What Is the Latest Version of Java? (2026)
As of 2026, the latest Java versions are Java 25 LTS (September 2025) and Java 26 (March 2026, non-LTS). Most production systems target Java 21 LTS, the previous LTS. New projects should target Java 21 or 25.
Current versions at a glance
| Version | Released | Type | Free support until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java 26 | March 2026 | Non-LTS (6-month life) | Sept 2026 |
| Java 25 | Sept 2025 | LTS | 2031+ (Temurin) |
| Java 24 | March 2025 | Non-LTS | EOL |
| Java 23 | Sept 2024 | Non-LTS | EOL |
| Java 21 | Sept 2023 | LTS | 2029+ (Temurin) |
| Java 17 | Sept 2021 | LTS | 2027+ (Temurin) |
| Java 11 | Sept 2018 | LTS | 2027 (Temurin) |
| Java 8 | March 2014 | LTS | 2030 (Oracle). Free builds vary. |
Which version should you use?
New project: Java 21 LTS. Widely supported by Spring Boot 3.x, Quarkus, Micronaut, most frameworks. Virtual threads, records, pattern matching — modern Java at its most stable.
If you want cutting-edge features: Java 25 LTS. Adds structured concurrency (stable), value objects (preview), string templates (stable).
Non-LTS versions: Only use 24 or 26 if you actively want to test new preview features; they fall out of support in 6 months.
How to check what version you have
java -versionHow the release cadence works
Since Java 9, Oracle releases a new major version every six months (March and September). Every three years (six releases), one of those is designated LTS: Java 11, 17, 21, 25. LTS versions receive security patches for years; non-LTS versions stop getting patches when the next version ships.
Where to download the latest Java
- Eclipse Temurin:
adoptium.net - Amazon Corretto:
aws.amazon.com/corretto - Microsoft OpenJDK:
learn.microsoft.com/java/openjdk/download - Oracle JDK (subscription):
oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads