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Build Independently confirmed2 publishers 2 min read Published

Linux Mint 27 'Adrien' starts a new codename series with men's names

Linux Mint 27 "Adrien" is due around Christmas 2026 on an Ubuntu 26.04 LTS base, after the project's first full-year development cycle. Version numbers will follow the release year, and founder Clement Lefebvre says the longer cycle allows bigger changes.

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Mint's version number moves toward the year ahead Linux Mint version numbers: Mint 27 Adrien, the release it succeeds, and the version due to follow it.

Three Linux Mint version numbers. Linux Mint 27, codenamed Adrien, is expected at Christmas 2026. It succeeds Linux Mint 22.3. Version 27 will be followed by 28.

Mint's version number moves toward the year ahead
FigureValueNoteClaim
Linux Mint 27 Adrien, expected Christmas 202627 version1
Mint 22.3, which 27 succeeds22.3 version4
Version after 2728 version5

What happened

  • Before this cycle Mint shipped on a six-month schedule, and Lefebvre called the move to a yearly one a tough decision.
  • The old codename series ran from Ada 1.0 in 2006 to Zena 22.3 in 2026, all women's names in alphabetical order; Adrien returns to A with men's names.
  • Phoronix says Mint 27 will ship at least the Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE editions, with many Wayland improvements.
  • Superlight, Unfold and Velocity, new Mint applications for system monitoring, compressed files and command entry, are written in Python.
  • Under the new numbering, dev.to reports, version 27 will be followed by 28.

Why it matters

  • Who has to decide decision In our view, scripts and tooling that parse Mint version strings for a 22.x pattern should be tested against 27 before upgrade day.
  • Who's exposed exposure Anyone who installs at release inherits a change set Lefebvre says is larger than any he can recall, and he expects a busy beta, so waiting for the first fixes is the cautious schedule.
  • What's now possible capability A yearly cycle lets Mint take on projects it previously judged too large, by Lefebvre's account; the cost is that if the schedule holds, 28 is a year away.

Lefebvre put the schedule change in plain terms in the September status update. He said: "This is the first time we've taken a full year to develop Linux Mint." [6] The extra time changes what the team will attempt. In his words: "We're taking on projects and implementing changes which would previously have been considered too large or ambitious. We've got time. We don't feel rushed." [7]

That is a self-report. The concrete part is the work list. Lefebvre named bug fixes, Wayland compatibility, better processes and internal tools, and prototypes of new editions [9]. He also said: "I don't think I've ever seen so many changes and new features implemented for a single release." [2] The volume cuts both ways. He said it "scares me a little bit because that also means we're going to be very busy during the beta phase" [3].

The numbering has an oddity. Phoronix says Mint 27 succeeds 22.3 and moves toward the version representing the year ahead [4]. A release due at Christmas 2026 and labelled 27 fits that description [1]. Going from 22.3 to 27 skips four major numbers, 23 through 26 [14]. None of them ever shipped.

Mint has not officially explained the switch to men's names [15]. The dev.to article's author believes it may relate to criticism, because members of the Linux community have called the women's-name tradition sexist or objectifying [16]. That is the author's inference.

Mint is also building new applications. Book Reader opens ePub files, and a Clocks app is in development with repeating alarms, user-selectable sounds and notifications, inspired by Android [12]. The dev.to piece describes these as applications in the works, so treat them as candidates for 27.

What to watch

  • Mint's first beta for 27, and whether it lands in time to keep the Christmas target.
  • Whether Superlight, Unfold, Velocity, Clocks and Book Reader ship in 27 or slip to a later release.
  • Whether Mint states a reason for the switch to men's codenames or leaves it to commentators.

Clarity's read

What the record supports and how the coverage leans. The claims behind it follow.

Reality

Evidence55
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap
Not scored
Incentives
Not scored
Confidence60
Why these scores

Claim ledger

Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.

  1. [1]

    Linux Mint 27, codenamed Adrien, is expected at Christmas 2026 and will use Ubuntu 26.04 LTS as its base.

    Reported SupportedView cited source
  2. [2]

    "I don't think I've ever seen so many changes and new features implemented for a single release."

    Reported Supported Source: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source
  3. [3]

    Lefebvre said the volume of changes "scares me a little bit because that also means we're going to be very busy during the beta phase".

    Reported Supported Source: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source
  4. [4]

    Linux Mint 27 succeeds Linux Mint 22.3 in moving toward the version representing the year ahead.

    Reported Supported Source: PhoronixView cited source
  5. [5]

    Linux Mint is changing the way it numbers future releases: the numbers will be based on the year of release. Version 27 will be followed by 28.

    Reported Supported Source: dev.toView cited source
  6. [6]

    "This is the first time we've taken a full year to develop Linux Mint."

    Reported Supported Source: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source
  7. [7]

    "We're taking on projects and implementing changes which would previously have been considered too large or ambitious. We've got time. We don't feel rushed."

    Reported Supported Source: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source
  8. [8]

    From version 1.0 Ada in 2006 to version 22.3 Zena in 2026, Linux Mint used female names in alphabetical order. Version 27 begins a new series of codenames that returns to the letter A and uses male names.

    Reported Supported Source: dev.toView cited source
  9. [9]

    Lefebvre said that aside from new features the team has been fixing a huge number of bugs, working on Wayland compatibility, improving processes and internal tools, and prototyping new editions.

    Reported Supported Source: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source
  10. [10]

    Linux Mint 27 will feature many Wayland improvements and at least the Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE desktop editions.

    Reported Supported Source: PhoronixView cited source
  11. [11]

    Superlight (monitors how the computer is running), Unfold (manages compressed files with 7zip support) and Velocity (a command-entry application inspired by Ghostty and Ptyxis) are written in Python and designed to be easy to use.

    Reported Supported Source: dev.toView cited source
  12. [12]

    Book Reader reads e-books in ePub format. Clocks is in development with repeating alarms, user-selectable sounds, and notifications, and is inspired by Android.

    Reported Supported Source: dev.toView cited source
  13. [13]

    Linux Mint previously shipped on a half-year cadence; Lefebvre called going from a 6-month release schedule to a yearly one a tough decision.

    Reported Supported Source: Phoronix, quoting Clement LefebvreView cited source
  14. [14]

    Going from 22.3 to 27 skips four major version numbers (23, 24, 25 and 26).

    Derived Supported
  15. [15]

    Linux Mint has not officially explained the change in codename style.

    Reported Insufficient Source: dev.toView cited source
  16. [16]

    Members of the Linux community have criticized the female-name tradition, calling it sexist or objectifying; the article's author believes the change may be related to these criticisms.

    Reported Insufficient Source: dev.to article author's beliefView cited source

Sources

2 independent publishers whose own reporting we read for this story.

  1. dev.to

    1 article · October 13, 2026

    Linux Mint 27 "Adrien" expected for Christmas 2026, while new applications are in the works
  2. phoronix.com

    1 article · October 13, 2026

    Linux Mint 27 Continues Working Toward Christmas Release With Many Features

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