Canonical introduces experimental Ubuntu desktop images for RISC-V

Canonical has announced the availability of official, experimental desktop images for the RISC-V architecture as part of the upcoming Ubuntu 26.10 release, codenamed ‘Stonking Stingray’. This development aims to expand Ubuntu’s reach beyond traditional x86 and ARM platforms.

Users can choose between two primary builds: a standard version featuring the GNOME desktop environment and a lighter Xubuntu minimal version utilizing Xfce. The Xubuntu option is noted as being particularly useful for virtual machine emulation, where the full GNOME environment can take significantly longer to load.

While Canonical is working to integrate RISC-V support into the Flutter library used for the OS installer, certain components like the App Center are not yet ready for the architecture. The release is currently intended for experimental use, and Canonical specifically recommends testing on SpacemiT K3 hardware. The final version of Ubuntu 26.10 is scheduled for release on October 15, 2026.