The next Minecraft update
Published on 3 October 2026 Updated on 7 October 2026
The next big Minecraft update is the fourth game drop of 2026, bringing ice caves, a frozen zombie called the frostbite and a new Freezing effect. Mojang showed it at Minecraft LIVE on 26 September 2026. Mojang hasn’t given a release date yet; on Java it will be version 26.4. The latest version you can play right now is 26.3 Wilderness Bound, out since 15 September.
This page tracks what’s coming, what’s already out and what it means for your world and your server. We update it whenever a new version lands.
When is the next Minecraft update coming out?
Mojang hasn’t named a date yet, only that it’s the next game drop. For everything known so far, see Minecraft 26.4: everything we know so far. You can already test it: the first three Java snapshots of 26.4 came out on 22 and 29 September and in early October, and Bedrock players have been able to try the ice caves in Preview 26.60.29 since 30 September, behind an experimental toggle.
Since snapshot 3, the ice caves, the frostbite and the Freezing effect are in the Java snapshots too. Snapshot 1 made Vulkan the default graphics backend, and snapshot 2 reorganised the F3 debug screen and changed the fog at the edge of your render distance. For server owners, snapshot 1 added three new settings to server.properties, such as status-contact-details for a contact address in the server status. Snapshots can still change, so don’t build on them yet.
What’s in the ice caves update?
- Ice caves. A new cave biome beneath frozen biomes, with calcite, packed ice, icicles and ice crystals. The crystals glow; the icicles are fragile.
- The frostbite. A frozen zombie variant you’ll meet in ice caves and snowy biomes. Some frostbites throw ice balls.
- Freezing. A new effect that deals damage and slows you down. A frostbite can give it to you, and you can brew a potion with it.
- Ice balls. You can throw them too. The faster they fly, the more damage they do.
Looking further ahead, Mojang used the same show to announce the Sift, the dimension from Minecraft Dungeons II. It’s coming to Java and Bedrock next year, as the first new dimension in more than fifteen years.
What’s new in the latest version?
The latest version is 26.3 Wilderness Bound, out since 15 September 2026 on Java and as 26.50 on Bedrock. It added an autumn forest, the dappled forest, with poplars in red, orange and yellow, plus abandoned camps with treasure maps, straw beds and cushions. One change matters for servers: on a new server, the whitelist is now on by default. Everything about this version is in Minecraft 26.3 Wilderness Bound: what’s new.
Which Minecraft updates came out in 2026?
| Game drop | Released | New |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Takeover (Java 26.1, Bedrock 26.10) | 24 March 2026 | New models for baby mobs; needs Java 25 |
| Chaos Cubed (Java 26.2, Bedrock 26.30) | 16 June 2026 | Sulfur caves, the sulfur cube and geysers |
| Wilderness Bound (Java 26.3, Bedrock 26.50) | 15 September 2026 | Autumn forest, abandoned camps, straw beds |
| Next drop (Java 26.4) | No date yet | Ice caves, the frostbite, Freezing |
After 26.1, Java also got two hotfixes: 26.1.1 on 1 April and 26.1.2 on 9 April. A hotfix fixes bugs and adds nothing new.
How do you update your server safely?
A new version is exciting, but your server doesn’t have to switch on day one. Take it step by step:
- Check your software is ready. In early October, Paper’s 26.3 builds are still beta, while 26.2 is stable. Running mods? Wait until your mod loader and mods support the new version.
- Check your plugins, especially Geyser if Bedrock players join. In early October, Geyser supports Java 26.2 but not yet 26.3. More about Geyser is in Minecraft crossplay: Java and Bedrock together.
- Make a backup and lock it. A world that has run on a newer version can’t properly go back to an older one.
- Switch versions under Versions in the game panel. The server picks the right Java version itself. Step by step: Change your server version.
- Get everyone to update their launcher. Java players usually need the same version as the server. Bedrock updates itself, so keep a Bedrock server up to date quickly.
Something went wrong anyway? Restore the backup: Create and restore a backup.
Want to decide when you switch? On a Minecraft server at CakeHosting you choose which version runs, and switching takes a few clicks. Plans start at €4.95 a month. See the Minecraft plans.
Can you play snapshots and previews already?
Yes, but think of it as tasting the batter: the cake isn’t baked yet.
- Java: enable snapshots under Installations in the Minecraft Launcher. On a server at CakeHosting you can also pick a snapshot for Vanilla under Versions. Plugins are out, though, because there are no Paper builds for the 26.4 snapshots.
- Bedrock: switch on the preview or beta by following Mojang’s instructions. With an active Realms subscription you can create a free test Realm.
Mojang itself warns that test versions can corrupt your world, so play them in a separate world. On your server, set a different name for level-name in server.properties so your main world stays untouched. Make a backup first anyway.
