_content/blog/go1.26.md - website - Git at Google

 ---
 title: Go 1.26 is released
 date: 2026-02-10
 by:
 - Carlos Amedee, on behalf of the Go team
 summary: Go 1.26 adds a new garbage collector, cgo overhead reduction, experimental simd/archsimd package, experimental runtime/secret package, and more.
 ---

 Today the Go team is pleased to release Go 1.26.
 You can find its binary archives and installers on the [download page](/dl/).

 ## Language changes

 Go 1.26 introduces two significant refinements to the language
 [syntax and type system](/doc/go1.26#language).

 First, the built-in `new` function, which creates a new variable, now allows its operand to be an
 expression, specifying the initial value of the variable.

 A simple example of this change means that code such as this:

 ```go
 x := int64(300)
 ptr := &x
 ```

 Can be simplified to:

 ```go
 ptr := new(int64(300))
 ```

 Second, generic types may now refer to themselves in their own type parameter list. This change
 simplifies the implementation of complex data structures and interfaces.

 ## Performance improvements

 The previously experimental [Green Tea garbage collector](/doc/go1.26#new-garbage-collector)
 is now enabled by default.

 The baseline [cgo overhead has been reduced](/doc/go1.26#faster-cgo-calls)
 by approximately 30%.

 The compiler can now [allocate the backing store](/doc/go1.26#compiler) for
 slices on the stack in more situations, which improves performance.

 ## Tool improvements

 The `go fix` command has been completely rewritten to use the
 [Go analysis framework](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis), and now includes a
 couple dozen "[modernizers](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis/passes/modernize)", analyzers
 that suggest safe fixes to help your code take advantage of newer features of the language
 and standard library. It also includes the
 [`inline` analyzer](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis/passes/inline#hdr-Analyzer_inline), which
 attempts to inline all calls to each function annotated with a `//go:fix inline` directive.
 Two upcoming blog posts will address these features in more detail.

 ## More improvements and changes

 Go 1.26 introduces many improvements over Go 1.25 across
 its [tools](/doc/go1.26#tools), the [runtime](/doc/go1.26#runtime),
 [compiler](/doc/go1.26#compiler), [linker](/doc/go1.26#linker),
 and the [standard library](/doc/go1.26#library).
 This includes the addition of three new packages: [`crypto/hpke`](/doc/go1.26#new-cryptohpke-package),
 [`crypto/mlkem/mlkemtest`](/doc/go1.26#cryptomlkempkgcryptomlkem), and
 [`testing/cryptotest`](/doc/go1.26#testingcryptotestpkgtestingcryptotest).
 There are [port-specific](/doc/go1.26#ports) changes
 and [`GODEBUG` settings](/doc/godebug#go-126) updates.

 Some of the additions in Go 1.26 are in an experimental stage
 and become exposed only when you explicitly opt in. Notably:

 - An [experimental `simd/archsimd` package](/doc/go1.26#simd) provides access to "single instruction,
 multiple data" (SIMD) operations.

 - An [experimental `runtime/secret` package](/doc/go1.26#new-experimental-runtimesecret-package) provides
 a facility for securely erasing temporaries used in code that manipulates secret
 information, typically cryptographic in nature.

 - An [experimental `goroutineleak` profile](/doc/go1.26#goroutineleak-profiles)
 in the `runtime/pprof` package that reports leaked goroutines.

 These experiments are all expected to be generally available in a
 future version of Go. We encourage you to try them out ahead of time.
 We really value your feedback!

 Please refer to the [Go 1.26 Release Notes](/doc/go1.26) for the complete list
 of additions, changes, and improvements in Go 1.26.

 Over the next few weeks, follow-up blog posts will cover some of the topics
 relevant to Go 1.26 in more detail. Check back later to read those posts.

 Thanks to everyone who contributed to this release by writing code, filing bugs,
 trying out experimental additions, sharing feedback, and testing the release candidates.
 Your efforts helped make Go 1.26 as stable as possible.
 As always, if you notice any problems, please [file an issue](/issue/new).

 We hope you enjoy using the new release!
	---
	title: Go 1.26 is released
	date: 2026-02-10
	by:
	- Carlos Amedee, on behalf of the Go team
	summary: Go 1.26 adds a new garbage collector, cgo overhead reduction, experimental simd/archsimd package, experimental runtime/secret package, and more.
	---

	Today the Go team is pleased to release Go 1.26.
	You can find its binary archives and installers on the [download page](/dl/).

	## Language changes

	Go 1.26 introduces two significant refinements to the language
	[syntax and type system](/doc/go1.26#language).

	First, the built-in `new` function, which creates a new variable, now allows its operand to be an
	expression, specifying the initial value of the variable.

	A simple example of this change means that code such as this:

	```go
	x := int64(300)
	ptr := &x
	```

	Can be simplified to:

	```go
	ptr := new(int64(300))
	```

	Second, generic types may now refer to themselves in their own type parameter list. This change
	simplifies the implementation of complex data structures and interfaces.

	## Performance improvements

	The previously experimental [Green Tea garbage collector](/doc/go1.26#new-garbage-collector)
	is now enabled by default.

	The baseline [cgo overhead has been reduced](/doc/go1.26#faster-cgo-calls)
	by approximately 30%.

	The compiler can now [allocate the backing store](/doc/go1.26#compiler) for
	slices on the stack in more situations, which improves performance.

	## Tool improvements

	The `go fix` command has been completely rewritten to use the
	[Go analysis framework](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis), and now includes a
	couple dozen "[modernizers](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis/passes/modernize)", analyzers
	that suggest safe fixes to help your code take advantage of newer features of the language
	and standard library. It also includes the
	[`inline` analyzer](/pkg/golang.org/x/tools/go/analysis/passes/inline#hdr-Analyzer_inline), which
	attempts to inline all calls to each function annotated with a `//go:fix inline` directive.
	Two upcoming blog posts will address these features in more detail.

	## More improvements and changes

	Go 1.26 introduces many improvements over Go 1.25 across
	its [tools](/doc/go1.26#tools), the [runtime](/doc/go1.26#runtime),
	[compiler](/doc/go1.26#compiler), [linker](/doc/go1.26#linker),
	and the [standard library](/doc/go1.26#library).
	This includes the addition of three new packages: [`crypto/hpke`](/doc/go1.26#new-cryptohpke-package),
	[`crypto/mlkem/mlkemtest`](/doc/go1.26#cryptomlkempkgcryptomlkem), and
	[`testing/cryptotest`](/doc/go1.26#testingcryptotestpkgtestingcryptotest).
	There are [port-specific](/doc/go1.26#ports) changes
	and [`GODEBUG` settings](/doc/godebug#go-126) updates.

	Some of the additions in Go 1.26 are in an experimental stage
	and become exposed only when you explicitly opt in. Notably:

	- An [experimental `simd/archsimd` package](/doc/go1.26#simd) provides access to "single instruction,
	multiple data" (SIMD) operations.

	- An [experimental `runtime/secret` package](/doc/go1.26#new-experimental-runtimesecret-package) provides
	a facility for securely erasing temporaries used in code that manipulates secret
	information, typically cryptographic in nature.

	- An [experimental `goroutineleak` profile](/doc/go1.26#goroutineleak-profiles)
	in the `runtime/pprof` package that reports leaked goroutines.

	These experiments are all expected to be generally available in a
	future version of Go. We encourage you to try them out ahead of time.
	We really value your feedback!

	Please refer to the [Go 1.26 Release Notes](/doc/go1.26) for the complete list
	of additions, changes, and improvements in Go 1.26.

	Over the next few weeks, follow-up blog posts will cover some of the topics
	relevant to Go 1.26 in more detail. Check back later to read those posts.

	Thanks to everyone who contributed to this release by writing code, filing bugs,
	trying out experimental additions, sharing feedback, and testing the release candidates.
	Your efforts helped make Go 1.26 as stable as possible.
	As always, if you notice any problems, please [file an issue](/issue/new).

	We hope you enjoy using the new release!