Everything You Need to Know About Minecraft’s First 2026 Update Featuring Baby Mobs

Minecraft is gearing up for its first update of 2026, and thanks to a recent blog post, we’ve got a sneak peek at what’s in store. While details are still sparse—like the update’s name and exact release date—one exciting feature has been confirmed: baby mobs are getting a makeover.

This update is particularly thrilling for those who enjoy farming or simply love spending time with the various creatures in the overworld. Here’s what you need to know about Minecraft’s upcoming update.

Currently, there’s no set release date for the first update of 2026, but it’s reasonable to expect it to drop this spring. The blog post didn’t specify a launch date, but if it follows the pattern of the past couple of years, we might see it as early as March.

So far, the only feature revealed is a complete re-skin of several baby mobs. Right now, baby animals are just smaller versions of their adult counterparts with oversized heads. This update will give them a much cuter and distinct look, featuring single-pixel eyes instead of the adult double, along with a fresh set of sounds to match their smaller stature.

This redesign will affect eight mobs: cows, pigs, ocelots, cats, chickens, wolves, sheep, and rabbits. It’s still unclear if other baby mobs, like baby villagers or baby zombies, will receive similar treatment. Since we’re just at the beginning of the reveal process, there’s plenty of time for more surprises to come—who knows, maybe every mob will get an adorable baby version!

The previous update, Spring to Life, introduced biome variants for mobs, and this new look will apply to all versions of the base mobs, not just the default skins. For cats, all 11 kitten variants will be included in this overhaul, which explains why it’s taken some time to prepare.

One of the most exciting aspects of this update is the new sound design for baby mobs. Instead of the usual pitch-shifted sound effects, the team has recorded a complete set of new sounds for the baby animals. According to the audio designer, they aimed to “capture the uniqueness of a kitten meow and a puppy yapping to let them have their own personalities and bring more life to the Minecraft universe.”

In addition to the baby mobs, name tags will now be craftable items in this update, making it easier to name your pets. All you’ll need is a sheet of paper and a metal nugget. Just be prepared for the heartbreak if your newly named pet takes a tumble from a high place or gets caught in a zombie attack.