What’s new in Revit 2026
In the continuously advancing fields of architecture, engineering, and construction, maintaining a leading edge is essential. The latest updates in Revit 2026 are set to revolutionize the way professionals approach their projects, offering a comprehensive suite of tools and enhancements that cater to every aspect of the design and construction process. From Dynamo for Revit to advanced graphics, documentation, and collaboration features, Revit 2026 is designed to streamline workflows and boost productivity.
Architectural modeling has never been more intuitive, with new features that enhance both the design and detailing phases. Sustainability is at the forefront, with tools that allow for more accurate energy analysis and carbon footprint assessments. MEP design to fabrication is now more seamless, ensuring that every element, from HVAC systems to electrical layouts, is meticulously planned and executed. Structural analysis and design have been refined to provide more precise calculations and better integration with other disciplines.
Concrete and steel detailing and fabrication have also seen significant improvements, making it easier to create detailed, accurate models that translate seamlessly into the construction phase. Whether you're an architect, engineer, or construction professional, Revit 2026 offers the tools you need to bring your vision to life with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. This article will not cover all areas of improvements, features, and enhancements listed below; however, I will focus on discussing those that I find particularly noteworthy. Any updates under Architectural and Structural categories will likely be addressed by experts more specialized in those fields across the interwebs in the coming days or weeks if they have not already dropped.
Figure 1 - What's New in Revit 2026
Graphics and UI Updates
Revit 2026 introduces accelerated graphics mode, a new per-view setting that enhances performance. Users can toggle this feature through the contextual menu or the new on-screen toolbar. Enabling accelerated graphics is indicated by a colored view border and remains active only for the current session, resetting upon closure. This mode supports graphical views but excludes Sheets, Drafting Views, and Legends, while 3D geometry is accelerated. However, Point Clouds and Coordination Models are not displayed. Certain graphic appearances, such as line patterns and weights, fill patterns, and transparency (unless set in the material), are limited. Additionally, raster images, room color fills, and sort order are not accelerated, leading to a performance impact in heavily annotated views. Unsupported effects in accelerated views include shadows, backgrounds, sketchy lines, and depth cueing, with view cropping being ignored. Structural and MEP hidden lines do not display, and print, export, and render actions use the non-accelerated view state. For optimal performance, a dedicated graphics card with a minimum of 4GB is recommended, as well as sufficient RAM to manage high memory consumption across multiple accelerated views. Low system RAM can affect overall Revit performance.
Figure 2 - Accelerated Graphics Tech Preview Button
The UI enhancements in Revit 2026 include a contextual ribbon for tags, which improves the efficiency of tag settings by placing them in the contextual ribbon instead of floating menus. This change reduces mouse movement and ensures tag properties can be set before placement. Additionally, the move modify tools are now integrated into the ribbon, phasing out the Options Bar for tools such as Move, Copy, Mirror, Rotate, and Array. This reorganization groups controls for better usability and ensures quicker access to dimension properties.
Figure 3 - Modify Group in Ribbon
Wall-related modifications, including Attach/Detach Top/Base, Wall Join settings, and Sweep & Reveal modifications, have also been relocated to the ribbon, eliminating the need to navigate the Properties Palette for these edits. Another update is the renaming of OmniClass fields to "Classification" in Family Parameters, offering more flexibility for users to assign other classification systems. The UI now provides a more general Classification Number & Title instead of fixed OmniClass references, and there is a new direct link to the Classification_Taxonomy.txt file in Revit settings for easy customization.
Figure 4 - Omniclass to Classification
Moreover, the classification number and title are retained even if a user opens a family without the original classification definition, ensuring data consistency across different users and projects. The Reference Label parameter is now instance-based, allowing each reference view object to have a unique value. This supports global parameters, enabling users to associate Reference Labels with global parameters. New reference views automatically assign a default value to the Reference Label, and if no default is set, the value remains blank.
Documentation
In Revit 2026, users will find expanded shared parameter support in view annotations, including sections, elevations, callouts, and references. This update allows for greater customization, as shared parameters can now be added to these annotation families, much like View Titles. The added shared parameters will appear in view objects and can be scheduled within View List Schedules, enhancing the management and visibility of crucial project details.
The introduction of the "Sheet Collection" category marks a significant improvement for parameters and schedules. This feature ensures that parameter values are synchronized across all sheets within a collection, with values appearing read-only on individual sheets. Any changes made to a parameter within the Sheet Collection will automatically update all related sheets. Additionally, Sheet Collections support global parameters, and schedules linked to Sheet Collections provide better control over grouped sheet parameters.
Figure 5 - Shared Parameters for Sheet Collections
Prioritization rules for parameter data in Sheet Collections have also been established. These rules dictate that Sheet Instance Parameters take precedence over Sheet Collection Parameters, which in turn take precedence over Project Info Parameters. This clear hierarchy helps maintain consistency and accuracy in parameter data throughout a project.
Enhancements to Sheet List Schedules now include new built-in parameters such as Scale, Sheet Width, and Sheet Height. Furthermore, built-in and shared parameters from title blocks can be scheduled. A new Primary Title Block Parameter determines which title block provides schedule data, and while it is read-only for sheets with a single title block, it becomes modifiable when multiple title blocks exist on a sheet.
Figure 6 - Additional Sheet List Parameters
A notable addition is the Scale Override (Multiple Values) Parameter for title blocks, allowing for text-based overrides of the title block’s scale. This feature is particularly useful for sheets containing multiple scale views, though it supports only text input and can be associated with global parameters.
Figure 7 - Scale Override in Titleblocks
My FAVORITE feature for this version is the new "Save Position" feature which revolutionizes view-to-sheet positioning by allowing users to save view positions and reuse them across multiple sheets. When a saved view is placed on a sheet, it automatically aligns to the saved position, ensuring consistency in view placement across large projects and streamlining the coordination process. This will eliminate hours of set up time for small and large projects and everything in between.
Figure 8 - Save/Saved Position
Figure 9 - Manage Positions
These updates in Revit 2026 offer enhanced customization, improved parameter management, and streamlined workflows, making it an essential tool for professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction.
Collaboration
The coordination model graphical appearance and visibility control have been significantly enhanced in Revit 2026. Users can now assign colors to coordination models, making it easier to distinguish different linked models immediately. Additionally, the enhanced visibility settings allow for filtering coordination models by category and instance, providing precise control over what coordination model elements are visible. These improvements enhance visual clarity, improve team collaboration by making linked models easier to interpret, and help avoid errors by easily identifying different model elements.
Figure 10 - Coordination Model Overrides
Revit now offers better management of imported CAD files with the new "Show Imported CAD" feature. Imported CAD files (DWG, DXF, DGN, SKP, AXM) are categorized in the Manage Links dialog, allowing users to "Show" or "Remove" imported files via the right-click menu. Import categories now clearly distinguish between linked and imported files. This update results in better organization of CAD files within projects, allowing users to control visibility and cleanup of unnecessary imports, thus preventing model clutter by tracking imported versus linked files. CTC Tools Import and Link Manager has been doing this for many versions, so it is nice to finally get it built into Revit directly. While I think importing CAD into a Revit model is bad news, this is a great improvement to help users and BIM staff track those pesky imports down.
Figure 11 - Link vs Import in Manage Links
IFC link orientation and performance improvements are another significant update in Revit 2026. New IFC link options allow placing an IFC model based on different reference points, including Internal Origin (default), Project Base Point, and Survey Point. The linking of IFC models is now up to 50% faster compared to previous versions. These performance enhancements offer more control over model positioning when linking IFC files, ensure accurate alignment with other models in a project, and improve overall workflow efficiency.
Figure 12 - IFC Orientation
Sustainability
Sustainability and Carbon Analysis see major updates with the replacement of Autodesk Insight-GBS by the new Next-Gen Insight (Total Carbon) system and is now embedded within Revit. Insight-GBS was discontinued, with no new analysis after April 2, 2025. You can still view/download previous analyses until full access is removed on July 1, 2025. The new system integrates embodied and operational carbon calculations and provides embedded Insight tools directly within Revit 2026. This includes embodied carbon breakdowns and open dashboards, aligning Revit with the growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Figure 13 - Embedded Carbon Insights
HVAC System Zoning Upgrades bring enhanced zoning capabilities for HVAC engineering. The new HVAC System Zones replace the old distinction between HVAC and System Zones, supporting creation via sketching or space selection. Instance-level properties, such as Occupied Area, Outdoor Air Rate, and Energy Set Points (Cooling, Heating, Dehumidification), have been added and support IFC export for better interoperability. The sketch-based zoning feature allows System Zones to be independent of architectural elements.
Figure 14 - Zone Type Parameters
MEPF Design
Because I do not use Fabrication in Revit, I will not be covering any of those enhancements and features. In Revit 2026, compared to previous years, there are a decent number of updates for MEPF, mostly for Electrical to be exact. Globalizing electrical conductors brings several key enhancements. Multi-core cables are now supported, users can manually control conductor sizes, and wire type and wire size have been replaced by cable type and cable size, with the voltage drop parameter removed. These changes bring global standards into Revit’s electrical workflows, increasing flexibility for international projects.
The ability to define and use cables for any system type has also been improved. A new MEP settings dialog allows users to define cable types and sizes, and parallel cables are now supported with the option to specify multiple parallel cables per circuit. Additionally, improved material and insulation settings include conductor details such as material and temperature ratings. This update significantly expands electrical modeling capabilities, allowing for more precise specifications.
Figure 15 - Electrical Conductor and Cable Settings
Electrical models have been upgraded with automatic conversion of wire size parameters into cable types and sizes, and cable data is now used in circuits, schedules, and panel layouts. This makes upgrading existing projects more seamless, ensuring compatibility with Revit 2026's electrical modeling improvements.
Wire types have been streamlined for wiring purposes. Wire types now exist only for drawing wires and are managed in the project browser, with wire sizing settings removed from electrical settings. This simplification enhances electrical workflows by focusing wire types solely on schematic design instead of physical modeling.
Apparent power calculation for analytical loads has been enhanced with new power calculation methods, allowing users to choose between true or apparent power. The analytical loads now default to a power factor of 1.0. These updates provide more accurate power distribution insights, enhancing electrical analytical modeling.
Distribution system and part type have been incorporated into schedules, allowing them to be filtered and sorted by these attributes. Improved equipment categorization now enables more effective scheduling of switchboards, panels, and transformers. These enhancements improve electrical documentation, making it easier to manage large projects.
Figure 16 - Electrical Conductor and Cable Settings
Tagging and view filters have also been upgraded to support distribution system attributes, and view filters can now distinguish between different panel types. This improves coordination and visualization, making electrical documentation more efficient.
Browser organization for panel schedules has been enhanced, with schedules now able to be grouped by level and distribution system. New filtering by the number of phases, as well as project parameters and shared parameters, are now available for grouping. This improves electrical schedule organization, particularly for complex multi-phase systems.
Figure 17 - Panel Schedule Browser Organization Options
The electrical circuit path with nested families has been improved, with circuit paths now correctly routing to the nested family location, fixing the previous issue where circuits incorrectly routed to the project origin. This enhancement increases electrical modeling accuracy and reduces documentation errors.
Lastly, MEP categories display improvements ensure that fire protection, medical equipment, audio-visual, and signage categories now behave consistently with MEP views. Families display correctly in plan views, and elements no longer show as halftone underlays, improving MEP visualization and ensuring correct representation across different views.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Revit 2026 represents a significant leap forward in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Revit 2026, featuring advanced graphics acceleration, an optimized user interface, and comprehensive new functionalities, is set to transform the approach professionals take towards their projects. The updates not only improve performance and usability but also ensure greater accuracy and efficiency across all stages of design and construction.
From the intuitive architectural modeling tools to the advanced sustainability and carbon analysis features, Revit 2026 addresses the evolving needs of the industry. The seamless integration of MEP design to fabrication, along with the refined structural analysis and detailing capabilities, ensures that every aspect of a project is meticulously planned and executed. The improvements in collaboration, documentation, and coordination further enhance the overall workflow, making Revit 2026 an indispensable tool for modern professionals.
As the industry continues to advance, Revit 2026 stands out as a powerful ally, providing the tools and capabilities needed to bring innovative visions to life. Whether you're an architect, engineer, or construction professional, Revit 2026 offers the precision, flexibility, and efficiency required to excel in today's competitive landscape. Embrace the future of design and construction with Revit 2026 and experience the transformative impact it can have on your projects.
