Minecraft 26.40 update: what's new
Contents
Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 26.40 launched on 4 August 2026, adding a handful of new items to the Drop 3 Experimental Features section — Poplar Tree, Red Shrub, Shelf Mushroom and Abandoned Camp — and fixing an arrow bug.
Below is a breakdown of exactly what the official notes say, and a separate section on what they don’t say.
When it launched and what this update is
The notes are titled “Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 26.40 Changelog” and were published via the developer’s official channel on 4 August 2026. The version number is 26.40. This update is specifically for Bedrock Edition; we’ve covered how this version of the game differs from Java Edition in a separate guide on Java vs Bedrock Edition.
Sections in the notes
The official patch notes page is split into sections. Among them are Known Issues and Drop 3 Experimental Features. Inside Drop 3 Experimental Features, the notes list a handful of further items: Abandoned Camp, Dappled Forest, a Graphical section, a Poplar Trees section, and Red Shrub and Shelf Mushroom listed separately.
Two of these items are spelled out in a bit more detail:
- the Poplar Trees section states outright that the Poplar Tree was added to the game;
- the Dappled Forest section carries a short note that this is where Red Shrub generates.
What exactly changed in the Graphical section, what Abandoned Camp actually is, and what’s notable about Shelf Mushroom — the official text doesn’t spell out. We’re not filling those gaps with guesses.
Fix: arrows getting stuck in your own hitbox
The Known Issues section records one fixed bug: arrows shot downwards used to get stuck in the hitbox of the very player who fired them. In the bug tracker, this issue is numbered MCPE-240527.
Biomes mentioned in the notes
The 26.40 patch notes also list the following biomes:
- Cherry Grove
- Birch Forest
- Old Growth Birch Forest
- Flower Forest
- Windswept Forest
- Dappled Forest
- Snowy Taiga
- Old Growth Spruce Taiga
- Old Growth Pine Taiga
- Sparse Jungle
- Bamboo Jungle
- Wooded Badlands
- Pale Garden
What the notes don’t say
The official text we’re summarising doesn’t specify:
- which new item — Poplar Tree, Red Shrub or Shelf Mushroom — each biome on the list above is tied to, beyond the direct pairing of Dappled Forest with Red Shrub;
- what exactly changed in the Graphical section;
- what Abandoned Camp actually is or what sets Shelf Mushroom apart.
If the developer adds these details later, we’ll update this article.
How to check it yourself
- Open the official notes on minecraft.net — the page titled “Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 26.40 Changelog” — and look at the Drop 3 Experimental Features section.
- Or check the same text in the developer’s machine-readable channel: it carries the same notes in the JSON format that launchers read.
Want to try the new items with friends on a shared world? You’ll need a server, such as Minecraft Realms. And while you’re exploring the new biomes above ground, don’t forget mining underground: check our guide on the right height for finding diamonds.
Summary
The 26.40 update launched on 4 August 2026, adding Poplar Tree, Red Shrub, Shelf Mushroom and Abandoned Camp to the experimental features section and fixing the MCPE-240527 arrow bug — details on the graphical changes and exactly which biomes tie to which new item aren’t in the notes yet.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Minecraft 26.40 update come out?
On 4 August 2026, via the developer's official channel.
What version number does this update have?
26.40.
What's new in the 26.40 update?
The Drop 3 Experimental Features section of the notes mentions Poplar Tree, Red Shrub, Shelf Mushroom and Abandoned Camp. Only one thing is confirmed outright — the Poplar Tree was added to the game — the rest isn't spelled out in the notes.
What bug did the 26.40 update fix?
It fixed arrows shot downwards getting stuck in the hitbox of the very player who fired them. The bug's tracker number is MCPE-240527.
Is this finished content or still experimental?
Going by the section name — Drop 3 Experimental Features — these are experimental features, not a finished release.
Where can I check the official 26.40 patch notes myself?
On the page titled "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 26.40 Changelog" on the developer's site, or in the machine-readable JSON feed — both links are in the article below.