The Manjaro project has released Manjaro 26.0, codenamed “Anh-Linh”, the new stable version of this popular Arch Linux-based distribution. It went out officially on January 4, 2026, and pulls in much of the latest from the GNU/Linux world, with Wayland front and center on the graphics side.
Key highlights
- Linux 6.18 LTS kernel: the new long-term support series becomes the base of the system, alongside other available branches such as 6.12 LTS, 5.15 LTS, and 5.10 LTS for older hardware.
- KDE Plasma 6.5 on Wayland: the Plasma edition moves up to version 6.5 and defaults to Wayland, matching the project’s bet on modern sessions.
- GNOME 49 on Wayland: the GNOME edition reaches version 49 and runs only on Wayland, since X11 support has been dropped from this series.
- Xfce 4.20: the flagship edition sticks with Xfce, now at version 4.20, while keeping X11 compatibility for anyone who needs it.
- COSMIC 1.0.1 support: Manjaro 26.0 is the first release to support the first stable release of the COSMIC desktop environment, developed by System76.
- Updated packages: includes Mesa 25.3.2, Firefox 146, LibreOffice 25.8.4, and NVIDIA 590 drivers, among other updates.
What Manjaro is and who it is for
Manjaro is an Arch-based Linux distribution built on a rolling-release model, with an extra layer of stability from tested update branches and its own installation and configuration tools. The point is to bring Arch’s power and freshness to a wider audience: a system that stays approachable for newcomers to Linux and still works for advanced users who want recent software without the hassle.
With this version, you get immediate access to modern desktop environments, a long-term support kernel, and a firm move toward Wayland. Read the official notes before you update, especially if you run an older NVIDIA card or depend on X11 sessions.
You can find all the information about this distribution on its page at LinuxGratis: /en/manjaro.