It's been nearly two years since the last LTS release of Ubuntu, but soon it will be time for another. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is expected to release in April, and it comes with some big changes if you've been holding on to the previous LTS version.

However, you may actually want to skip this release, and there are a few reasons why. Some of the changes in it aren't positive for everyone, and you may want to look to greener pastures.

GNOME 50 drops X11 support

Bad news if you don't like Wayland

One of the major updates in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS comes in the form of GNOME 50, the latest version of the included desktop environment. Usually, that's not necessarily bad news, but the big problem with GNOME 50 is that it drops support for the long-standing X11 windowing system and goes all-in on the more modern Wayland.

While Wayland has some clear benefits for most users, some long-time Linux users may not like some of the limitations and problems that come with it. Wayland lacks built-in support for remote desktop and cross-app input access that can affect some automation tools. Some older apps may still rely on specific X11 features some users may need.

Ubuntu MATE and Unity are seemingly skipping it

No LTS benefits for you

If you're not a fan of GNOME and you've been using either Ubuntu MATE Ubuntu Unity, you'll be disappointed to know that these two variants of Ubuntu are seemingly not being supported by the LTS program for Ubuntu. The two distros didn't register for the LTS release like many others did.

What that means is that while you should be able to download Ubuntu 26.04, it will have the same support period as a typical non-LTS release, and you'll need to upgrade much sooner. To ensure a longer support period, staying on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will be the best way to go.

Ubuntu MATE offers a version of Ubuntu with the MATE desktop, which is based on an older version of GNOME, which is lighter on resources and has more of a classic look. Ubuntu Unity uses the Unity7 desktop, a modern alternative to GNOME that goes for a different look. Of course, you can always install these desktops over the base Ubuntu release instead, but still.

There are other distros worth your attention

Ubuntu isn't for everyone

If you're considering a fresh install of Ubuntu 26.04, it's also worth considering the wide range of other options available for a Linux distro that may be more your speed. I've written before about how I feel Ubuntu is a bad starting point for someone coming from Windows, but even if you're used to all its quirks, there are other great options that may be more your speed.

Linux Mint is a potentially great option that's actually still based on Ubuntu, but does a few things differently, including the Cinnamon desktop environment, which is heavily customizable but still streamlined and familiar enough for someone coming from Windows. Pop! OS is another solid option which has recently switched from the GNOME desktop to the entirely new COSMIC desktop, and while it's still a bit basic, it's already got some big benefits. Both of these distros also have LTS releases with long-term support if having a consistent experience is important to you.

Alternatively, you can look to distros with more frequent updates and different desktops. KDE Neon is a great option if you like all the KDE software such as the Plasma desktop. Or, if you want a stable system where it's very unlikely you can break anything, you might want to check out the many immutable distro options, like Bazzite if you're interested in gaming, or Aurora if you want a more typical desktop experience. Those would be my recommendation if stability is your main focus.

At least give it some time

You don't need to update yet

Even if you're not fazed by any of the above, at the very least, it may be a good idea to hold off on upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04 right away. On top of all the above, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will be the first release to use the Linux 7.0 kernel, and this is a pretty major update that could come with some early stability issues.

It's the first version to officially support Rust in the kernel, new updates to the scheduler, and Linus Torvalds himself complained that the update felt too big during the review period for one of the release candidate builds. You might want to wait and see how it performs before putting it on your machine.

Plus, if you're already using an LTS version of Ubuntu, you don't need to update just yet. Each LTS release is supported for five years, so if you have version 24.04, you still have three years left of security updates before you need to upgrade. In fact, you could hold over until the next LTS release in two years if you want to keep the same experience for a while longer.