Xubuntu Development Update February 2026
Xubuntu 26.04 extends support for GTK 2, keeps Hexchat, and will ship with Xfce 4.20, MATE 1.28, and GNOME 50 components.
Winter 2026 is proving to be a cold one around these parts. With snow and ice on the ground, the outdoors are treacherous. It's much safer to talk about free software. 😉 In this issue:
- GTK 2 support in 26.04 and beyond
- Replacing Hexchat with a modern IRC client
- Community wallpaper contest
- SSH agent issues (help needed)
- Confirming the Xubuntu 26.04 software stack
- Important dates
- How you can help
GTK 2 support in 26.04 and beyond
Debian plans to remove GTK 2 applications and supporting packages from the archive in 2027. In preparation of this, the Greybird and Numix GTK themes included in Xubuntu were updated to remove GTK 2 support late last year. Since 26.04 is an LTS release supported for three years, I've restored this support.
Xubuntu 26.04 will be the final LTS release to include support for GTK 2 applications. 26.10 or 27.04 are likely to be the final interim releases to include this support. If you want to continue using those applications, this is a great time to consider packaging those applications as Snap or Flatpak formats to ensure a stable runtime environment.
Replacing Hexchat with a modern IRC client
Hexchat has long been Xubuntu's preferred IRC client, featuring a GTK-based interface, intuitive controls, and configuration support. Following the announcement of it's final release in 2024, the application is no longer maintained and will not make the switch to GTK 3 or newer. As a GTK 2 application, it is also subject to be removed from Debian and Ubuntu in the coming months.
I've spent some time testing alternative applications, but none meet Xubuntu's requirements:
- Use a supported toolkit, preferably GTK (or Flutter)
- Support configuration in advance; Xubuntu configures Hexchat to connect to #xubuntu on LiberaChat for support
- Support graphical configuration, so users can easily adapt the app to their needs
Failing to identify a replacement IRC client, Xubuntu 26.04 will continue to ship Hexchat as our default IRC client. While it is unmaintained, it remains the gold standard for IRC apps and will support our LTS users for a few more years. Xubuntu 26.10 and later may switch to preconfigured links to KiwiIRC or IRCCloud, but this is not yet determined.
Community wallpaper contest
Following a long-running tradition (then broken in 24.04, whoops), Xubuntu will be hosting a community wallpaper contest later this month. Winners of the wallpaper contest will be included in Xubuntu 26.04. More details will be coming soon on the Xubuntu website. To see the results of the previous contest, check out this post from 2022.
SSH agent issues
Xubuntu 25.10 made development a smidge more annoying. The feature that enabled SSH keys to automatically unlock with your user session no longer works. The issue is tracked on LP: #2125549 and seems to be related to the migration from gnome-keyring to gcr4. So far, my research has turned up no quality leads. If you know how to restore the previous functionality, I'd love to hear from you!
Confirming the 26.04 software stack
Over on Mastodon, I was asked what version of Xfce will be shipped with Xubuntu 26.04. Great question! I can elaborate further on the expected software stack:
- GNOME 50 (Document Scanner, Disks, other utilities and games)
- MATE 1.28 (Finally! Archive Manager, Calculator, Document Viewer)
- Xfce 4.20 (Core desktop and applications)
Xubuntu 26.04 will not feature a Wayland session using labwc or the newly-announced xfwl.
Important dates
The first half of the 26.04 development cycle is already behind us. Here are the key dates to note in the final half.
- February 19: Feature Freeze
- March 12: User Interface Freeze
- March 23: Beta Freeze
- March 26: Beta Release
- April 16: Final Freeze
- April 23: Final Release
How you can help
Most Xubuntu users stick to the LTS releases, so 26.04 is an important release to get right. If you want to help, here's how you can get started:
- Download the daily build and install it in a virtual machine or a spare machine you don't mind breaking.
- If you find an issue, report it! If you have a Launchpad account, it's easiest to use the terminal command:
ubuntu-bug yourpackagename(e.g.,ubuntu-bug catfish). Otherwise, if you have a GitHub account, use our bug reporting link. - If you think you can fix an issue, please do! Join the #xubuntu-devel channel on LiberaChat to speak with the development team.
What are you looking forward to in Xubuntu 26.04? What would you like to see from Xubuntu in the next few years? Leave a comment and kick off the discussion below.
