Minecraft has changed how its version numbers work from 2026 onwards. Instead of carrying on with the old 1.x.x format, new releases now use the year as the first part of the version number.
So for 2026, Minecraft versions start with 26. The first main game drop is 26.1, the next is 26.2, and any smaller patches or hotfixes add another number after that.
This has changed because Mojang now releases smaller game drops throughout the year, rather than putting everything into one large yearly update. The old numbers were starting to get a bit messy, with several releases still sitting under 1.21, so the new system should make it easier to see which year and game drop a version belongs to.
The main thing to watch for is that Java Edition and Bedrock Edition can still be different. They both use the same year-based prefix, but Bedrock has more platform-specific updates and hotfixes, so the numbers after 26 may not always line up with Java. If your server is Java, match the Java version. If your server is Bedrock, match the Bedrock version.
Snapshots and previews are changing too. Mojang gave the example that a snapshot name like 25w41a would become something clearer like 25.4-snapshot-1, so you can see which drop that snapshot is meant for.
For servers, nothing really changes in how careful you need to be. Your client and server still need to be compatible, and modded servers still need the right Minecraft version, loader version, and mod versions. If you are running a modpack, follow the modpack version rather than updating random parts by hand.
We also recommend taking a backup before changing version, especially if you are moving to a snapshot, preview, or experimental build. Version changes are usually fine, but it is always easier to roll back when you have a clean backup ready.
You can read Mojang's official explanation here: Minecraft's new version numbering system.
If you are not sure which version your server should be running, submit a support ticket with the version or modpack you want to use and we can check it for you.
Quick reference
- 26 means a 2026 release.
- 26.1 is the first main 2026 game drop.
- 26.2 is the next main 2026 game drop.
- 26.1.1 is usually a patch or hotfix style number.
- Java and Bedrock can still differ, so match the edition your server is running.
