NixOS 26.05 “Yarara” launches with Linux 6.18, systemd by default for Stage 1 and GNOME 50

NixOS 26.05 “Yarara” has been released as the latest version of the Linux distribution centered on the Nix package manager. This update introduces support for both the Linux 6.18 Long Term Support and Linux 7.0 kernel series, providing users with new capabilities and hardware compatibility.

Beyond the kernel upgrade, the package ecosystem sees a substantial refresh. Nixpkgs adds 20,442 new packages, updates 20,641 existing ones, and removes 17,532 outdated packages to enhance maintainability and security. The release also introduces 85 new configuration modules and 1,547 new options, while pruning 25 modules and 355 options.

Following these package and infrastructure updates, the Stage 1 boot process (initrd) now uses systemd by default, with the legacy scripted version deprecated and scheduled for removal in the following release, 26.11. For users of macOS, this is the last Nixpkgs release to support the x86_64-darwin platform, with support and binary builds maintained until the end of 2026.

The GNOME desktop environment has been updated to version 50 “Tokyo”. This version features new accessibility enhancements and improvements in display handling. Additionally, the GNU Compiler Collection is now at version 15, although the LLVM compiler suite remains at version 21. This release will receive updates until December 31, 2026. The prior release, 25.11, is now deprecated and support will end after June 2026.