Minecraft Java Edition 26.2 Release Candidate 1, Chaos Cubed Is Almost Here
What Changed
On 12 June 2026, Mojang shipped Java Edition 26.2 Release Candidate 1, the first release candidate for the upcoming Chaos Cubed game drop. A release candidate is essentially a "final exam" build: if no critical problems turn up, this exact build becomes the official public release.
Only one bug was addressed in this release candidate:
- MC-308716, Pressing the Friends Screen key bind while inside a world no longer fails to open the friends list. A small but genuinely annoying fix for anyone who relies on that shortcut mid-session.
Like all release candidates and snapshots, this build is available through the Minecraft Launcher by enabling Snapshots under the Installations tab. A cross-platform server JAR is also available for those who want to self-host a test environment.
Why It Matters
Release candidates carry a lot of weight. Unlike weekly snapshots, which are explicitly experimental, a release candidate is Mojang's signal that the feature work is done and the build is stable enough to ship. The only thing standing between 26.2 RC1 and a full public release is a clean bill of health from the community's bug hunters.
That means Chaos Cubed, whatever surprises it holds, is genuinely right around the corner. If you've been waiting to explore the new content on a fresh world, the countdown is now very short.
Java and Bedrock
This release candidate is Java Edition only. Bedrock Edition follows its own separate release schedule and versioning system, so Bedrock players won't see a corresponding update from this specific build. Mojang has not announced a simultaneous Bedrock drop tied to 26.2 RC1. Keep an eye on the official Minecraft feedback channels for Bedrock news as it develops.
For Server Owners
If you run your own Java server and love being on the cutting edge, now is a great time to spin up an isolated test environment using the RC1 server JAR. Always back up your world folders before loading them in any pre-release build, release candidates are stable by design, but no pre-release build is truly risk-free.
Key reminders for self-hosted admins:
- Test in a separate folder, never your live world.
- Check that your plugins and mods declare compatibility with the 26.x year-based versioning scheme before upgrading.
- Report any bugs you find on the official Minecraft issue tracker so the community benefits.
For Parents
Your child may be excited about the Chaos Cubed drop and eager to jump on the newest version straight away, totally understandable! A few reassuring points:
- Release candidates are much more stable than snapshots, but they're still pre-release software. If your child plays on a personal single-player world they care about, make sure they back it up before experimenting.
- The only change in this build is a minor friends-screen fix, so there's nothing alarming content-wise.
- If your family plays on an SNT Gaming kingdom, read the section below, your kids' worlds are already safe and looked after.
For Players
Chaos Cubed is basically confirmed, RC1 is the last stop before the full release train! Here's what to do right now:
- Want to try RC1? Open the Minecraft Launcher, go to Installations, tick "Snapshots," and create a new installation. Load a fresh test world rather than your favourite survival save.
- Found a bug? Head to the Minecraft issue tracker and report it, you'll genuinely be helping make the final release better for everyone.
- Just want to wait? That's perfectly fine too. The full release is expected very soon, and it'll appear as a normal launcher update when it drops.
Do SNT Kingdoms Need an Update?
No action needed, and your kingdoms are completely unaffected. Here's why:
SNT Gaming kingdoms run on Paper 1.21.11 backends behind a Velocity proxy, with ViaVersion, ViaBackwards, and ViaRewind handling client compatibility from version 1.13 all the way up to 1.21.11. Bedrock players connect seamlessly via Geyser + Floodgate.
The critical detail: MC 26.x clients are not yet supported on SNT kingdoms. PaperMC, Velocity, and the Via family of plugins have not yet migrated to Mojang's new year-based versioning system, so a 26.2 client cannot connect to kingdom servers at this time. This isn't unique to SNT, it applies across the broader server ecosystem.
What this means in practice:
- Kids and families playing on SNT kingdoms should stay on version 1.21.11 in their launcher for now.
- All six game worlds, Survival, SharedLife, RandomLoot, Chaos, Spleef, and Rivals, continue to run perfectly without any interruption.
- SNT monitors upstream project updates closely. The moment Paper, Velocity, and Via support 26.x, we'll evaluate and plan a managed migration, as always, with zero hassle for kingdom owners.
In short: sit tight, keep playing, and let SNT handle the heavy lifting. We'll have news ready the moment a safe upgrade path exists.