Oracle has released version 26 of the Java programming language and virtual machine. As the first non-LTS release since JDK 25, the final feature set includes 10 JEPs, five of which are still progress

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Oracle has released JDK 26, the first non-LTS release since JDK 25, featuring 10 JEPs across language innovation, library improvements, performance, and security. Key highlights include: Ahead-of-Time Object Caching with Any GC (extending Project Leyden to support ZGC), Lazy Constants (Second Preview, renamed from Stable Values), removal of the long-deprecated Applet API, PEM Encodings of Cryptographic Objects (Second Preview) for cryptographic key/certificate handling, HTTP/3 support for the HTTP Client API, G1 GC throughput improvements, and the Vector API in its eleventh incubator round. Five JEPs remain in preview or incubator stages. The article also previews likely JDK 27 candidates including Post-Quantum Hybrid Key Exchange for TLS 1.3 (already targeted), Value Classes under Project Valhalla, and finalization of PEM Encodings, with GA expected September 2026.

Java 26 Delivers Language Innovation, Library Improvements, Performance and Security