Autodesk Maya 2026.0 with Content

Autodesk has released Maya 2026.0 , the new version of its 3D modeling and animation software. Unlike Autodesk’s recent annual updates to Maya, it does not introduce any complete new toolsets, but there are updates throughout the existing core functionality, including 3D modeling, retopology, shading, animation and simulation. There are also updates to Maya’s integration plugin for Autodesk’s Arnold renderer, and a new Animate in Context feature for users of Autodesk’s Flow Production Tracking platform.

What's new in Maya 2026

3D modeling: New Volume mode for Booleans, and updates to STL export
For asset development, Maya’s Boolean node gets a new Volume mode. Unlike the existing Mesh mode, the source objects are converted to volumes before computing the Boolean operation, then the output is converted back to polygonal geometry. Autodesk pitches it as a quick way to block out organic models like creatures and characters. Other changes to the modeling toolset include the option to set scale units when importing or exporting models in STL format for 3D printing.


Retopology: Monthly limit on Flow Retopology jobs increased
Since Maya 2025.1, released last May, Maya subscribers have had access to retopology plugin Flow Retopology. It mimics the functionality of the existing Retopologize tool, but makes it possible to submit retopology jobs to run in the cloud, rather than on the user’s machine. The current version, Flow Retopology for Maya 1.3, is now bundled with Maya 2026, and the usage limit has been raised from 30 to 50 cloud retopology jobs per month.


Shading and texturing: Default surface shader switched to OpenPBR
For texturing, the main change in Maya 2026 is that OpenPBR is now the default surface shader. Support for the open material standard, intended as a unified successor to the Autodesk Standard Surface and Adobe Standard Material, was originally added in Maya 2025.3. In addition, LookdevX, Maya’s plugin for creating USD shading graphs, has been updated. LookdevX for Maya 1.7 features a number of workflow improvements, particularly to publishing, and support for relative file paths when exporting MaterialX documents. Other changes include an experimental new generative textures API, making it easier for TDs to integrate third-party generative AI services into LookdevX by creating C++ or Python plugins. Maya’s Substance plugin, for editing procedural materials in Substance format inside Maya, has also been updated, although there aren’t many details about what’s new in Substance 3.04.

Rigging and animation: Performance updates to the AI-based ML Deformer
Maya 2026 also features performance and workflow improvements to the new ML Deformer. Introduced in Maya 2025.2, it uses machine learning to create a fast approximation of complex deformations, enabling users to take characters with complex, slow-to-process rigs and train the deformer to represent the deformations they generate in the character mesh. In Maya 2026, it is possible to visualize the difference between the source and target meshes as a heat map to help troubleshoot output, using a new display option, Apply Mesh Compare. The update also makes the training process more customizable, makes output less noisy, and improves performance: load times are “40 times faster”, and disk space usage is “80% reduced”. Other changes relevant to animators include the option to export Playblasts in .webm format.

Simulation: Better liquid simulation in Bifrost for Maya
Bifrost for Maya, Maya’s multiphysics simulation plugin, gets a significant update in Maya 2026. It was already possible to use it to simulate liquids by meshing the output of the MPM solver, but Bifrost for Maya 2.13 makes it possible to simulate liquids “directly in the graph”. Bifrost for Maya’s FLIP solver is described as “largely similar” to Bifrost Fluids, the older liquid simulation plugin included with Maya, but shares the same underlying framework as other simulation types, like smoke, fire and granular materials; and the node graph provides more flexibility than Bifrost Fluids’ menu-driven interface. The FLIP solver is described as currently “best suited to large-scale, non-viscous fluids”, and lacks some of the functionality provided by BOSS, Bifrost Fluids’ ocean surface toolset. Other changes in Bifrost for Maya 2.13 include updates to its work-in-progress procedural character rigging system, updates to texture baking, and 20 new node types.


Rendering: Updates to Arnold for Maya
Maya 2026 also ships with an updated version of the integration plugin for Autodesk’s Arnold renderer, with MtoA 5.5.0 introducing support for the Arnold 7.4.0.0 core. Key changes since the release of Maya 2025.3 include a new transmission_shadow_density parameter in the OpenPBR Surface and the Standard Surface shaders, to control the look of shadows cast by transparent objects, as shown in the image above. Global Light Sampling (GLS) now takes material glossiness into account, which “greatly enhances” render quality, especially in scenes with many small lights. Arnold’s support for ID matte-generation system Cryptomatte has also been improved, with a new internal implementation adding GPU support, and improving performance on CPU. Other changes include improvements to MaterialX and USD support, to the implementation of OpenPBR, and to the MtoA plugin itself and the Arnold RenderView in Maya. However, Arnold 7.4 is a compatibility-breaking update, so shaders, procedurals, and other plugins compiled against older versions of Arnold will need to be recompiled.

Pipeline integration: USD for Maya now supports light linking
USD for Maya, Maya’s Universal Scene Description plugin, has also been updated. USD for Maya 0.31 improves lighting workflows, adding support for light linking, and the option to control lighting by looking through a selected light source. Other changes include support for USD cameras in Render Sequence, the option to search for USD prims in the Outliner, and to add or remove
USD schemas in the Attribute Editor.
Pipeline integration: Animate in Context system links Maya to Flow Production Tracking
Maya 2026 also integrates more closely with Flow Production Tracking, Autodesk’s production-management platform, previously known as ShotGrid. Originally announced last year, the new Animate in Context feature makes it possible to view shots surrounding the active scene directly in Maya. Animators and other shot-based artists can now scrub between their own work and that of other artists, helping to ensure that the changes they make preserve the continuity of the edit.


Autodesk Maya is an industry leading 3D digital content creation software used extensively by movie, game, and FX studios both big and small. It features a wide range of tools for every step of the creation process, including (but not limited to) modeling, rigging, animation, FX, rendering, motion graphics, and more.

Maya 2026 New Feature


Here is the new volume boolean feature in the newest version of Maya 2026
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Owner: Autodesk Inc.
Product Name: Maya
Version: 2026.0 with Content *
Supported Architectures: x64
Website Home Page : www.autodesk.com
Languages Supported: multilanguage
System Requirements: Windows & macOs **
Size: 6.2 Gb