Java 26: Better Language, Better APIs, Better Runtime

Since JavaOne 2025, JDK 25 was released, the latest version with long-term support. But Java never stands still; it's already time to ship JDK 26. This talk summarizes the most important changes between Java 21 and 25: from unnamed patterns and flexible constructors to module imports from the foreign-function and memory API to stream gatherers and the class-file API from a simpler `main` to launching multisource-file programs from Markdown in JavaDoc to quantum-resistant encryption from faster launch times to improved garbage collection ... before taking a closer look at the newest release, including its preview features: Primitive patterns and lazy constants Updated structured concurrency PEM encoding and HTTP/3 support New command-line options to enable deep reflection There are plenty of features in the language, API, and runtime to discuss; whether new, improved, or finalized. Let's go over them. Presented by Nicolai Parlog (Oracle) at JavaOne 2026 (CA, March 2026). All    • JavaOne 2026   talks. Tags: #Java #JavaOne #JVM #JDK LRN1412 17 203