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ZDNET key takeaways
- Linux is set for a big year in 2026.
- There will be a few distributions that will surprise people.
- These six distros will be on everyone's list by year's end.
It seems I went to bed, and it was just turning 2025. Then, I wake up, and it's 2026. Where did time go?
I can tell you one thing: time went to helping Linux rise in popularity. Okay, the death of Windows 10 also had something to do with that, but everyone in the business of covering Linux knew this would one day happen: the masses would finally realize that there is an alternative OS that's more reliable, safer, and easier to use.
Also: Linux will be unstoppable in 2026 – but one open-source legend may not survive
We may not be declaring 2026 the year of Linux just yet, but several Linux distros are likely to have a very good year. These are my picks for that list.
1. AerynOS
Once you get past the installer (which will be a bit of a challenge for those new to Linux), you'll find AerynOS to be an outstanding, rock-solid operating system that is fully atomic and offers a beautiful KDE Plasma desktop. It is those two last bits that will elevate AerynOS's status among the Linux distributions.
Also: 5 of my favorite Linux distros ready to use out of the box – no setup required
You see, atomic and immutable (those are not the same things, by the way) are the future of operating systems because they provide an experience that will always work. Atomic distributions basically ensure that no upgrade will result in system failure, a broken desktop, or unusable applications. That is important because people depend heavily on a dependable operating system.
AerynOS does atomicity but not immutability. That's important because immutability requires a read-only core file system, and that can confuse users when they attempt to configure something outside of their home directory.
AerynOS…