26.2.0 GA release notes by taroface · Pull Request #23205 · cockroachdb/docs

taroface · 2026-04-21T17:52:48Z

Draft 26.2.0 GA release notes. Note:

All testing releases are rolled up into 26.2.0.
Feature Highlights require final review and approval
Cloud highlights are published separately on the Cloud release notes

github-actions · 2026-04-21T17:53:09Z

Files changed:

src/current/_config_cockroachdb.yml
src/current/_data/releases.yml
src/current/_data/versions.csv
src/current/_includes/releases/new-release-downloads-docker-image.md:
- releases/releases.md
src/current/_includes/releases/release-downloads-docker-image.md:
- releases/releases.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v25.4/v25.4.0.md:
- releases/v25.4.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/backward-incompatible.md:
- releases/v26.2.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/cluster-setting-changes.md:
- releases/v26.2.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/deprecations.md:
- releases/v26.2.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/feature-detail-key.html
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/upgrade-finalization.md:
- releases/v26.2.md
src/current/_includes/releases/v26.2/v26.2.0.md:
- releases/v26.2.md
src/current/_includes/releases/whats-new-intro.md:
- releases/releases.md
src/current/_includes/v26.2/ui/statement-details.md:

src/current/v26.2/ui-statements-page.md

src/current/cockroachcloud/migrations-page.md
src/current/cockroachcloud/take-and-restore-self-managed-backups.md
src/current/css/customstyles.scss
src/current/releases/cloud.md
src/current/releases/index.md
src/current/releases/v26.2.md
src/current/v26.2/fips.md

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github-actions · 2026-04-21T17:53:15Z

Branch Existence Check: Failed

Found 6 issue(s) in versions.csv:

Context: EDUENG-614

❌ v1.0: crdb_branch_name='release-1.0' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.
❌ v1.1: crdb_branch_name='release-1.1' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.
❌ v2.0: crdb_branch_name='release-2.0' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.
❌ v2.1: crdb_branch_name='release-2.1' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.
❌ v19.1: crdb_branch_name='release-19.1' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.
❌ v19.2: crdb_branch_name='release-19.2' does not exist in cockroachdb/generated-diagrams.

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rmloveland

LGTM, had some feedback but nothing blocking

rmloveland · 2026-04-23T14:54:28Z

-    <p class="feature-summary">Prevent auto-unlock of schema_locked tables</p>
-    <p class="feature-description">A new cluster setting <code>sql.schema.auto_unlock.enabled</code> controls whether DDL operations automatically unlock <code>schema_locked</code> tables. When set to <code>false</code>, DDL on schema-locked tables is blocked unless the user manually unlocks the table first. This allows customers using LDR to enforce <code>schema_locked</code> as a hard lock preventing user-initiated DDL. The default is <code>true</code>, preserving existing behavior.</p>
+    <p class="feature-summary">Schema lock enforcement</p>
+    <p class="feature-description">The cluster setting <code>sql.schema.auto_unlock.enabled</code> controls whether DDL operations automatically unlock <code>schema_locked</code> tables. When set to <code>false</code>, DDL statements on schema-locked tables are blocked unless manually unlocked. This allows users of Logical Data Replication (LDR) to enforce <code>schema_locked</code> as a hard lock preventing user-initiated DDL. The default is <code>true</code>.</p>


i'm not sure if it's worth adding this level of nuance in a feature highlight (cc @rafiss if you have opinions) - in the docs PR we made it clear that it can't always auto-unlock

suggest clarifying slightly with replacement text something like the following (IFF we care about this level of nuance, which i think we will, since it could lead to some user/support interactions re: "why doesn't this auto-unlock?"):

<p class="feature-description">The cluster setting <code>sql.schema.auto_unlock.enabled</code> controls whether DDL operations attempt to automatically unlock and re-lock <code>schema_locked</code> tables. When set to <code>false</code>, DDL statements on schema-locked tables are blocked unless manually unlocked. This allows users of Logical Data Replication (LDR) to enforce <code>schema_locked</code> as a hard lock preventing user-initiated DDL. Some schema changes still require manual unlock even when this setting is <code>true</code>. The default is <code>true</code>.</p>

jhlodin

Suggested links and left a few comments, otherwise LGTM for my topic areas

jhlodin

Updating my review with suggestions for Cloud content specifically

jhlodin

Need to remove 2DC active-passive which was bumped to Q2

taroface · 2026-04-23T22:59:17Z

-{% endcomment %}
+- `ALTER TABLE ... DROP CONSTRAINT` can now be used to drop `UNIQUE` constraints. The backing `UNIQUE` index will also be dropped, as CockroachDB treats the constraint and index as the same thing. [#162345](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pull/162345)
+
+- Added the <a href="{% link v26.2/cluster-settings.md %}#setting-sql-stats-canary-fraction"><code>sql.stats.canary_fraction</code></a> cluster setting to enable <a href="{% link v26.2/canary-statistics.md %}">canary table statistics</a>. This setting controls the probability that table statistics will use canary mode (i.e., always use the freshest stats) instead of stable mode (i.e., use the second-freshest stats) for query planning `[0.0-1.0]`. [#167944](https://github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pull/167944)


@peachdawnleach Do you mind reviewing this and the following 2 items on canary stats? I learned that the entire feature is version-gated, so moved more release notes to this section and also reworded them a bit in the process.

taroface · 2026-04-23T23:00:12Z

Need to remove 2DC active-passive which was bumped to Q2

@jhlodin Done; PTAL!

taroface force-pushed the 26.2-feature-highlights branch from 9af70cd to e5330a2 Compare April 21, 2026 17:56

taroface requested review from Flat5flat9, bsanchez-the-roach, jhlodin, kannanlakshmi, mikeCRL and peachdawnleach April 21, 2026 19:50

Flat5flat9 approved these changes Apr 21, 2026

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taroface removed the request for review from kannanlakshmi April 21, 2026 21:21

taroface added the DO NOT MERGE label Apr 22, 2026

taroface requested a review from rmloveland April 22, 2026 18:19

rmloveland reviewed Apr 23, 2026

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rmloveland approved these changes Apr 23, 2026

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jhlodin reviewed Apr 23, 2026

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taroface commented Apr 23, 2026

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taroface requested a review from jhlodin April 23, 2026 22:59

taroface force-pushed the 26.2-feature-highlights branch from e50dea3 to e03bb66 Compare April 23, 2026 23:12

jhlodin approved these changes Apr 24, 2026

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taroface and others added 23 commits April 24, 2026 17:23

simplify and clarify GA release notes

fef3c34

cleanup and corrections

bcba65d

copyedit feature highlights

9e29094

clean up notes

eb79e01

amend upgrade finalization notes

67a46e7

fix typos

6fe0423

fix link

06ddabd

fix broken links

4175b5b

fix links

04c1d53

update backward-incompatible changes, Cloud-first messaging

989a4cb

reorder release notes by potential impact

1dd2c86

address docs review comments

497910a

Retrigger CI

95df897

update release date

43ceca1

remove MFA highlight

49a036c

update releases table; fix links and dupes

ff0e5e5

fix links

a39edf7

link known limitations in intro

fe999d8

retroactively fix link

99c666d

update known limitations; fix link again

b2fd07c

add one more KL

cadfe33

fix links...

2bd858b

Add Disaster Recovery items to Feature Highlights

5304f13

taroface force-pushed the 26.2-feature-highlights branch from dbfa1b4 to 5304f13 Compare April 24, 2026 21:23

taroface added 6 commits April 24, 2026 21:50

fix links

11286b5

amend feature highlights intro

71ab160

copyedit feature highlights

5171830

correct formatting

627d058

remove stale reference to incremental backups

b4186cd

add feature links

06aab42

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