers, upgrades are typically performed via the CLI, but a graphical upgrade is also possible if a desktop environment is installed.

This guide covers the CLI and GUI approach for upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04, along with verification steps and common issues you may encounter.

Prerequisites

• Dual-core CPU or better.
• A minimum of 4-6 GB RAM.
• At least 25 GB of storage.
• A stable internet connection.

Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 via GUI

If your Ubuntu Server has a desktop environment installed (for example, GNOME via ubuntu-desktop), you can perform the upgrade using built-in graphical tools. This method is straightforward and suitable for systems that already use a GUI.

The upgrade from earlier Ubuntu versions to 26.04 LTS is not available via GUI until the first point release (26.04.1). Until then, the system may only offer interim releases such as 25.10. Additionally, if you are currently on an older Ubuntu LTS or interim release (e.g., Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or 25.04), you must first upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or 25.10 before proceeding to 26.04 LTS.

Step 1: Install Available Updates

The Software Updater tool checks for both package updates and new Ubuntu releases. It is the entry point for upgrading via a graphical interface.

1. Open the application menu and search for Software Updater.

2. Launch the tool and wait for it to refresh package information.

3. If updates are listed, click Install Now.

4. Wait for all updates to finish installing.

If the system requires a restart after updates, reboot before proceeding.

Step 2: Configure Release Upgrade Settings

Ubuntu determines which upgrades to offer based on your release settings. Configure these settings to control whether you receive only LTS upgrades or all releases.

1. Open Software & Updates from the applications menu.

2. Click the Updates tab.

3. Set Notify me of a new Ubuntu version to:

• For long-term support versions (recommended for servers), or
• For any new version (to receive interim releases such as 25.10).

4. Close the window to apply changes.

Step 3: Start the Upgrade

Once Ubuntu 26.04 becomes available, Software Updater displays an upgrade prompt.

1. Click Yes, Upgrade Now in the notification window.

2. Review the release notes presented in the dialog.

3. Click Upgrade again to confirm.

If your system is set to receive any version, you may be prompted to upgrade to 25.10 instead of 26.04, as in the screenshot below:

Step 4: Follow the Upgrade Prompts

During the upgrade, several prompts require your input. These determine how the system handles existing configurations and packages.

In this stage, you will:

• Confirm the upgrade.
• Review package changes.
• Decide how to handle modified configuration files.
• Approve removal of obsolete packages.

Make decisions carefully, especially on systems with custom configurations. If unsure about configuration changes, keeping your current version is usually the safer option on servers.

Step 5: Complete the Upgrade and Restart

Once all packages are installed and configured, the system prompts for a restart.

Click Restart Now and wait for the system to reboot. After logging back in, the system should be running the upgraded version of Ubuntu.

Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 via Command Line

The command-line method is the standard and recommended approach for Ubuntu Server. It provides full control over the upgrade process and works on both headless and GUI-enabled systems.

Follow the steps below to upgrade:

Step 1: Update Package Lists

Start by refreshing the package index to ensure your system has the latest metadata. Run:

sudo apt update

This command retrieves updated information about available packages.

Step 2: Upgrade Installed Packages

Upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions. This prepares the system for a smooth release upgrade. Run the following command:

sudo apt dist-upgrade -o APT::Get::Always-Include-Phased-Updates=true -y

This step resolves dependencies and installs required updates.

Step 3: Check for Available Releases

Before starting the upgrade, check which releases are available. Run the following command:

do-release-upgrade -c

Depending on your configuration, the system may offer an interim release (such as 25.10) instead of 26.04, or say that there are no available releases if your system is set to LTS-only upgrades, as in the example below:

The file /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades defines what do-release-upgrade is allowed to show. It has one key parameter:

Prompt=lts

The possible parameter values are:

• Prompt=lts - only LTS upgrades (24.04 > 26.04).
• Prompt=normal - all releases (24.04 > 25.10 > 26.04).

Step 4: Start the Release Upgrade

Run the upgrade tool to begin the process:

sudo do-release-upgrade

This upgrades to the next available release based on your current settings.

To upgrade directly to Ubuntu 26.04 before it is officially enabled, use:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Step 5: Follow Interactive Prompts

The upgrade tool runs interactively and guides you through the process:

1. First, confirm the upgrade. Type y and press Enter to confirm:

2. Review package changes and confirm with y and Enter:

3. Next, handle configuration file prompts. First select your keyboard's country of origin:

Then, select your keyboard layout:

4. Approve removal of obsolete packages with y and confirm your choice with Enter:

The system downloads and installs required packages. This step may take time depending on system performance and network speed.

5. Lastly, restart to complete the upgrade:

Verify Ubuntu Version

After completing the upgrade and rebooting the system, verify that Ubuntu 26.04 is installed. This confirms that the upgrade process completed successfully and that the system is running the expected release.

Verify via GUI

If your system includes a desktop environment, you can check the Ubuntu version through the graphical interface.

1. Open the applications menu and search for Settings.

2. In Settings, navigate to the About section.

3. Look for the Operating System field. It should display Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Verify via Command Line

On server systems or headless environments, use the command line to confirm the installed version. This method is reliable and always available.

Run the following command:

lsb_release -a

The command output displays detailed information about the current Ubuntu release:

Alternatively, use:

cat /etc/os-release

Common Problems When Upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04

Upgrades are generally reliable, but some issues can still occur. The following sections cover the most common scenarios.

Upgrade to 26.04 Not Available

If Ubuntu 26.04 does not appear in either the CLI or GUI, this is expected behavior before the first point release.

• CLI may report no new release or offer only the next interim version.
• GUI may show no upgrade or only interim releases (e.g., 25.10).

Ubuntu enables LTS-to-LTS upgrades only after the .1 release (26.04.1).

"Could Not Find the Release Announcement"

If you see the following message:

Could not find the release announcement
The server may be overloaded.

This typically means that no upgrade path is currently enabled, not that the server is actually overloaded. There are multiple reasons why this can happen:

• Ubuntu has not yet enabled the upgrade path.
• The system cannot retrieve a valid meta-release file.
• The requested upgrade is not officially available yet.

To proceed, wait for the official upgrade window (26.04.1), or force the upgrade with:

sudo do-release-upgrade -d

Interim Release Offered Instead of 26.04

If you see an upgrade to 25.10 instead of 26.04, your system is set to receive all releases, including interim ones. You can change which releases you receive by configuring the update notifications.

1. Open Software & Updates.

2. Set Notify me of a new Ubuntu version to:

• For long-term support versions.

This option ensures direct LTS-to-LTS upgrades once available.

Broken Packages

Dependency issues can interrupt the upgrade. To fix them, run the following commands:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Services Fail After Upgrade

Some services may fail due to updated dependencies or configuration changes. You can check failed services with:

systemctl --failed

To view logs, run:

journalctl -xe

Disk Space Issues

Insufficient disk space can stop the upgrade. To check available space, run the following command:

df -h

To free up space, you can remove unnecessary dependencies and clear the local package cache with:

sudo apt autoremove

sudo apt clean

Conclusion

This tutorial showed how to upgrade from earlier OS releases to Ubuntu 26.04. Upgrading Ubuntu Server to 26.04 requires understanding how Ubuntu stages release availability. While both GUI and CLI methods are supported, the command-line approach remains the most reliable, especially on server systems.

Next, learn everything about Ubuntu system requirements.