JDK 28

This release will be the Reference Implementation of version 28 of the Java SE Platform, as specified by JSR 403 in the Java Community Process.

Status

The main line is open for bug fixes, small enhancements, and JEPs as proposed and tracked via the JEP Process.

Early-access binaries, under the GPL, are available here.

Schedule (as proposed)

2026/12/03		Rampdown Phase One (branch from main line)
2027/01/14		Rampdown Phase Two
2027/02/04		Release Candidate Phase
2027/02/16		Release Candidate Build
2027/03/09		General Availability

Features

JEPs targeted to JDK 28, so far
401:	Value Objects (Preview)
535:	Shenandoah GC: Generational Mode by Default
539:	Strict Field Initialization in the JVM (Preview)
540:	Simple JSON API (Incubator)
541:	Deprecate the macOS/x64 Port for Removal
542:	PEM Encodings of Cryptographic Objects
543:	Structured Concurrency
544:	Ahead-of-Time Code Compilation
545:	Faster Startup and Warmup with ZGC
546:	Adaptive Heap Sizing for ZGC