Microsoft has launched Visual Studio 2026, marking a new era for developers with enhanced AI integration and significant performance upgrades. According to Microsoft, this release is a direct result of user feedback and extensive testing through the Insiders Channel, incorporating over 5,000 bug fixes and 300 feature requests. Key Features:

Performance Improvements: Visual Studio 2026 boasts significantly faster startup times and a more responsive UI, reducing hangs by over 50%.
AI-Driven Development: The IDE is now AI-native, providing intelligent assistance during debugging, profiling, and application modernization.
Intelligent Developer Environment (IDE): GitHub Copilot integration provides contextual code suggestions, performance profiling, and app modernization.
UI/UX Enhancements: Fresh, modern UI design, settings system, and enhancements based on user feedback for a smoother development experience.
Compatibility: Full compatibility with Visual Studio 2022 projects and extensions, ensuring a seamless upgrade.
Build Tool Decoupling: The IDE is now decoupled from build tools, allowing for automatic monthly updates without affecting .NET or C++ compilers.

The release aims to help developers focus on creating with smoother, faster, and more intuitive interactions. Existing Visual Studio subscribers can sign in to activate their licenses automatically, and new users can purchase a standalone Professional license via the Microsoft Store starting December 1, 2025.