What will be the upgrade options (to new releases / versions) for current "Ubuntu MATE" users?

[ricmarques]

Hi, everyone

I see that @m_wimpress 's efforts of finding new maintainers for “Ubuntu MATE” are going well - see "Ubuntu MATE - seeking maintainers" - and that is great!

However, there are some things that worry me - and I’m guessing that I’m not the only one:

• In December 2025, there was not an “LTS requalification request” for “Ubuntu MATE 26.04” (Resolute Raccoon) - neither for “Ubuntu Unity 26.04” - and so it was then considered that “Ubuntu MATE 26.04” would not be an LTS (Long Term Support) version (see “LTS qualifications for Resolute Raccoon”)

• Then, when the “Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon)” Beta versions were released (for “Ubuntu” itself and its flavors / flavours), last month (March 2026), we found out there was not a Beta version released for “Ubuntu MATE” - see, for instance “Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) Beta released” (although, for “Ubuntu Unity”, there was a “Ubuntu Unity 26.04 LTS Beta”, leading me to believe that, for that other flavor, the issues were resolved).

So, it seems to me that we will not have an “Ubuntu MATE 26.04” release / version at all (neither as an LTS version - it would normally be an LTS, given it’s a “26.04” release / version - nor as an “interim” release / version). Am I right? Or is it possible that it will still be released, even after April 2026?

Assuming that I’m right in thinking that we will not have an “Ubuntu MATE 26.04” release / version at all, what will be the upgrade options (to new versions) for current “Ubuntu MATE” users? For instance. “Ubuntu MATE 25.10 (Questing Quokka)” - being an interim release - is supported only for 9 months (it will lose support in July 2026) and, after that, it will reach EOL (End of Life) status and it will stop receiving security updates.
What will be the upgrade options (to new versions) for the users of “Ubuntu MATE 25.10”?

Thanks in advance

[guiverc]

I’ve written about that over on Ubuntu MATE Discourse, which for now is still operational.

At this point in time I’ve heard of no special treatment for Ubuntu MATE systems in the resolute cycle; thus I’d expect the same as I wrote about on the bionic cycle when Ubuntu Studio 18.04 was released but not as an LTS release.

Of course, the Ubuntu MATE 26.04 may not be released as a new ISO (differing to my Ubuntu Studio 18.04 example); I actually expect that to be the case, but that to me doesn’t actually change anything, as the new ISO is for new installs, and for now Ubuntu MATE is still an official flavor of Ubuntu, thus I still believe what I wrote on an answer here applies

@guiverc

Ubuntu Release Upgrader tools work on your base Ubuntu system, and aren’t aware of flavors. The files used to determine what is available are

• https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/meta-release
• https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/meta-release-development
• https://changelogs.ubuntu.com/meta-release-lts

If you were to enter do-release-upgrade now it’d look in the first of those files for what options are available, if you add a -d (ie. do-release-upgrade -d) the second file is used etc.

An existing Ubuntu [MATE] 25.10 or Ubuntu [MATE] 24.04 LTS user will be treated as if a Ubuntu 25.10 or 24.04 users by release-upgrade tools, as for now Ubuntu MATE is still an official flavor; and changes [implied?] relate to upcoming ISO release only.

I’m betting you’re after an answer from someone other than me; after all I’ve written many over on the Ubuntu MATE discourse, or just want a discussion on this site?, but I believe I’ve tried to accurately describe what will happen with currently available information.

[ericmarceau]

In order to perform updates or upgrades, there needs to be a build or release to work with!

The most recent successful daily build for UbuntuMATE was on

• March 4 2026

By comparison, the latest daily build, shared by the other Flavours, seems to be

• April 20 2026

Is there any news on whether

• someone is currently trying to understand the break-point which has caused the build process to fail,

and … if so,

• is someone able to share with us any sense of whether the breakdown is from a major incompatibility or simply a delayed implementation of revised API references to re-align with upstream “progress”?

Thank you in advance for any information that would be forthcoming.

[guiverc]

@ericmarceau

In order to perform updates or upgrades, there needs to be a build or release to work with!

That is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, which currently sits in Release Candidate status prior to actual ISO release.

Ubuntu MATE 26.04 is NOT expected to release for new installs, as the prior lead developer has stood down, but that was done too late for newer developers to actually reach release for 26.04; a required milestone already having been missed.

The issue that stopped builds back after March 4 2026 had fix(es) submitted by a Ubuntu community member(s), but as no Ubuntu MATE developer reviewed/accepted it; it sat for a long time before being unapproved; ie. the failure was mostly personnel lacking time, or motivation as outlined earlier. Software changes over time, Ubuntu has flavor sync meetings so flavor teams can keep in sync with everyone else.

In answering a support question about resolute I used a recent QA test install of a resolute ISO to switch from one flavor to Ubuntu Desktop, then later did it again switching to Ubuntu MATE which I mentioned elsewhere where the I was able to login and use Ubuntu MATE as stated in that post. Ubuntu MATE 26.04 looked good to me; lack of new wallpapers etc not a problem for me.

A release-upgrade, as I tried to outline in my prior post on this thread, will see your system as a Ubuntu 25.10 system, and upgrade that to 26.04, which includes all packages; thus upgrading the MATE component as well.

I have not done a release-upgrade test from Ubuntu MATE 25.10 to 26.04. My using a recent QA test install (so no setup required at all) for what really was just some package changes whilst I was doing my work on another box required only minutes of my actual time (to issue commands, sure it took more than an hour of execution time due to my using an old Core2Duo box, spinning rust drive & with my slow aussie internet), but cost to me was mostly electricity and not time.

If you’ve got capacity, you could install and run your own QA test of an upgrade; ie. install Ubuntu MATE 25.10, fully upgrade it, then do a -d release-upgrade test yourself. You can report results here too (this thread would make sense to me).

If you’re wanting something from the new Ubuntu MATE development team, I’ll suggest giving them some time to work out their plans, which will be I’m betting on the next release; ie. Ubuntu MATE 26.10, since it was already too late (my opinion!) when the prior lead stepped down for Ubuntu MATE 26.04 to occur; alas as the Ubuntu MATE development team was so small, there weren’t others around to ‘pick up the slack’ for the 26.04 release.

[ericmarceau]

I was more interested in knowing about some action on getting the builds happening again, not necessarily looking for an LTS, or even trying to do an update or upgrade.

I would install a fresh Daily Build, and live with that, given the quality of those earlier builds.

Thank you

[guiverc]

@ericmarceau

I was more interested in knowing about some action on getting the builds happening again, not necessarily looking for an LTS, or even trying to do an update or upgrade.

All resolute builds have been turned off, so it’s too late for that. Other Ubuntu community members tried to help fix issues as I’ve mentioned earlier (mostly other threads); those weren’t approved by Ubuntu MATE devs in time and thus had to be ‘unapproved’ so beta could advance for everyone else.

Builds for a new RC are only done IF required; there are no such resolute RC builds for Ubuntu MATE. (We’re not using the ISO QA tracker for resolute, but it does highlight what I’m saying or Ubuntu Image Testing)

If another daily build for Ubuntu MATE is kicked off, It’ll be for stonking (26.10) I’ll bet (or another noble ISO is possible too)

[ericmarceau]

I guess I was innocent in my conceptualizing of the process.

I imagined daily builds were a process in and of themselves … and that the Release Candidate handling process was something appart for those “tagged” elements which were deemed under “Release Control”.

My conceptualization allowed for the build process to handle “skunkworks” auto-build (for off-radar projects) with the same build engine as the “official” builds.

I guess I have been shown the error of my “fabulations”!

[nanook]

I’m a frustrated user of Ubuntu Mate. I liked the old Gnome-2 Desktop interface, decided Gnome-3 sucked, moved to Mate and have been with it and mostly happy ever since. Now for some reason no LTS version of ubuntu-mate 26.04 exists. Should I take this as an indication that Ubuntu has opted to abandon it’s Mate userbase and look for another distro?

[rubi1200]

@nanook Let’s set the record straight here shall we?

Canonical, the company, provides Ubuntu free to users all over the world. Canonical also maintains and develops Ubuntu.

The various official flavours, including Kubuntu, Ubuntu Cinnamon, and Ubuntu MATE are community maintained distros run by volunteers and officially recognized by Canonical as such.

Due to various circumstances, the primary maintainer of Ubuntu MATE was no longer able to continue in his role.

The project is currently looking for new people to help maintain it. You are more than welcome to jump right on in and offer your skills and expertise.

While it is true that there is no 26.04 LTS version of Ubuntu MATE, this does not mean the project is dead nor does it mean that nobody cares.

Until new maintainers are found, there is a very simple solution:

Install regular Ubuntu 26.04 and afterwards install the MATE desktop environment. At the login screen you can then choose the MATE desktop and hey presto!

[guiverc]

@nanook

Now for some reason no LTS version of ubuntu-mate 26.04 exists.

That has been written about rather extensively, esp. on the now closed Ubuntu MATE Discourse, and is referred to at the top of this thread too, look at my reply for some basic links.

Those involved or watching the Ubuntu MATE 25.10 release noted that required milestones were missed by the development team, but that was overlooked so they could actually release a 25.10 system, as that is a milestone to have a 26.04 LTS release. Required milestones in the 26.04 were missed; with the Ubuntu MATE development team not even applying for LTS status for their 26.04 release, and then missing mandatory milestones that prevented any release of a 26.04 system.

The prior Ubuntu MATE lead wrote about it, seeking a new development team on the following thread

Ubuntu MATE - seeking maintainers

Hey I created Ubuntu MATE back in 2014, and my involvement in the project is coming to a close. Perhaps you can help? As another development cycle passes, I find myself lacking the time I once had to work on Ubuntu MATE. And, to be frank, I don’t have the passion for the project that I once had. When I have time to tinker, my interests are elsewhere. With that in mind, I’m interested in handing over the reins to contributors who do have the time and energy to work on Ubuntu MATE…

Whilst that was too late in the resolute or 26.04 cycle to allow for 26.04 release, it has led to a team which are working towards a stonking or Ubuntu MATE 26.10 release.

Even if you’d not been watching the progress over at Ubuntu MATE’s discourse, questions have been asked and answered at other sites too, eg. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1566241/what-is-the-current-state-of-ubuntu-mate-26-04/1566245#1566245 where I include a link by Thomas Ward of this site too, ie. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1565457/ubuntu-mate-24-04-help-for-understanding-no-26-04-lts-version-will-be-release/1565468#1565468 so for those watching, evidence was there, even if not really ‘out in the open’ or obvious.

@nanook

Should I take this as an indication that Ubuntu has opted to abandon it’s Mate userbase and look for another distro?

Ubuntu MATE is still an official flavor of Ubuntu Desktop; they’ve not been removed from Ubuntu flavors | Ubuntu you’ll note; if you look you can see the resolute or 26.04(.1) ISO builds weren’t even stopped (do NOT expect it to be released!); alas the failure that hit the team back in March is still preventing those ISOs from building so they’re useless to anyone except the reports being generated (I only know about that as I mentioned it recently in a development matrix channel(s), and had accidentally used resolute in my URL but hadn’t noticed; where the link I was trying to use was stonking (26.10) in reply to new Ubuntu MATE contributor).

If you look, evidence clearly shows Ubuntu MATE as a flavor still exists; they just did NOT have a 26.04 release, as the old Ubuntu MATE development team stepped down too late, and as such the new team is aiming for Ubuntu MATE 26.10. Take a peek in the development channel (on matrix) and you’ll see activity towards 26.10, even if ISOs aren’t fixed yet.

[nanook]

Ok, former project lead is no longer available. I get that. Is anyone stepping up to take his place? Is there an attempt to do this? Can I help? I’ve compiled the entire Mate 1.28 stack and Compiz myself so not completely unfamiliar but Ubuntu’s entire distribution chain I am not familiar with. So trying to decide best course of action now, remove all the mate packages, do an upgrade to just standard 26.04 and re-install packages, or?

[guiverc]

@nanook

Is anyone stepping up to take his place?

Did you read Martin’s thread? Even if you don’t pick up it all, there are a number of MATE developers who’ve stepped up, and I even talked about that over on Ubuntu MATE’s Discourse

https://ubuntu-mate.community/t/no-fud-on-whats-next-ubuntu-mate-ubuntu-mate/31350/12

@guiverc

Anyone watching the Ubuntu MATE Development Matrix communications channel will see this future playing out… ie. keys of the kingdom being handed over to new stewards.

I also mentioned that in my last post indirectly too

@guiverc

(I only know about that as I mentioned it recently in a development matrix channel(s), and had accidentally used resolute in my URL but hadn’t noticed; where the link I was trying to use was stonking (26.10) in reply to new Ubuntu MATE contributor).

@nanook

So trying to decide best course of action now

That’s what my 2nd post on this thread, plus the many I’ve written about over on Ubuntu MATE Discourse’s try and address (I was a moderator over there too)

[guiverc]

If you’re not happy with details we’ve provided in this thread, Thomas has attempted to answer this question in the following thread

MATE: No 26.04 Release, How does that Affect You, and What Is the Future of Ubuntu MATE?

These questions have been asked numerous times, in numerous varying ways, both here on this Discourse section of the site and on Ask Ubuntu and elsewhere: What do I do since there was no 26.04 release? Does this mean I’m screwed, and can’t use MATE anymore? How do I upgrade if there was no 26.04 release? What does this mean for the future of the MATE flavor? This post attempts to be an all-inclusive post that can answer most of these questions. If your question sounds similar to one of these…

The new Ubuntu MATE team have also now introduced themselves on the following thread

Hello from the new Ubuntu-MATE maintainers team

Hello world! , You probably are aware by now, of the mid-life crisis the Ubuntu MATE project is undergoing, and I don’t regurgitate those issues here. Following Martin Wimpress’ stepping down from the Ubuntu MATE project and subsequent announcement here , some of us have volunteered to help with the project . As it stands today, the following are the Ubuntu MATE Reboot members : Victor Kareh (@vkareh, https://launchpad.net/~vkareh ): upst…

thus I’m closing this thread.