AutoCAD 2026 is out! – A first look at what’s new

by Dennis Collin

It’s that time of year again! Flowers are blooming, grass lawns being cut, thinking about holidays and Autodesk release a new version of AutoCAD.

SAME 2018 ‘DWG’ FORMAT!

The inevitable questions are what new features do I get with this new release, has the file format changed, and will it help me save time and become more efficient? There is definitely a new look with a revamped application icon and splash screen, but the overall interface looks very familiar once AutoCAD has loaded. The current DWG format remains at the 2018 version which will be welcome by many offices who just need to view AutoCAD drawings. It is also possible to save back to R14 DWG or R12 DXF formats if required.

Fig 1. Before accessing files on ACC, Desktop connector needs to be configured.

Included in the new features list is an improved integration with the ACC and Autodesk DOCS environment, with shared access of support files.

Within Autodesk’s Desktop connector, up to 80 projects can be selected to be active within the local Autodesk Docs folder. The selected projects can then be accessed from AutoCAD 2026’s start page.

Fig 2. Once Desktop connector has been configured, projects, folders and files can be accessed.

If working on a drawing stored on the Docs platform, the file is locked, and the editor’s identity is listed. This can be inspected on AutoCAD’s Start tab.

Fig 3. Files being edited are shown as locked and shows edited by whom.

AutoCAD drawings now have a project aware status system variable (PROJECTAWARE) which is reflected within AutoCAD’s Options dialogue. Key support files such as templates, tool palettes, trusted locations, fonts and line types can all be held within the Docs environment and accessed by the relevant participants who have appropriate access. This is a benefit to all project users as it removes the need of configuring each AutoCAD installation separately.

During the set-up of support files for an Autodesk Docs project, AutoCAD creates a folder named .autodesk.support. AutoCAD searches this folder (and its subfolders) as a starting point within the project to find the required support files. Additional support file locations can also be added as needed.

Fig 4. Project aware files possess different file support settings.

If opening a drawing located in an Autodesk Docs project that has not been configured for project-aware support files, users have the option to set up the project.

Fig 5. Newly added files to ACC Docs can be easily configured.

This can set within Options>Files> And select Setup.

An improved AutoCAD Insights provides an overview of edits made between Saved activities, allowing you to efficiently continue your work.

When clicking a Saved activity button in the Activity Insights palette, users will now see the What's Changed Insight in the Activity Properties panel.

This insight provides a high-level summary of changes made during each edit session. This can help users know what changes have occurred since the drawing was last accessed and resume working with this knowledge in mind.

Fig 6. Improved Activity Insights Palette.

The What's Changed insight listing is tied to the document, not to individual users, so all AutoCAD collaborators working on the drawing can create and view the same insights.

Also in this release is a program of AutoCAD tutorials, known as AutoCAD Foundations. This is a series of eLearning training tutorials provides users with a series of learning modules, from a tour of the user interface, drawing commands, blocks and outputting of drawings. At the time of writing the tutorials are only provided in English. However, the series does provide some hands-on exercises for Architectural and Mechanical Design, from initial design to output of design documentation.

Fig 7. AutoCAD 2026 has a new set of ‘Foundation tutorials.

These tutorials are not a substitute for instructor lead training, but they are a worthwhile self-learning resource for users who need to revise certain aspects of AutoCAD or bring themselves up to speed with the current software release.

AutoCAD previously provided a feature called Bconvert which scanned the drawing and converted similar looking items to Blocks. This command has now been replaced with a new function called Bsearch with improved functionality and the ability to convert text to attributes for varying values such as room names or door numbers.

Fig 8. AutoCAD’s block detection and conversion tools have improved.

The new commands can now be accessed from the Ribbon with the results being displayed to the user who can view the total number of matching instances, navigate to the previous of next instance within a drawing, adjust filters to include existing blocks and/or text variations and ultimately convert the elements to a block.

Fig 9. The Bdetect command uses machine learning which currently is in a Tech Preview state.

Detect and Convert (BDETECT) is a technology preview function which uses machine learning to scan an existing drawing and identify objects that can be converted into blocks. This accesses an online service that attempts to match located elements to possible candidate objects in an online database.

Due to it being a preview feature its capabilities are limited to mainly architectural type elements, but this functionality will no doubt improve with future releases, time and user input.

Fig 10. Bsearch replaces repetitive elements as blocks from the current document or as new block definitions.

Search and Convert was introduced in the previous release of AutoCAD when repetitive groupings of elements can be identified within a drawing and then converted to a new block or replaced with an existing block definition. The detection and replacement functionality has been further improved with AutoCAD 2026.

Fig 11. Markup Import and Assist has been improved.

Improvements have also been made to Markup Import and Markup Assist, specifically when importing markups from Autodesk Docs to AutoCAD, making it easier for drafters to incorporate revisions to drawings. The function can now detect text, strikethroughs, and boundary markups (which can be inserted as revision clouds) on PDF documents that are imported and synced from Autodesk Docs. Previously this wasn’t easily possible.

Other improvements include some updates to Centreline and Mark objects which enable users to specify a layer that the elements will reside on. This is controlled by a new Centerlayer system variable. This works in the same way as the variables for Text, Dimensions and Leaders and their default layer assignments.

Fig 12. New Centerlayer System Variable in AutoCAD 2026.

AutoCAD 2026 also benefits from a speed boost with a performance boost of up to 11 times faster opening of drawing files and a reported 4 times faster application startup.

In summary, AutoCAD 2026 provides some welcome additional functionality to its previous release. However, I would say it is more a refinement of AutoCAD’s robust existing command set than anything too revolutionary, but its familiar look and progressive style of updates will mean that existing users should have minimal issues adapting to the latest version of CAD. Over the coming weeks I will investigate and post about these new features in more detail as well as other 2026 products found within the Autodesk AEC Collection.