Canonical has confirmed the codename of next year’s Ubuntu 27.04 release as Tenacious T-Rex.

It follows Ubuntu 26.10 Stonking Stingray, which is out on 15 October, both sequentially and alphabetically. The previous T release was Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Trusty Tahr. Quite a contrast in creature between the two, no?

As you likely know, every Ubuntu release has an alliterative codename coupling combining an adjective with an animal (or, on rare occasions, a mythological beast like a minotaur, werewolf or jackalope).

The first part of the codename is not fluff, but a critical label used to distinguish and keep the backend repo distinct for each release, thus the Ubuntu 27.04 repos are named tenacious (the version number is the release date, and release dates can slip).

The animal – well, in this case, a dinosaur – is just the release mascot. It’ll be used in artwork and marketing materials. Compared to the usual sort of fluffy, feathered and friendly mascots past, this one has more bite to it.

Tenacious means to be persistent and unwilling to let go, i.e., to have tenacity. Ubuntu turns 23 years old in October 2027 and, having stayed relevant through several major changes in the consumer tech space, can certainly stake claim to having a tenacious tendency.

T-Rex is …C’mon, you don’t need me to define what a flippin’ Tyrannosaurus rex is, right? It’s the dinozord of the red ranger in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Ahem. Ubuntu’s never had a dinosaur mascot before nor has it used a hyphenated animal in a codename, trivia fans.

Ubuntu 27.04 will be an interim release, supported for 9 months. Development opens after the previous release ships. It’s too soon to know what to expect besides a new Linux kernel, GNOME 52 and, if work progresses enough, a Rust-based time sync server.

Big thanks, Adam!