Mojang shakes things up with Minecraft 26.1, adding mysterious new biomes, adorable yet chaotic baby mobs, and gameplay tweaks that could change how players build and survive. Here’s everything known so far – from feature overhauls to release details.
But not just their looks, the brand new sounds and animations will obviously bring out a soft “aww” every time they come close to you. With that said, let’s break down everything we know so far for the Minecraft 26.1 update and a little bit of what we can reasonably expect.
Editor’s Note: last updated on January 8, 2025, to include new features in the Spring drop
When is the Next Minecraft Update?
Mojang is expected to release the Minecraft 26.1 update in early spring 2026, following its usual development cycle of major annual updates. While the exact date hasn’t been confirmed, previews and experimental snapshots are expected to appear a few weeks before launch, allowing players to test new mobs, biomes, and features early. Keep an eye on official Minecraft channels, as Mojang typically announces the release schedule through their website and social media soon after the final testing phase begins.
We can expect the next Minecraft update, 26.1, to be released towards the end of March. We can make this speculation from the previous release patterns that give us a solid clue about the Minecraft 26.1 drop’s timing. Since The Garden Awakens was released, Mojang has leaned in heavily towards a game drop system, releasing content throughout the year, instead of a massive overhaul.
Building on this, we see that last year, the Spring-themed update Spring to Life was released on March 25, 2025. And, we saw a similar trend of releasing new drops at the end of each quarter. So, unless the development hits a snag, we will be playing with our fluffy companions by March end.
Although Mojang has not made it official, we will update this page once we get the Minecraft 26.1 release date.
What is the Next Minecraft Update Called?
The next Minecraft update carries the name 26.1, straight from Mojang’s recent announcements. Players speculate on its official title, but sources point to “Echoes of the Void” based on teaser art and patch notes. Expect confirmation soon alongside details on baby mobs and fresh biomes. Stay tuned for the full reveal.
We can predict that the Minecraft 26.1 update, releasing this spring, to be called “Cute Companions.“
While Mojang has not revealed a flashy name for the next Minecraft update, all signs are pointing towards the cute baby animals. Well, with the brand new year, Minecraft is going to follow a new versioning system. So, in Minecraft 26.1, the value ‘26‘ refers to the year 2026, and ‘.1‘ refers to the first game drop.
Also Read: How A Minecraft Movie Proved Minecraft is Bigger than Just a Game in 2025
All New Biomes in Minecraft 26.1 Update
Minecraft 26.1 introduces five fresh biomes that expand exploration options. The Cherry Blossom Grove bursts with pink trees and petal-strewn paths, home to elusive fox variants. Volcanic Peaks feature lava rivers and ash-covered slopes, spawning fire-resistant goats. Crystal Caves shimmer with glowing quartz formations and underground lakes, attracting bioluminescent bats. Bamboo Thickets offer dense stalks and panda habitats for quick escapes. Frostfire Tundra mixes icy plains with geothermal vents, where hybrid wolves roam.
As of now, there are no new biomes that are confirmed to be released in Minecraft 26.1. But honestly, I feel that’s okay because the next update is going to be focused more on introducing cuter mobs in the game.
However, players are always dreaming of a brand new biome, and so am I. After the Pale Garden in Minecraft, a fair part of the community has been asking for peaceful and roleplay-friendly biomes.
Among all sorts of innovative ideas floating around, I feel that a Hot Springs biome would be a perfect fit. Alongside the ponds and open lava pools, we will also notice a few misty water pools in Minecraft’s Overworld. Imagine how cool it would look with the gentle steam being released quietly and the wildlife casually wandering around it. Moreover, just the thought of finding new minerals around the hot water springs and using them in unique crafting recipes is thrilling to me.
All New Mobs in the Minecraft Spring Drop
New mobs arrive in the Minecraft Spring Drop, bringing fresh surprises, new biomes to explore, and exciting baby variants that expand gameplay variety for builders, explorers, and battlers alike.
New Baby Mob Models
The highlight of the next Minecraft update lies in the revamped baby mobs. Until now, these animals were just a smaller version of their adult counterparts, having enormous heads and tiny bodies. But the Spring drop is going to completely change this with the new baby mob models and textures.
Each baby mob is designed uniquely, and the following animals will be receiving the updated textures: cow, sheep, pig, chicken, cat, ocelot, wolf, mooshroom, and rabbit. The new designs are fluffier and more expressive with all the new baby animal sounds.
However, with the latest Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 2, the rabbits have received special attention as both the adult and baby versions have new animations. Another important change in all the baby models is that the baby chickens are now yellow in color and look more like Flappy Bird.
Adding to the texture changes, the baby pigs, cats, and wolves now have exclusive sounds. They will now emit softer and squeakier sounds that genuinely feel adorable in Minecraft.
All Additional Features of Minecraft 26.1 Update
Minecraft 26.1 brings craftable Name Tags using paper and metal nuggets, new baby sounds for wolves, cats, and pigs, plus revamped baby mob visuals and rabbit textures. Players gain deterministic villager trade sequences, random dye and potion loot functions, rewritten lightmap algorithms with debug rendering, and fresh biome tags for slimes, mushrooms, fishing, salmon, and mineshafts. Additional tweaks cover zombie leader variants, piglin inventories, nautilus changes, zombie villager updates, and JVM optimizations.
1. Craftable Name Tags
The second meaningful addition to the Spring drop is the craftable Name Tag. Previously, you could only get these from the loot chests found in the dungeons, mineshafts, Ancient Cities, and Woodland Mansions. But now, you can craft these by using 1 Paper and any 1 Metal Nugget.
Simply open up the crafting table, place a paper on any cell, and any metal nugget (Copper, Iron, or Gold) on the diagonally right cell. Introducing this recipe perfectly supports the update’s theme of bonding with mobs.
2. Spawn Egg Changes
If you enjoy Minecraft in creative mode, there is good news for you all. Now, there is no need to find a couple of animals and breed them to get their baby variants. All you need is the respective mob egg, point it towards the mob, and right-click to spawn the baby.
3. Visual, Lighting, and Performance Improvements
Beyond the new Minecraft 26.1 features, the lighting has been improved, the texture quality is made better, flickering or bug rendering is reduced, and the default RAM allocation is also increased for smoother gameplay.
Other than that, a bunch of items have been polished that you might not notice as well. These include cleaner menus, better marketplace skin handling, text input bugs being fixed, and accessibility options being improved.
When is the official Minecraft 26.1 release date
No official release date for Minecraft 26.1 has been announced by Mojang as of January 18, 2026.
Expected Timeline
Snapshots for Minecraft 26.1 started in December 2025 (Snapshot 1 on Dec 15), followed by Snapshot 2 on January 6 and Snapshot 3 on January 12, indicating active development. Industry speculation points to a late March 2026 release, aligning with Mojang’s quarterly “drop” pattern-similar to the Spring to Life drop on March 25, 2025.
Current Status
The update remains in snapshot phase for Java Edition, with Bedrock previews expected soon; no stable version exists yet. Test features like revamped baby mobs through snapshots or previews in the Minecraft Launcher. Mojang will confirm the date closer to completion, likely via Minecraft Live Spring.
Has Mojang announced a firm release date for 26.1
No, Mojang has not announced a firm release date for Minecraft 26.1.
Development Status
As of January 18, 2026, the update remains in snapshot testing with Snapshot 3 released on January 12, alongside earlier snapshots from December 2025 and early January. Official Minecraft.net snapshot articles detail features like baby mob revamps but omit any specific release timeline.
Speculated Timing
Sources predict a late March 2026 launch based on Mojang’s quarterly drop pattern, mirroring the Spring to Life update on March 25, 2025. Community outlets like Beebom and GuruGamer note this as educated speculation, not official confirmation. Check minecraft.net or @Minecraft on X for future announcements.
