NixOS 26.05 “Yarara” Released: The Most Unique Linux Distribution Gets Even Better

NixOS 26.05 ships with the Linux 6.18 Long Term Support kernel by default, offering extended maintenance and improved hardware compatibility. True to NixOS’s philosophy of flexibility, multiple supported kernel branches are still available — users can switch to any of them with a single configuration line. The previous stable branch, NixOS 25.11 “Xantusia,” has entered its deprecation phase and will cease maintenance on June 30, 2026.

Perhaps the most consequential architectural change in this release: NixOS 26.05 enables the systemd-based Stage 1 boot environment by default for the first time, replacing the legacy script-based boot scheme. The result is a more unified boot process that aligns NixOS more closely with the broader modern Linux ecosystem.

The Nixpkgs software repository — NixOS’s greatest strength — received a sweeping refresh in 26.05:

This large-scale churn gives users access to more current applications while reducing the maintenance burden and closing potential security gaps left by obsolete packages.

Declarative configuration is NixOS’s defining trait, and 26.05 keeps expanding the surface area. The release adds 85 new system modules and 1,547 new configuration options, while removing 25 obsolete modules and 355 deprecated items. The net effect is a cleaner, more expressive configuration language for desktops, servers, and development environments alike.

Desktop users get the freshest Linux desktop software available:

Developers benefit from an updated compiler stack. NixOS 26.05 ships GCC 15 as the default C/C++ compiler, while LLVM advances to version 21. Together, these toolchain upgrades bring the latest language standard support, compiler optimisations, and performance improvements to the entire software build pipeline.

NixOS 26.05 is the last Nixpkgs release to officially support the x86_64-darwin (Intel Mac) platform. Binary cache services will continue through the end of 2026, but from Nixpkgs 26.11 onward the project will no longer produce related builds or provide official support. The ecosystem’s macOS focus will shift entirely to Apple Silicon (aarch64-darwin) and other modern hardware architectures.

NixOS 26.05 will receive bug fixes and security updates until December 31, 2026, offering developers, workstation users, and server administrators a stable, well-maintained foundation for the rest of the year.

NixOS 26.05 is available now via the official NixOS website. Two image types are on offer: a graphical installer image for desktop deployments, and a Minimal image aimed at advanced users and servers. Both x86_64 (AMD/Intel 64-bit) and ARM architecture devices are supported. Full download links and documentation can be found at nixos.org.