Linux Mint 27 “Adrien”: Release Date, New Features and Upgrade Guide

Linux Mint 27 “Adrien” arrives Christmas 2026 on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. See what’s new, why point releases are ending, and whether you should upgrade from Mint 22.3.

Short answer: Linux Mint 27 “Adrien” is planned for Christmas 2026. It’s built on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and will come in Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE editions. Mint is also moving to one release per year and dropping point releases like 22.1 and 22.2. If you’re on Mint 22.3, you don’t need to upgrade right away.

Release date

Mint’s team announced the target in its development report published October 13, 2026. There is no exact date yet, only “Christmas.” A beta usually comes first, so watch the official Linux Mint blog for it.

Why it’s called Linux Mint 27, not 23

Mint is switching to year-based numbering. After Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena”, the next release is Mint 27, followed by 28, 29 and so on. The codenames have gone through the alphabet from “Ada” (2006) to “Zena”, so the series restarts at “A” with a boy’s name: Adrien.

What “no more point releases” means

Until now, Mint shipped a major version (22) and then updates with new features and a refreshed installer (22.1, 22.2, 22.3). From now on:

• One release per year, instead of a major release plus point releases.
• Upgrades go straight from 27 to 28 to 29, with nothing in between.
• You’ll get fewer, bigger releases, and less upgrade fatigue.

The trade-off is that each release carries more changes, which makes testing during the beta period more important.

What’s new in Mint 27

Mint’s project lead, Clement Lefebvre, has called this one of the biggest releases in the project’s 20-year history. Based on current reports:

• New first-party apps, including a calendar (Clockenstein), an ePub reader and a recurring-alarm app (Clocks). Some reports also list a system monitor, an archive manager and a terminal emulator, but names and details may change before release.
• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS base, so you get a newer kernel and updated packages than Mint 22.
• Wayland compatibility work, but Wayland will not be the default, so expect X11 sessions out of the box.
• Kernel management changes and improved input method support (Fcitx5).

Treat all of this as provisional until the beta. Don’t judge Mint 27 from preview screenshots.

Should you upgrade from Mint 22.3?

Probably not at launch.

• Mint 22.3 is still supported. Its release announcement gives it security updates through 2029, and the new release doesn’t change that.
• First releases have rough edges. Wait a few weeks for early bug reports and fixes.
• Wait for the official upgrade instructions. Don’t edit your repositories to get ahead of the release.

Upgrade sooner if you want the newer hardware support from the Ubuntu 26.04 base, or if you’re doing a fresh install on a new laptop.

How to prepare today

Check which version you’re running:

bash

cat /etc/os-release

Take a snapshot before any major change:

bash

sudo timeshift --create --comments "Before Mint 27 upgrade"

Then:

1. Update your current system fully (Update Manager).
2. Back up your home folder to an external drive.
3. Wait for Mint’s official upgrade guide, which has usually been published with the final release.
4. For a fresh install, create a Mint live USB and test it before wiping anything.

Linux Mint 27 vs the alternatives

If you want…	Consider
A familiar, Windows-like desktop that just works	Linux Mint
The same Ubuntu base with Snap and GNOME	Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
The newest software on a polished GNOME desktop	Fedora Workstation

If you’re new to Linux, see our guide to installing Linux on a laptop.

Linux Mint 27 – FAQ

When is Linux Mint 27 coming out?
Christmas 2026, with no exact date announced.

What is Linux Mint 27 based on?
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Is there a Linux Mint 23?
No. After 22.3 the next release is Mint 27.

Is Linux Mint 22.3 still supported?
Yes, through 2029, according to its release announcement.

When is Linux Mint 28?
Under the annual schedule, around late 2027, though the project hasn’t confirmed a date.

Will Linux Mint 27 use Wayland?
Wayland support is being worked on, but it won’t be the default in this release.

Last updated: October 27, 2026. We’ll update this when the beta and final release are announced.

Sources: 9to5Linux · OMG! Ubuntu · Linux Today

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