Linus Torvalds releases Linux 7.3 kernel with record developer turnout
The gist
Linux kernel maintainer Linus Torvalds released Linux 7.3 on Sunday, built from 18,765 commits by 3,021 developers.
The release ships in Ubuntu 26.10 and is expected to become the new long-term support version.
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2026Phoronix publishes a preview of Linux 7.3's best features, noting the kernel is slated for release on Sunday, 18 October, barring last-minute issues.
- Oct 18, 2026Torvalds releases the 7.3 kernel on a Sunday afternoon; the 7.4 merge window opens the next day.
- Oct 18, 2026Linux 7.3 brings in 18,765 non-merge commits from 3,021 developers, 807 of them first-time kernel developers.