I just finished a fresh update to my AutoCAD Release History and Autodesk Product Codenames page. It now runs from AutoCAD 1.0 in December 1982 all the way through the 2027 releases.
I have been collecting and documenting these codenames for over 30 years. Some came from working on the products, some from old release notes, and some from readers who knew a name I was missing. The list keeps growing because Autodesk keeps shipping.
What’s new in this update:
- AutoCAD 2027, released March 25, 2026, codename Xenon. The alphabet marches on from Watt.
- Civil 3D 2027, released April 2, 2026. The Civil 3D codename for 2027 is the one gap I could not close. Logically it should be an X name following Vail and Washington, but I have not found a reliable public source confirming it. Civil 3D 2027 runs on the AutoCAD Xenon core, but that does not mean Xenon was the Civil 3D team’s own development codename.
- DWG format confirmation: AutoCAD 2027 still uses AC1032, the same DWG format introduced with AutoCAD 2018. That is 10 releases on one file format generation, the longest run in AutoCAD history and more than likely represents a lot of duct tape fixes and strap on architectural and data changes under the hood pent up for the next big DWG format change. The next change would be a good thing and most likely streamline performance and fix many issues queued up over the 10+ releases.
One thing worth repeating from the page: same DWG format does not mean same AutoCAD. Each release still has its own APIs, ObjectARX version, and object behavior. AutoCAD 2025 is R25.0, 2026 is R25.1, and 2027 is R26.0. If you write plug-ins or manage deployments, that distinction matters even when the drawings themselves open everywhere.
If you know the missing Civil 3D 2027 X codename, or spot anything on the list that needs a correction, leave a comment or send me a note. I want this to stay the most accurate codename list anywhere.
Need to get ready for next releases, which by history should be just around the corner next spring.
Cheers,
Shaan
