Mojang is letting you try out the autumn biome from the next update right now. We’ll show you what’s in it—and how to get in right away.
No sooner hadMinecraftdisappearedChaos Cubedinto the gloomy sulfur caves underground, and just one week later, Mojang is sending you back up to the surface—into the most colorful forest the game has ever seen. The first snapshot for the third major update of the year has been available since June 23, 2026, and you don’t have to wait for the official release to see the new biome.
For now, the update is simply numbered 26.3; there’s no official name yet. But one thing is already clear:it’s all about an autumnal forest called Dappled Forest.
Here’s What’s in the New Fall Biome
The highlight of Snapshot 1 is the Dappled Forest, which generates near cold biomes. Instead of green leaves, you’ll find poplar trees in three color variants—red, orange, and yellow. Each variant sheds matching leaf particles, so a red tree sheds red leaves, and a yellow tree sheds yellow ones.
There are also a few new decorative plants:Console mushrooms in two sizes grow on standing and fallen poplar trees, and you can make them bigger using bone meal. Their special effect: If you step on them, they bounce slightly, much like a bed.
Red Shrubs dot the forest floor; they can be composted and retain their red color even if you plant them elsewhere. By the way, if you’re aiming to collect all the achievements, you’d better bundle up: To earn the “Adventuring Time” achievement, you’ll need to visit the new forest in the future.
The Dappled Forest isn’t the only new feature:A new structure called Abandoned Camps is being introduced, and it isn’t limited to the autumn biome—according to Mojang, it appears in about 20 biomes, from the taiga to the swamp to the cherry blossom grove. In the Abandoned Camps, you’ll find chests and barrels filled with loot—and maybe even more?
You can get a sneak peek right through the official Minecraft Launcher—no separate download is needed.
Here’s how to do it in the Java Edition:
- Open the Launcher and switch to the Installations tab at the top.
- Check the box next to Snapshots in the top-right corner.
- Next, select version 26.3-snapshot-1 from the version dropdown and click Play.
An important note first: Snapshots are test versions and can corrupt worlds. Back up your saves beforehand and, ideally, create a new world for your adventures in the Autumn Forest.
If you load an old save file, you’ll only see the new biome in chunks that haven’t been generated yet—so you’ll have to walk a bit further before the poplars appear.
Mojang hasn’t announced a specific release date for 26.3 yet; the studio itself describes the development as being in a very early stage. So a lot could still change before the final update is released.
