BuildIndependently confirmed2 publishers2 min readPublished
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.
The Engineer · Build desk
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.
| Figure | Value | Note | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Mint 27 Adrien, expected Christmas 2026 | 27 version | 1 | |
| Mint 22.3, which 27 succeeds | 22.3 version | 4 | |
| Version after 27 | 28 version | 5 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Insufficient
- Hype gap
- Insufficient
- Incentives
- Insufficient
- Confidence60
Claim ledger
Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.
- [1]
Linux Mint 27, codenamed Adrien, is expected at Christmas 2026 and will use Ubuntu 26.04 LTS as its base.
- [2]
"I don't think I've ever seen so many changes and new features implemented for a single release."
ReportedSupportedSource: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by Phoronix2 sources— create a free account to open themView cited source - [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".
ReportedSupportedSource: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by Phoronix2 sources— create a free account to open themView cited source - [4]
Linux Mint 27 succeeds Linux Mint 22.3 in moving toward the version representing the year ahead.
- [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.
- [6]
"This is the first time we've taken a full year to develop Linux Mint."
ReportedSupportedSource: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source - [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."
ReportedSupportedSource: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source - [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.
- [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.
ReportedSupportedSource: Clement Lefebvre, Linux Mint September status update, quoted by PhoronixView cited source - [10]
Linux Mint 27 will feature many Wayland improvements and at least the Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE desktop editions.
- [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.
- [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.
- [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.
- [14]
Going from 22.3 to 27 skips four major version numbers (23, 24, 25 and 26).
- [15]
Linux Mint has not officially explained the change in codename style.
- [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.
Sources
2 independent publishers whose own reporting we read for this story.
- dev.toLinux Mint 27 "Adrien" expected for Christmas 2026, while new applications are in the works
1 article · October 13, 2026
- phoronix.comLinux Mint 27 Continues Working Toward Christmas Release With Many Features
1 article · October 13, 2026
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