Node.js 26.0.0 has been released with the Temporal API enabled by default, allowing for improved date and timezone handling without third-party libraries. The release includes updates to the V8 engine (version 14.6) and Undici (version 8.0), which enhance garbage collection and HTTP client stability, while also removing several deprecated code paths and legacy features. Developers upgrading from version 24 should prepare for more breaking changes and warnings, particularly as methods like http.writeHeader have been fully removed. Additionally, teams building from source need to use GCC 13.2, drop Python 3.9, and recompile native addons to accommodate these updates ahead of the October long-term support release
Node.js 26.0.0 released
Node.js 26 launches with the Temporal API enabled by default, giving developers a modern and reliable way to handle dates and timezones without third-party libraries. The V8 engine updates to version 14.6 and Undici moves to 8.0, which tightens garbage collection and improves HTTP client stability under heavy loads. Legacy code paths get a hard cleanup, with http.writeHeader, old stream modules, and experimental transform flags fully removed or pushed to runtime deprecation. Teams building from source must now use GCC 13.2, drop Python 3.9, and recompile native addons for the bumped module version before the official October LTS release.
