Minecraft update 26.3 is now out in pre-release, as Mojang makes “final touches” to the Dappled Forest
A new Minecraft update has just brought the third game drop of 2026 into its final stretch. The first pre-release build of Minecraft patch 26.3 has just landed on Java edition, and while there are a few technical changes from its previous testing snapshots, Mojang says it is almost done polishing the Dappled Forest biome and its fresh suite of building tools.
“We are now mainly fixing bugs, making improvements, and putting on the final touches ahead of release,” the Minecraft team confirms. If you like digging through backend data, there are quite a few technical changes there, but if you’re just looking to test out the new additions in 26.3 then everything in this Minecraft update is pretty much as expected. First and foremost is the Dappled Forest, which is found close to cold biomes and has a fall-themed vibe.
Head there and you’ll be able to find the majority of the new additions. Poplar Trees, with their red, yellow, and orange leaf variants, each of which provides saplings that randomly chooses a color when grown. Red Shrubs, which hold their hue when taken back to your base, and can be expanded using bone meal. Shelf Mushrooms, which grow on Poplar Trees (including those that have fallen), and are about as bouncy as a bed. You can also use them for stews much like regular Minecraft mushrooms.
Also included in the new update are Concrete Stairs, Concrete Slabs, Wool Stairs, and Wool Slabs, all of which can be crafted in any of the 16 standard colors. Using three Wool Slabs in a row will let you make Cushions, which are great for decorative potential and also allow you to sit down for the first time in Minecraft’s 17-year history. You can also build Poplar Boats with the new wood type, or craft Hay Bales into Straw Beds, which are a one-use place to sleep that won’t reset your spawn point.
The last big new feature are Abandoned Camps, which can generate in a wide range of biomes, and will adapt their look to the area you find them in. They’ll also have some barrels and chests nearby, which can hold a range of basic items, tools, materials, and even Explorer Maps. These might show the location of Abandoned Camps in other biomes, or they can lead you to Ancient Cities, Mineshafts, Desert Pyramids, or Warm Ocean Ruins.
The Minecraft 26.3 pre-release 1 build is now live on Java edition. You can choose to test it out via the Minecraft launcher. Mojang also notes that the latest Java snapshot introduces invite codes for Realms, along with the ability to increase your render distance from the previous maximum of 12 chunks up to a massive 25. Keep your hardware limitations in mind before you change this, however.