The upcoming Ubuntu 26.10 release, codenamed “Stonking Stingray,” will now utilize the Linux 7.3 kernel instead of the previously planned Linux 7.2 kernel. The decision, announced by the Canonical kernel team, is due to the smooth development cycles of Linux 7.1 and 7.2, allowing confidence in adopting the newer kernel.
Originally, Ubuntu 26.10 was slated to ship with the Linux 7.2 kernel, based on Canonical’s alignment with the latest upstream major kernel release. However, reports from Phoronix readers and testing revealed the presence of the Linux 7.3 kernel during `apt dist-upgrade` operations. A Discourse post earlier this month detailed the realignment to Linux 7.3.
The Canonical Kernel Team stated, “Following up on our earlier announcement, the Canonical Kernel Team has reassessed our target kernel for the Ubuntu 26.10 (Stonking Stingray) release. Thanks to the upstream Linux development schedule, which faced no delays during the 7.1 and 7.2 release cycles and has already seen the release of 7.3-rc1, we are excited to share that we are stepping up our target: Ubuntu 26.10 will now target the Linux 7.3 kernel instead of 7.2.” The team cited the desire to align with the latest upstream capabilities, particularly for improved hardware support.
The Linux 7.3 kernel was initially present in the proposed archive and is now rolling out to the Ubuntu 26.10 archive ahead of the beta release next week. Ubuntu 26.10 is scheduled for release on October 15th, with a kernel freeze on October 1st. The final kernel release is expected on October 18th, though it could be pushed to October 25th if an additional release candidate is needed. As this is not a Long Term Support (LTS) release, Canonical is prioritizing the latest kernel version.
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