Google has been changing the usual cycle of Android updates and releases since Android 15. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen the introduction of quarterly releases, a switch from the brief Developer Preview releases to year-long Canary releases, the reduction to twice-yearly AOSP source code releases, and the addition of a minor SDK release mid-cycle.
It’s all very messy. Even someone like me, whose job is to follow Android, kept getting confused by all the overlapping update cycles and feature releases. So I dug in and tried to make sense of the madness. The result is this single graph that visualizes and summarizes Android’s current, not-so-straightforward update state. Keep reading below the graph for the full explanation of what each release means and what you can expect from it.
Are you confused by Android's QPRs, betas, Canary, SDK, and AOSP release timelines? 23 votes Yes. What is even QPR2 beta 3? 22 % Somewhat. I get some parts but not all. 30 % I understand it, but I can tell it's confusing for others. 30 % No, it's all very simple. 17 %
Google's plans can change at any time! The current schedule is what we expect based on Google's historical release cycle and its more recent plans and changes. There may be a month's difference, give or take, at each step of the release cycle, but this is the closest approximation we have.
Android’s 2026 yearly release in graph form
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
In 2026, we expect Google to follow the same update blueprint it introduced in 2025, while accommodating more recent changes, such as the switch to a twice-yearly AOSP source code drop and the new frequent Canary releases.
Expected Android Canary 2026 release schedule Let’s start with the most unstable, experimental, and developer-oriented version of Android: Canary. Google should carry on with its continuous builds throughout 2026. On average, Google has released a full new Canary build once a month in 2025, and we expect this to be the case for 2026.
Right now, if you flash the Canary 2601 (“26” for the year, “01” for the month) on your Pixel 6 or newer, or you try it out in Android Studio, you’ll get to experience some early Android 17 code and features such as a better-organized System Settings page and a rounder brightness slider. Likewise, towards the end of 2026, Canary releases will likely tease 2027’s Android 18 codename and features. January: Android Canary 2601
February: Android Canary 2602
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