After 37 years of using AutoCAD (yes, I’m showing my age, LOL), I still get that childlike excitement when a new AutoCAD release comes out. Even when I had to do network deployments of 25 workstations or more, finding out what was new and how it could improve AutoCAD workflows was always fun.
As I watched AutoCAD 2026 install, I thought I would write my annual AutoCAD release blog for you.
AutoCAD is over forty years old, and I saw a great quote from an Autodesk connection on LinkedIn on release day,
“Being a user for around 25 years, what amazes me is it still evolves. I was glad to meet some of the people who are in the front of the new developments, and it’s a tool that insists on not getting outdated”.
Thanks Bernado Araujo. That sums it up. Exactly.
Autodesk refuses to let AutoCAD become outdated. It is STILL the most commonly used CAD application worldwide, with the DWG file format being one of the most commonly used CAD formats.
To recap, what was new in the previous version, AutoCAD 2025?
It does feel like the 2025 version of AutoCAD was released only five minutes ago! Autodesk is following up on some key themes in AutoCAD 2026 that were pertinent in AutoCAD 2025, so let’s review what we already have in AutoCAD 2025 just to refresh our memories.
Autodesk has broken down the AutoCAD user experience into three main areas: –
- Enhanced Core Experience
- Connected Design Experience
- Insightful Automations (using machine language and Autodesk AI)
In AutoCAD 2025, the following were some of the key new offerings: –
Enhanced Core Experience
- More graphics support
- Faster 2D file opening (2 x faster in AutoCAD 2025)
- Enhanced hatch functionality
Connected Design Experience
- Enhanced Application Home (application menu – you know, that top left red icon)
- Push to Autodesk Docs
- Better integration to AutoCAD Web & Mobile
- Opening DWGs from Autodesk Docs
- Enhanced collaboration: –
- Cloud-first Sheet Set Manager
- Activity Insights
- Shared support files for projects
- Autodesk Docs Markup displayed in AutoCAD
Insightful Automations
- Working with Autodesk AI
- Drafting and documentation
- Efficiency and productivity
- Collaboration
- These were brought about with: –
- My Insights
- Macro Advisor
- Markup Import & Assist
- Smart Blocks – Placement and Search & Convert
That gives you a good idea of how AutoCAD 2025 has evolved. AutoCAD 2026 continues to evolve even further.
So, what’s new in AutoCAD 2026?
Let’s use those three key areas mentioned above and relate them to AutoCAD 2026: –
Enhanced Core Experience
How often have you sat in front of your AutoCAD screen, waiting for a DWG file to open? Historically, I have actually lost count. And if I had a pound (or dollar) for every minute of that time, I would not be here writing this blog, LOL. I was blown away to find out that AutoCAD 2026 opens 2D and 3D DWG files ELEVEN (yes, eleven!) times faster than AutoCAD 2025. One word. Wow. That is an impressive little nugget right there. Remember that this is an AVERAGE, too, so it could be even faster with simpler 2D DWG files.
AutoCAD also has GSF, which stands for Graphics System Fabric. It is a cross-platform 3D graphics system developed for AutoCAD, leveraging the power of modern GPUs and multi-core CPUs to offer a smooth navigation experience for much larger drawings. In AutoCAD 2026, there is enhanced GSF support for the hidden and Conceptual visual styles and the 3DCLIP command. I love my 3D visual styles, and this type of enhancement will only make 3D modelling easier.
Did you know that AutoCAD Web is included in your AutoCAD subscription? It is also included in the AEC and PDM collections. It can also be purchased standalone for $10/month or $100/year annually. AutoCAD on the Web can be found at https://web.autocad.com, and you can use your Autodesk account details to sign in. There are some very cool 2026 enhancements for AutoCAD on the Web (which includes AutoCAD on mobile, too). These include: –
- Support for 3D and Architectural Objects (from ACA and 3D DWG files). These objects can now be opened, reviewed, and marked up)
- AutoCAD on the Web is becoming more app-like with interface enhancements. It can be downloaded as an app on your computer rather than you keep signing in via a web browser.
- The FIND command has been added, allowing you to easily locate text in either the Model tab or Layout tabs.
Connected Design Experience
The Connected Design Experience in AutoCAD 2026 has brought about some VERY cool new stuff: –
- Markup Import & Assist can now be used in conjunction with Autodesk Docs. Issues in Autodesk Docs are now visible, too, making for a much smoother collaboration experience on AutoCAD projects that use Autodesk Docs.
- Activity Insights are now operating in real-time, including: –
- Updates
- Changes
- Workflow
- Filesize
- Editing time
- You can now utilize connected support files. These are exclusive to Autodesk Docs projects, but imagine using standardized AutoCAD support files for projects. It’s a game-changer, ensuring everyone on the project sings from the same hymn sheet! You can assign these support files to a specific project, ensuring all AutoCAD support paths are identical.
What about AutoCAD Web? There are some cool things going on with Connected Design in the 2026 release phase, too. These include: –
- When using Autodesk Docs in the cloud, multi-user Markups can be utilized
- Using Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) tools, feedback can be added to create markups on the same DWG file, which will be great for reviewing DWG files used in projects.
- The cloud-based Sheet Set Manager (SSM) can be used in AutoCAD on the Web, AutoCAD desktop, and Civil 3D
- There are Share for Editing enhancements (subject to project permissions)
- And, the best for last, DWG Compare is now in AutoCAD on the Web!
Insightful Automations
In the AutoCAD 2026 desktop, there are some neat new Autodesk AI enhancements: –
- Smart Blocks
- Search & Convert has been enhanced in AutoCAD 2026, making Smart Blocks even smarter!
- You can now use this functionality for block attributes as well.
- Detect & Convert has had some cool things added: –
- Machine learning (ML) inferences have been enhanced
- It is still under Tech Preview, taking on board more user feedback
- There are more User Experience (UX) tools, making for smoother, easier workflows
- It can now suggest 30% more blocks
Conclusion
AutoCAD continues to evolve. Period.
AutoCAD 2026 is taking advantage of the interoperability of numerous Autodesk applications. These include Autodesk Docs and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC). Combining these with the AutoCAD desktop application and AutoCAD Web makes for a much more cloud-centric user experience, providing a much higher degree of collaboration and connection. Not only will this speed up project times, it will also allow for faster content reuse. Additionally, with the enhancements in the AutoCAD core experience, such as much faster file opening times, there will be a general move towards efficiency and productivity when using AutoCAD 2026. I think it’s another great version of AutoCAD from the AutoCAD team.
You all know how high much I love AutoCAD. Without it, I would not have a career or a company. It has provided me with job satisfaction since 1988, and long may that continue.
You can find AutoCAD on the Autodesk website here, and what’s new in AutoCAD 2026 can be found here.
You can find my AutoCAD 2026 courses in the LinkedIn Learning library here: –
If you want an AutoCAD tip and trick or two, check out my AutoCAD Tips & Tricks series.
I am also really pleased to say that the first in-person AutoCAD User Group (AUG) will be held on April 23rd in London at the Autodesk office. Spaces are limited, so sign up now to avoid disappointment! You can use the Eventbrite link here.
The Not Just CAD podcast is also available for you to listen to on Apple and Spotify: –
- Apple: https://apple.co/3YO3ZEX
- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4fOdfin
You can also read the Not Just CAD blog at https://www.cadfmconsult.com/not-just-cad, and the Not Just CAD newsletter on LinkedIn is here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6780454168873201664/
Stay tuned! There is much more to come from Not Just CAD, and I promise you will hear all the Not Just CAD goodness here first!
SCB.