We are entering the decisive phase of development of Linux Mint 22.3The codename for this edition will be Zena, and it seems it won't be coming home for Christmas. Currently, there's talk of a beta version arriving in the first half of December 2026, which is where we are now. According to my calculations, and considering that the stable version arrives about three weeks after the beta, the only way it would arrive by Christmas would be if the beta were released before December 10th. But let's not lose hope.
Yes, it can arrive in the second part of Christmas, which is celebrated in countries like Spain, where the holidays or festive period extends until the 6th. In any case, there's not much time left, and Clem He has given us some more details. on Linux Mint 22.3, starting with the start menu shown in the header screenshot.
Linux Mint 22.3 Zena will arrive in early 2026
Cinnamon's home menu now features symbolic category icons (the middle column), thanks to the XSI initiative. Other notable features of Zena include:
- System Information Tool.
- New management tool.
- The new Cinnamon menu, which will look better than in the header image (which is a rather poor edit I made), Photopea.
- Keyboard/IM management compatible with Wayland.
- Improved on-screen keyboard.
- Ability to pause file operations in Nemo.
- Timeshift snapshots.
- Text messages in Warpinator.
- Option to have the night light always on.
- Application notification indicator.
It should be made clear that many of the most outstanding new features come from the Cinnamon graphical environment, developed by the Mint project.
When they launch the beta they will provide more information, and we will publish a more detailed article.