JDK 26, the first non-LTS release since JDK 25, has reached its second release candidate with a final set of 10 new features, in the form of JEPs, that can be separated into five categories: Core Java Library, HotSpot, Java Language Specification, Security Library and Client Library. We examine JDK 26 and predict what features have, or could be, targeted for JDK 27.

JDK 26, the first non-LTS release since JDK 25, has reached its second release candidate with a final set of 10 new features, in the form of JEPs, that can be separated into five categories: Core Java Library, HotSpot, Java Language Specification, Security Library and Client Library. We examine JDK 26 and predict what features have, or could be, targeted for JDK 27.