Linus Torvalds Confirms Linux 7.0 as Next Kernel Version
Following the release of Linux 6.19 on February 8, Linus Torvalds confirmed the next kernel will be numbered 7.0 rather than 6.20, with the stable release expected in mid-April 2026.
Linus Torvalds has confirmed that the next major kernel series will jump to Linux 7.0 rather than continuing with 6.20. The announcement came with the release of Linux 6.19 on February 8, 2026, marking the end of the 6.x series after 19 releases.
Why the Version Bump
"I'm getting to the point where I'm being confused by large numbers (almost running out of fingers and toes again), so the next kernel is going to be called 7.0," Torvalds explained in a mailing list announcement. This follows the same reasoning used when moving from Linux 5.19 to 6.0, where high version numbers became unwieldy. The version number change is purely cosmetic and doesn't indicate any fundamental changes to the kernel's architecture or features.
Development Timeline
The merge window for Linux 7.0 opened on February 9, with the first Release Candidate milestone expected on February 22. Following the standard development cycle, new release candidates will be published weekly until the final stable release, which is anticipated to arrive between April 12 and April 19, depending on the number of RC milestones.
Looking Ahead
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, scheduled for release in April 2026, is expected to use Linux 7.0 as its default kernel. The new major version will continue the steady stream of hardware support improvements, performance optimizations, and security enhancements that characterize each kernel release.
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