Visual Studio 2026 is here — and it’s more than just an upgrade. This release represents a major milestone in the evolution of Microsoft’s flagship IDE, introducing a wave of AI-powered features, performance improvements, modernized design elements, and tighter integration with .NET 10, C# 14, and cloud-native workflows.
This article takes a deep dive into what’s new in Visual Studio 2026 and includes comparison tables that highlight the differences between Visual Studio 2026 and its predecessor, Visual Studio 2022.
1. AI at the Core: Visual Studio as an AI-First IDE
| Feature | Visual Studio 2022 | Visual Studio 2026 |
|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Optional extension | Built-in, deeply integrated with full solution context |
| AI Chat | Limited to Copilot Labs / Preview | Full-featured AI chat panel with project awareness |
| Adaptive Paste | Not available | Automatically formats and integrates pasted code |
| AI Code Review | Manual process | AI agent pre-reviews PRs and flags issues |
| Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) | Not supported | Supported for enterprise security and privacy |
| AI Profiler Agent | Not available | Suggests performance fixes based on profiling data |
2. Performance and Productivity Improvements
| Area | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| Solution Load Time | Good, but heavy for large solutions | 20–35% faster, improved parallelization |
| Hot Reload | Supported | Faster, more reliable, with special improvements for Blazor and MAUI |
| ARM64 Support | Partial | Full ARM64 parity with x64 performance |
| Memory Usage | Higher footprint | Reduced memory consumption and smoother background tasks |
3. User Interface and Developer Experience
| Aspect | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| Design | Classic Fluent-inspired, but slightly dated | Refreshed Fluent UI, cleaner spacing, modern look |
| Themes | Light, Dark, Blue | 11 new tinted themes + existing themes |
| Settings | Older tree-based UI | Modernized search/filter + JSON export/import |
| Extension Management | Basic list view | Shows extension performance impact, update history |
4. Language and Framework Support
| Language/Framework | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| .NET | .NET 7 and 8 | Full .NET 10 support |
| C# | C# 11 | C# 14 with new IntelliSense and analyzers |
| C++ | C++17/20 supported | Defaults to C++20, improved IntelliSense and partial C++23 |
5. Cloud and DevOps Integration
| Feature | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| Container Tools | Supported via extensions | First-class, integrated container-first experience |
| Dev Tunnels | Limited | Seamlessly integrated for local-to-remote testing |
| GitHub/Azure DevOps | Basic integration | Richer dashboards, PR summaries, inline workflows |
6. Accessibility and Inclusivity
| Area | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| Screen Reader Support | Improved but limited in some views | Full screen reader support across panels |
| Keyboard Navigation | Mostly accessible | Improved shortcuts, better focus handling |
| Accessibility Insights | External tool | Built-in tool to catch issues early |
7. Deprecations and Changes
| Removed/Deprecated | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| ARM32 Tooling | Supported | Removed |
| C++ AMP | Supported | Removed |
| /await Flag | Available | Deprecated |
8. Editions and Distribution
| Aspect | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|
| Early Access | Preview Channel | Insiders Channel (monthly updates) |
| Feature Availability | Some enterprise-only | More democratized (e.g., code coverage in Community) |
Conclusion
Visual Studio 2026 is a transformative release that not only speeds up development but also makes the IDE smarter with its AI-first approach. The comparison tables clearly show that VS 2026 is not just an incremental update — it represents a step change in how developers interact with their tools. Faster solution loads, AI-assisted workflows, modern UI, and democratized features make it a compelling upgrade for individuals and teams alike.
Rohaam SabreriPosted Nov 13, 2025, 10:22 PM
I can't thank you enough for your outstanding work in doing this comprehensive comparison between two versions.