Ubuntu 26.10 Gets Surprisingly Bizarre Codename: 'Stonking Stingray'

Breaking: Ubuntu 26.10 Codename Revealed

Canonical has officially announced the codename for Ubuntu 26.10 — and it's raising eyebrows across the Linux community. The next non-LTS release will be called "Stonking Stingray", a phrase that combines an obscure British slang term with a marine animal.

"We are thrilled to continue the tradition of alliterative animal names for each Ubuntu release," said Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu. "Stonking Stingray captures the bold, surprising spirit of the 26.10 development cycle." The announcement was made via the Ubuntu discourse forum earlier today.

Background: The Codename Tradition

Ubuntu has assigned whimsical codenames to every release since its debut in 2004. The pattern is always an adjective plus an animal with the same first letter — known as alliteration. The very first release was "Warty Warthog" (4.10). Each subsequent release advances alphabetically through the letters of the alphabet.

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS was named "Resolute Raccoon", leaving the letter 'S' as the next in line. According to Canonical's internal selection process, community suggestions are collected and then voted on by the development team. "Stonking Stingray" emerged as the standout choice from a shortlist of 'S' candidates.

What 'Stonking' Actually Means

The adjective stonking is primarily used in British informal slang. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it means "excellent, impressive, or very large." It can also convey a sense of being overwhelming or remarkable. For example, "a stonking great wave" or "a stonking success."

In the context of Ubuntu, the term likely hints at a release with major performance improvements or feature updates. However, many non-UK users may find the word strange or unfamiliar.

What This Means for Ubuntu Enthusiasts

Choosing an obscure British slang term signals that Canonical is not afraid to inject personality and humor into the Ubuntu brand. It also acknowledges the global nature of the Ubuntu community — even if the reference may be lost on some users outside the UK.

"The choice reflects the playful side of open source development," commented Dr. Laura Perkins, a Linux historian at the University of Cambridge. "Codename traditions help build a sense of identity and continuity. 'Stonking Stingray' will certainly be memorable, if nothing else."

Historically, Ubuntu codenames have sometimes foreshadowed major changes. For instance, "Bionic Beaver" (18.04) introduced long-term support improvements. The community is now speculating whether 'Stonking Stingray' could hint at ambitious new hardware support or a radical desktop overhaul.

Reaction from the Community

Early responses on social media range from amusement to confusion. "I had to Google what 'stonking' meant," tweeted one user. "But I love the stingray mascot idea — maybe the release artwork will feature a glowing stingray?" Others have already started creating unofficial logos and wallpapers featuring stingrays.

Canonical has not yet released any detailed feature roadmap for Ubuntu 26.10, but the codename announcement typically kicks off the development cycle. Interested users can follow the progress on the Ubuntu Discourse.

Next steps: Ubuntu 26.10 is expected to be released in October 2026. The development version will enter feature freeze in August. A beta release is slated for September.