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Official image for Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 7
IN DEVELOPMENT Next game drop · in development

Minecraft 26.4

Minecraft 26.4 is the next Java Edition game drop, in testing since 22 September 2026. Its theme is ice: seven snapshots have added the Ice Caves biome, the Frostbite (a zombie variant that throws Ice Balls), the Freezing effect, Icicles, Ice Crystals, Brittle Ice, Packed Ice Bricks, Snow Bricks, a Calcite block set and the music disc “Flurry”. According to Mojang, Snapshot 7 completes the drop's gameplay features; there is no name or release date yet.

First snapshot 22 Sept 2026 7 test builds so far Latest: 26.4 Snapshot 7, 3 Nov Expected around December 2026 (estimate)
Latest snapshot → All test builds (7)
  1. S122 Sept
  2. S229 Sept
  3. S36 Oct
  4. S413 Oct
  5. S520 Oct
  6. S627 Oct
  7. S73 Nov
  8. Pre-releasecoming
  9. RCcoming
  10. 26.4≈ December 2026

Estimate based on the last 4 updates of the same kind, which took 9 to 14 weeks from first snapshot to release. Mojang has not announced a date.

What we know so far

  • New biome: Ice Caves generate under cold Overworld biomes, made of Packed Ice and Calcite, with Icicles, Ice Crystals and crevasses of Brittle Ice.
  • New mob: the Frostbite is a zombie variant that switches between melee hits that apply Freezing and thrown Ice Balls.
  • New effect: Freezing slowly freezes its target as if it stood in Powder Snow, with Potions and Arrows of Freezing brewed from Ice Balls.
  • New blocks: Icicle, Ice Crystal, Brittle Ice, Packed Ice Bricks (slab, stairs, wall, chiseled), Snow Bricks (slab, stairs, wall) and Calcite sets (pillar, slab, stairs, wall, Polished Calcite, Polished Calcite Bricks).
  • Jukebox playlists: a chest placed on top of a Jukebox feeds it Music Discs in slot order, on a loop.

Confirmed so far

Biome

Ice Caves

A cave biome under cold biomes, mostly Packed Ice and Calcite. Icicles hang from the ceiling, Ice Crystals glow on the floor, and Strays and Frostbites spawn there.

Ice CavesIcicleIce Crystal
Mob

Frostbite

A zombie variant from icy biomes. It throws Ice Balls at range, applies Freezing in melee and walks on Powder Snow. Zombies and Husks stuck in Powder Snow turn into Frostbites.

FrostbiteIce Ball
Blocks

Icicles, Ice Crystals and Brittle Ice

Icicles grow like Dripstone and hurt whatever they fall on. Ice Crystals emit light. Brittle Ice cracks and breaks under players and mobs, and forms when water flows next to Blue Ice.

IcicleIce CrystalBrittle Ice
Blocks

Packed Ice Bricks and Snow Bricks

Two building sets crafted from 2x2 Packed Ice or Snow Blocks. Packed Ice Bricks also come in a chiseled version and work in the Stonecutter; Snow Bricks do not.

Packed Ice BricksChiseled Packed IceSnow Bricks
Gameplay

Jukebox playlists

Put a Chest, Trapped Chest or Copper Chest directly above a Jukebox: it plays the Music Discs inside one after another and loops back to the first.

JukeboxChest
Mob

Cold Sulfur Cube

A Sulfur Cube that absorbs a Blue Ice block floats and turns the water below it into Frosted Ice as it moves, like the Frost Walker enchantment.

Sulfur CubeBlue IceFrosted Ice
Music disc · Added in 26.4 Snapshot 7

Listen to “Flurry” by Hyper Potions

The official track of this disc, released by Mojang Studios with Hyper Potions on 03 Nov 2026.

Found in
Igloobasement chest
Comparator signal
7
Length
2:34
Disc page
Music Disc (Hyper Potions - flurry)
Play the trackMinecraft: Flurry (Original Game Soundtrack)Loads the Spotify player

The Spotify player loads only when you click. Spotify may then set its own cookies. Open in Spotify ↗ · YouTube ↗

Blocks and items coming in 26.4

Each one already has its page, built from 26.4 Snapshot 7 and marked as upcoming.

Brittle IceBrittle IceCalcite PillarCalcite PillarCalcite SlabCalcite SlabCalcite StairsCalcite StairsCalcite WallCalcite WallChiseled Packed IceChiseled Packed IceChiseled SoulshaleChiseled SoulshaleIce CrystalIce CrystalIcicleIciclePacked Ice BricksPacked Ice BricksPacked Ice Brick SlabPacked Ice Brick SlabPacked Ice Brick StairsPacked Ice Brick StairsPacked Ice Brick WallPacked Ice Brick WallPolished CalcitePolished CalcitePolished Calcite BricksPolished Calcite BricksPolished Calcite Brick SlabPolished Calcite Brick SlabPolished Calcite Brick StairsPolished Calcite Brick StairsPolished Calcite Brick WallPolished Calcite Brick WallPolished Calcite SlabPolished Calcite SlabPolished Calcite StairsPolished Calcite StairsPolished Calcite WallPolished Calcite WallSnow BricksSnow BricksSnow Brick SlabSnow Brick SlabSnow Brick StairsSnow Brick StairsSnow Brick WallSnow Brick WallFrostbite Spawn EggFrostbite Spawn EggIce BallIce BallMusic Disc (Hyper Potions - flurry)Music Disc (Hyper Potions - flurry)

Snapshot by snapshot

Headings from the official changelog

  1. 26.4 Snapshot 7 03 Nov 2026 · 53 bugs fixed
    • Calcite
    • Music and Sound
  2. 26.4 Snapshot 6 27 Oct 2026 · 41 bugs fixed
    • Snow Bricks
    • Cold Sulfur Cube Archetype
  3. 26.4 Snapshot 5 20 Oct 2026 · 30 bugs fixed
    • Packed Ice Bricks
    • Advancements
  4. 26.4 Snapshot 4 13 Oct 2026 · 34 bugs fixed
    • Jukebox Playlists
    • Brittle Ice
  5. 26.4 Snapshot 3 06 Oct 2026 · 18 bugs fixed
    • Ice Caves
    • Ice Crystal
    • Icicle
    • Frostbite
    • Freezing Mob Effect
    • Ice Ball
  6. 26.4 Snapshot 2 29 Sept 2026 · 53 bugs fixed
    • UI
  7. 26.4 Snapshot 1 22 Sept 2026 · 29 bugs fixed
    • World Generation
    • Minor Tweaks to Blocks, Items and Entities
    • "Graphics API" Video Setting

Other changes

GraphicsVulkan becomes the default graphics API; the game no longer switches API on its own after a startup crash.
GraphicsWith Improved Transparency on, the sky now blends into the render distance fog, and the lower half of the sky hides the sun, moon and stars.
InterfaceThe F3 debug screen has been redesigned, and the Friends list gains search and sorting.
MultiplayerSocial Interactions is replaced by the Other Players screen (P key), with a new Player Options menu for muting, reporting and friend requests.
PerformanceThe game now sizes its Java memory from your RAM: up to 25%, capped at 4 GB.
WorldsWorlds created before Caves & Cliffs now also generate sulfur caves below their old chunks.

Play 26.4 now

  1. 01

    Back up your world: snapshots can corrupt saves.

  2. 02

    In the Minecraft Launcher, open Installations and tick Snapshots.

  3. 03

    Choose the version and press Play.

Minecraft 26.4: FAQ

When does Minecraft 26.4 come out?

Mojang has not given a date, but says Snapshot 7 holds the final gameplay features of the drop. The last four game drops reached release 9 to 14 weeks after their first snapshot; 26.4 started on 22 September 2026, which points to around December 2026. This is an estimate, not an announcement.

What is new in Minecraft 26.4 so far?

The Ice Caves biome, the Frostbite mob, the Freezing effect and its potions and arrows (countered by leather armour and by being on fire), Ice Balls, Icicles, Ice Crystals, Brittle Ice, Packed Ice Bricks, Snow Bricks, the Calcite block sets, the music disc “Flurry”, the Cold Sulfur Cube and Jukebox playlists, after seven snapshots.

How can I play Minecraft 26.4 now?

In the Minecraft Launcher, open Installations, tick Snapshots and pick the latest 26.4 snapshot. Use a copy of your world: snapshots can corrupt saves and worlds opened in them may not load in 26.3 again.

Does Minecraft 26.4 have a name?

Not yet. Mojang revealed its icy theme at Minecraft LIVE but has not named the drop. This page will be updated when it does.