Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon ships with 9 official flavors. Every flavor uses the same Ubuntu base and gets the same security updates – the difference is the desktop, the default apps, and which hardware it runs best on.
This page covers all 9, with a comparison table and direct links to the download, upgrade guide, and wallpapers for each one.
Quick Comparison
All flavors run until April 2029 (3-year community support). Ubuntu itself runs until April 2031 (5-year Canonical support).
| Flavor | Desktop | Min RAM | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | GNOME 50 | 6 GB | General use, developers, best support |
| Kubuntu | KDE Plasma 6.6 | 4 GB | Customization, Windows migrants, power users |
| Xubuntu | Xfce 4.20 | 2 GB | Older hardware, traditional layout, speed |
| Lubuntu | LXQt 2.3 | 1 GB | Very old or low-spec hardware, minimalists |
| Ubuntu Budgie | Budgie 10.10 | 4 GB | Clean modern look, macOS-style workflow |
| Ubuntu Cinnamon | Cinnamon 6.4 | 2 GB | Windows migrants, familiar layout |
| Ubuntu Studio | KDE Plasma 6.6 | 4 GB | Audio, video, graphic production |
| Edubuntu | GNOME 50 | 4 GB | Students, teachers, classrooms |
| Ubuntu Kylin | UKUI 4.22 | 4 GB | Chinese-speaking users, Windows-like layout |
The standard Ubuntu experience. It uses GNOME 50 and is the version Canonical supports directly for 5 years. If you are new to Ubuntu and not sure which flavor to pick, start here – it has the most documentation, the largest community, and the widest app support. Note that 26.04 raises the minimum RAM to 6 GB, higher than previous versions.
Kubuntu uses KDE Plasma 6.6 – one of the most customizable desktops available on any operating system. You can change almost everything about how it looks and works. In 26.04 it runs Wayland-only, dropping X11 entirely. A solid choice for users switching from Windows who want a familiar taskbar-based layout with more control than GNOME gives you.
Xubuntu uses the Xfce 4.20 desktop – fast, stable, and light on resources without looking dated. It is a good middle ground between the heaviest and lightest flavors: more polished than Lubuntu, more efficient than GNOME or KDE. Works well on older hardware and runs comfortably with 2 GB of RAM. A traditional panel-based layout that most users will feel at home with immediately.
Lubuntu is built for speed and low resource use. It uses LXQt 2.3, one of the lightest desktop environments available, and runs on as little as 1 GB of RAM. If you have a computer that struggles with other operating systems, Lubuntu is usually the fix. It looks and feels like a standard desktop – taskbar, file manager, application menu – without the weight of heavier interfaces.
Ubuntu Budgie uses the Budgie 10.10 desktop – clean, minimal, and polished. In 26.04 it runs on Wayland only, making it one of the first Ubuntu flavors to drop X11 entirely. The layout has a top panel with a dock, similar to how macOS is arranged. It ships with labwc as the compositor and includes a new screencast applet for recording your screen. A good option for users who want a modern, uncluttered workspace.
Ubuntu Cinnamon uses the Cinnamon 6.4 desktop – a taskbar at the bottom, a start menu on the left, and a layout that will feel immediately familiar to anyone coming from Windows. It is lighter than GNOME and runs comfortably on 2 GB of RAM. A new color-neutral theme landed in 26.04, giving it a cleaner look across different accent colors. X11 by default – Wayland support is still in progress upstream.
Ubuntu Studio is built for content creation. It ships with a full suite of audio, video, and graphics software pre-installed – Ardour, Kdenlive, GIMP, Krita, Blender, OBS Studio, and more. PipeWire handles audio with low-latency optimizations already configured. It uses KDE Plasma 6.6 on Wayland. You do not need to install and configure a bunch of creative tools after setup – they are all there on first boot.
Edubuntu is Ubuntu built for education. It uses GNOME 50 and ships with a large collection of educational software pre-installed, organized by age group – preschool through university. School administration tools were rewritten for 26.04 with support for 21 languages and a new web-based admin panel. It also runs on Raspberry Pi, making it practical for computer labs and school deployments.
Ubuntu Kylin is built for Chinese-speaking users. It uses the UKUI 4.22 desktop – a custom interface developed in partnership with China’s National University of Defense Technology, designed to feel familiar to users coming from Windows. It ships with Chinese input methods (iBus-Rime and Fcitx5 supporting Pinyin, Wubi, and Cangjie) built in. The wallpaper collection alone is worth exploring – over 300 Chinese landscape photos, ink-wash paintings, and abstract artwork.
Ubuntu Unity 26.04 was released on April 23, 2026, but it does not carry official LTS status due to limited contributor resources. The project intends to maintain it on an LTS-like schedule, but it is not covered by the same formal support commitment as the 9 flavors listed above. If you use Ubuntu Unity, check the Ubuntu Unity website for the current support status.
Ubuntu MATE did not release a 26.04 LTS version. Founder Martin Wimpress announced in March 2026 that he was stepping back from the project after 12 years, and without sufficient maintainers to take over the release cycle, 26.04 was skipped. Ubuntu MATE 24.04 LTS is still supported until April 2027. If you want a classic desktop layout with Ubuntu as the base, Ubuntu Cinnamon or Xubuntu are the closest alternatives currently maintained.
Which Flavor Is Right for You?
If you are not sure which one to install, this is the short version:
Install Ubuntu. It has the most documentation, the largest community, and is the version most tutorials and guides are written for. You can always switch later.
Try Ubuntu Cinnamon first. The taskbar-at-the-bottom layout will feel familiar immediately. Kubuntu is a good second option if you want more control over how things look.
Install Lubuntu if your machine has less than 2 GB of RAM. Use Xubuntu if you want a bit more visual polish and have 2-4 GB available.
Install Ubuntu Studio. Everything is pre-configured and pre-installed. You do not need to spend an afternoon setting up audio drivers or finding the right video editor.
Use Edubuntu. Educational software is already installed, organized by age group, and the admin tools make it easy to manage a classroom setup or set parental controls.
Try Ubuntu Budgie. It has the cleanest out-of-the-box look of any Ubuntu flavor, runs on Wayland, and stays out of your way while you work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many official Ubuntu flavors are there in 26.04 LTS?
There are 9 official Ubuntu 26.04 LTS flavors: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Studio, Edubuntu, and Ubuntu Kylin. Ubuntu MATE did not release a 26.04 version after its founder stepped back in March 2026. Ubuntu Unity released 26.04 but without official LTS status.
What is the difference between Ubuntu flavors?
Every flavor uses the same Ubuntu base, the same software repositories, and gets the same security updates. The difference is the desktop – the visual interface, default apps, and how the system feels to use. Choosing a flavor is choosing a desktop and a default app set, not a different operating system.
Which Ubuntu 26.04 flavor uses the least RAM?
Lubuntu is the lightest, running on as little as 1 GB of RAM. Xubuntu is the next lightest at around 2 GB. Ubuntu (GNOME) now requires a minimum of 6 GB in 26.04, up from 4 GB in previous versions – worth knowing before upgrading on older hardware.
Which Ubuntu flavor is best for beginners?
Ubuntu (GNOME) and Ubuntu Cinnamon are the two best starting points. Ubuntu has the most tutorials and community support. Ubuntu Cinnamon has a layout very close to Windows, which makes the switch easier if you are coming from there.
Do all Ubuntu flavors get the same support period?
No. Ubuntu itself gets 5 years of support from Canonical (until April 2031). All other official flavors get 3 years of community support (until April 2029). Ubuntu Unity 26.04 is a special case – it released without official LTS status, so check the Ubuntu Unity website for its current support commitments.
Can I switch from one Ubuntu flavor to another without reinstalling?
You can install another desktop environment on your existing Ubuntu installation through the package manager. It works, but it often leaves mixed theming, extra packages, and occasional conflicts. A clean install of the flavor you want is the cleaner and more reliable approach if you have decided to switch permanently.
What happened to Ubuntu MATE in 26.04?
Ubuntu MATE did not release a 26.04 LTS version. Martin Wimpress, who founded and led the project for 12 years, announced in March 2026 that he was stepping back. Without enough maintainers to cover a release cycle, the 26.04 release was skipped. Ubuntu MATE 24.04 LTS is still supported until April 2027. The project may return for a future release if new maintainers step up.
More Ubuntu 26.04 guides: Download Ubuntu 26.04 · Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 · What’s New in Ubuntu 26.04 · Ubuntu 26.04 Wallpapers
