Kali Linux version 2026.1 has been released, its first update for the year. It comes with eight new tools, a revamped theme, and a new BackTrack appearance for Kali-Undercover.

Kali is a Linux operating system specifically designed for cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers. It provides tools for security evaluations, network analysis, red teaming, and penetration testing.

This operating system can be run live or installed directly. It’s compatible with various hardware, like Raspberry Pi and Android phones through Kali NetHunter.

This release includes 25 new software packages, updates to 183 existing ones, and an upgrade to Kali’s kernel (version 6.18).

The following new tools have been added to the network repositories:

• AdaptixC2 – A flexible framework for post-exploitation and simulating attacker behavior
• Atomic-Operator – Allows execution of Atomic Red Team tests across different operating systems
• Fluxion – A tool for social engineering research and security assessments
• GEF – Provides modern debugging experience in GDB with enhanced features
• MetasploitMCP – A server for Metasploit Framework
• SSTImap – An automated tool for detecting Server-Side Template Injection vulnerabilities
• WPProbe – A fast tool for WordPress plugin enumeration
• XSStrike – An advanced scanner for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities

This first release of the year includes a redesigned theme with updated wallpapers, an improved graphical installer, and enhancements to the boot and login experience.

The Kali developers stated that this major update, like other 20xx.1 releases, refreshes the theme, keeping the Kali Linux interface modern.

This year’s release introduces a completely new theme, affecting everything from the boot menu and installer to the login screen and desktop wallpapers.

This version also introduces a “BackTrack mode” to Kali Undercover, which previously allowed users to make Kali look like Windows 10.

The new mode allows users to quickly switch the desktop to resemble BackTrack Linux, Kali’s predecessor.

The announcement mentions that this mode recreates the look of BackTrack 5 with its wallpaper, window themes, and colors.

Users can launch the mode from the menu or by running `kali-undercover –backtrack` in the terminal. They can switch back to the default Kali desktop by running the same command again.

The Kali Team has also improved the Kali NetHunter app, by fixing the WPS scan bug, back navigation issues, and by adding a HID permission check.

To begin utilizing Kali Linux 2026.1, upgrade an existing installation, choose a platform, or download ISO images for new installations and live environments.

Kali users can upgrade to the latest version from a previous one by using the following commands.

If using Kali on the Windows Subsystem for Linux, it is recommended to upgrade to WSL 2 to improve compatibility with graphical applications. The WSL version can be confirmed with the command `wsl -l -v` in a Windows command prompt.

After updating, verify the process was successful using the command: `grep VERSION /etc/os-release`.

The full changelog for Kali Linux 2026.1 is available on Kali’s website.