PHP 8.6.0 RC2 was released on September 23, 2026, just 18 hours after RC1, indicating that the major release is nearing completion. This second release candidate includes only three fixes on top of RC1, while the full build contains numerous memory-safety and correctness improvements. The feature set is now frozen, with key additions such as partial function application and a new clamp() function, along with a number of deprecations for developers to consider. While RC2 is available for testing, it is not intended for production use, and a stable version is expected to be launched in November 2026

PHP 8.6.0 RC2 Released Days After RC1 Ahead of November Stable Launch

PHP 8.6.0 RC2 was tagged on 23 September 2026, just about 18 hours after RC1, a gap that signals the next major release is near its finish line. The second candidate adds only three fixes on top of RC1, though its full build bundles roughly two dozen memory-safety and correctness fixes dating back to Beta 3. The feature set is already frozen, locking in additions like partial function application, clamp(), performance caches, and a fresh wave of deprecations for developers to plan around. It's available for testing now but shouldn't run in production, with stable 8.6.0 expected around November 2026.

PHP 8.6.0 RC2 Released Days After RC1 Ahead of November Stable Launch @ Linux Compatible