Minecraft: Java Edition 26.1 Snapshot-3, released on January 13, 2026, is the third test version in the 26.1 update cycle. The snapshot focuses primarily on technical improvements, expanded world management capabilities, and tools for map and datapack creators rather than adding new gameplay content.
26.1 Snapshot-4 is the fourth test snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition version 26.1, released on January 20, 2026. Despite the absence of major gameplay additions, the update brings noticeable visual changes and technical fixes. The main focus is on baby horses: the developers have updated the models of foals, donkey foals, mules, as well as baby zombie horses and skeleton horses. In addition, new tags for developers have been added and a number of bugs affecting stability and proper game performance have been fixed.
26.1 Snapshot-5 is the fifth snapshot of version 26.1 for Minecraft: Java Edition, released on January 27, 2026. The update is small but atmospheric: a new unusual flower has been added to the spring drop, the textures of some baby mobs have been updated, and several new sounds have been introduced.
Released on January 7, 2026, 26.1 Snapshot-2 continues testing the new update branch for Minecraft: Java Edition. Instead of large-scale innovations, the developers focused on atmosphere and refined details that make the game world more lively and expressive. The spotlight is on baby mobs, which received a full visual overhaul, as well as several long-awaited quality-of-life improvements.
On December 16, 2025, Mojang Studios released the first snapshot for the Minecraft version: 26.1 Snapshot-1. This release opened the 26.1 update cycle and immediately set a new technical direction for the game. The snapshot introduced several important changes. Trading can now be controlled through data packs, in-game lighting and the visual display of the "Night Vision" effect have been improved, and numerous technical adjustments and bug fixes have been implemented.
The developers released snapshot 25w37a for Minecraft 1.21.9, which became available on September 9, 2025. It mainly fixes certain mob-related aspects, server parameters, and numerous bugs.
The eighth snapshot was released on September 2 for the game Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.9, as critical issues had appeared in the game.
Very recently (September 2), the snapshot 25w36a for Minecraft version 1.21.9 was released, introducing a new item (mannequin), as well as numerous bug fixes, including critical ones.
The sixth snapshot for Minecraft 1.21.9 was released on August 26 and was named 25w35a. In this version, the developers added several game rules, parameters, fixed a large number of bugs, and added a new language in the settings.
The fifth snapshot 25w34b for Minecraft version 1.21.9 has been released, in which the developers fixed only one bug and did not add anything new in terms of content. It was released on August 19, 2025!
