Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon" was released on April 23, 2026 with Linux kernel 7.0, GNOME desktop, and standard security support until April 2031. A clean install gives you a known-good starting point on new hardware, when replacing another operating system, or when an upgrade path is not practical.
This guide walks through how to install Ubuntu 26.04: downloading and verifying the ISO, writing a bootable USB drive, completing the installer, and doing the initial setup after the first boot.
Before you start: You need a USB drive with at least 12 GB of free space. Back up any existing data on the target machine — the installer can erase the entire disk.
Install Ubuntu 26.04: Download the ISO and Create a Bootable USB
Download the desktop ISO from the official Ubuntu downloads page. The file is ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso at about 6.1 GB.
Verify the download before writing to USB. A corrupted ISO causes installer crashes that are difficult to diagnose. Download the checksum file and compare it:
bashwget https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/SHA256SUMSsha256sum...