FreeCAD/FreeCAD
FreeCAD Advances with 26.3 Release Candidate and Latest Weekly Build
FreeCAD, the open-source parametric 3D modeler popular among engineers and designers, has issued its first release candidate for version 26.3, marking a major milestone since version 1.1. Alongside this, the project continues its rapid development cycle with the weekly-2026.10.07 build, offering users early access to ongoing fixes and features.
About FreeCAD
FreeCAD is a versatile, open-source parametric 3D modeler widely used for computer-aided design (CAD), mechanical engineering, and product lifecycle management (PLM). It supports feature-based modeling workflows, allowing users to create and modify complex 3D models with precision. The software is community-driven, with a focus on extensibility and adaptability, making it a popular choice for developers and technical users interested in customizable CAD solutions.
FreeCAD 26.3 Release Candidate 1
On October 8, 2026, FreeCAD published the first release candidate (RC1) for its upcoming 26.3 version. This release candidate represents the first full build incorporating all the work completed since the previous major release, version 1.1. The project has transitioned to a calendar-based versioning system with three releases per year, so 26.3 follows 1.1 without skipping or renaming versions. Future releases are planned as 27.1, 27.2, and 27.3.
What This Means for Users
The 26.3 RC1 is primarily a call for testing rather than production use. Users are encouraged to download the build for their operating system and test it with real models and workflows to uncover issues that automated tests might miss. The FreeCAD team emphasizes the importance of reporting regressions—features that worked in 1.1 but do not in 26.3—to help polish the final release.
Known Issues and Development Process
There are still open blockers and critical issues labeled as "Blocker" on the project's issue tracker. The number of such issues may increase as more users test the release candidate, which is seen as a positive indication that the final release will be more stable. Developers interested in contributing can pick issues from the blocker list or other bug reports, submit fixes, and participate in weekly merge meetings.
Users are advised to start with a fresh configuration due to some changes in defaults and behaviors. Additionally, the project offers an optional Telemetry addon to help gather data-driven feedback on FreeCAD usage.
For full details on the changes in 26.3, users can consult the official release notes on the FreeCAD wiki.
Weekly Development Build: weekly-2026.10.07
Alongside the release candidate, FreeCAD continues its rapid development pace with weekly builds. The weekly-2026.10.07 build, published on October 7, 2026, provides the latest bug fixes, regressions, and newly implemented features for early testing.
Usage and Cautions
These weekly builds are intended strictly for testing and development purposes and are not recommended for production environments. Users can download the appropriate build for Windows, macOS, or Linux, unpack it, and run the application directly.
Summary
FreeCAD's recent release candidate for version 26.3 marks a significant step forward in the software's evolution, inviting the community to participate actively in testing and improving the platform. Meanwhile, the weekly builds continue to offer a glimpse into ongoing development efforts. Together, these releases reflect FreeCAD's commitment to open-source collaboration and continuous improvement in the parametric 3D modeling space.