Ubuntu 26.04 LTS desktop preview
See what Ubuntu looks like before you download it. Open the menu, launch apps, move windows and switch to dark mode in a mockup of the default desktop. There’s nothing to download and no virtual machine.
distro.watch rebuilt this desktop in HTML from official screenshots and default settings, and checked it on Oct 2, 2026. The “Resolute Raccoon” wallpaper is redrawn in a simplified form: same colors and composition, without the raccoon line art. App icons are simplified stand-ins.
What does Ubuntu look like?
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS uses GNOME 50 with Canonical’s Yaru theme. A dark, opaque dock runs down the left edge with Firefox, Files, App Center and Help pinned, and the Ubuntu logo at the bottom opens the app grid. A black top bar shows workspaces on the left, the clock in the middle and quick settings on the right. The default style is light with orange accents and an orange-to-plum wallpaper.
A dock on the left
The Ubuntu Dock fills the left edge. Firefox, Files, App Center and Help are pinned, open apps get an orange dot, and the Ubuntu logo at the bottom opens the full app grid. In 26.04 the dock is fully opaque.
GNOME 50 with the Yaru theme
The top bar holds a workspace indicator, the clock and calendar, and quick settings for network, sound, power mode and dark style. 26.04 is Wayland-only and enables fractional scaling by default.
New default apps
Ptyxis replaces GNOME Terminal, Loupe views images, Papers opens PDFs, Showtime plays video and Resources replaces System Monitor. Software & Updates is no longer installed by default.
Light or dark in one click
The default style is light. Turning on Dark Style in quick settings switches apps to dark and changes the wallpaper to its grey variant. Try it in the preview.
Try the real Ubuntu
This preview shows the layout, theme and default apps. It can’t show speed, hardware support or the real apps. Boot Ubuntu from a USB stick to test those on your own computer before you install.
Sources
Ubuntu desktop: common questions
What does Ubuntu look like?
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS uses GNOME 50 with Canonical’s Yaru theme. A dark, opaque dock runs down the left edge with Firefox, Files, App Center and Help pinned, and the Ubuntu logo at the bottom opens the app grid. A black top bar shows workspaces on the left, the clock in the middle and quick settings on the right. The default style is light with orange accents and an orange-to-plum wallpaper.
What desktop environment does Ubuntu use?
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS uses GNOME 50 with the Yaru theme.
Is this preview a real Linux system?
No. It is an interactive mockup that distro.watch built in HTML to match Ubuntu 26.04 LTS’s default layout, theme and apps. Nothing is downloaded, installed or run, so it can’t show performance or whether your hardware works.
How can I try Ubuntu for real without installing it?
Write the Ubuntu ISO to a USB stick and boot from it. The live session runs the real desktop on your own computer, so you can check Wi-Fi, graphics, sound and suspend before installing.