Yardstick (Protocol 26) upgrade guide for the Stellar network with key dates, preparation steps for SDK users and infrastructure operators, and links to all relevant releases.
This guide prepares businesses and developers for Yardstick, Protocol 26, the next Stellar network upgrade. Key dates include April 8, 2026 for stable releases, April 16, 2026 for testnet upgrade, and May 6, 2026 for mainnet upgrade vote. SDK users must upgrade to the latest versions before these dates. Infrastructure operators running Stellar Core, Horizon, RPC, or Galexie should install Protocol 26 releases after April 8, with Docker and Ubuntu packages available. Validators must arm their nodes with the upgrade command for the May 6 vote. The guide provides links to all relevant releases across multiple SDKs and infrastructure components, with ongoing announcements available on the Stellar Developer Discord.
