Arch Linux releases August 2026 ISO with Linux Kernel 7.1.5

Arch Linux published its monthly installation image for August 2026 (archlinux-2026.08.01). The 1.5 GB ISO ships the Linux Kernel 7.1.5, the LTS kernel 6.18.41, and more than 16,000 packages across the core, extra and multilib repositories. Updated components include systemd 261.2, GNU C Library 2.44, KDE Plasma 6.7.3, GNOME 50.3, and a refreshed graphics stack.

The release coincides with the re‑election of project lead Levente Polyák (known as “anthraxx”) for a second consecutive two‑year term. Under his stewardship the distribution has made several upstream shifts: iptables now defaults to nftables, NVIDIA driver packages have moved to open kernel modules, and the Varnish caching server was renamed Vinyl Cache. An AUR security incident was addressed during the same period, highlighting ongoing maintenance efforts.

These updates continue Arch Linux’s rolling‑release model, providing users with a current baseline for installation while reflecting broader technical changes in the ecosystem.