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Visual Studio 2026 Professional costs €129.00 at KARINEX instead of the €539 RRP; Visual Studio 2022 Professional costs €11.90. VS 2026 loads solutions up to twice as fast, natively supports .NET 10 and C# 14, and integrates GitHub Copilot. Xamarin has been removed; both versions run side by side.
In November 2025, Microsoft released the next generation of its development environment with Visual Studio 2026. Compared directly with Visual Studio 2022, the new version brings twice as fast load times, native .NET 10 and C# 14 support, a completely redesigned Fluent UI, and deep GitHub Copilot integration.
At a glance
Visual Studio 2026 is the AI-native evolution of VS 2022. Solutions load up to 2× faster, with native .NET 10 and C# 14 support and deeply integrated GitHub Copilot. Xamarin has been removed – replaced by .NET MAUI. For active developers, the upgrade is worthwhile.
Table of contents
What are the most important differences between Visual Studio 2026 and 2022?
Before we dive into the details, here's a compact overview of the most important differences between Visual Studio 2026 and its predecessor Visual Studio 2022:
| Feature | Visual Studio 2022 | Visual Studio 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Release | November 2021 | November 2025 |
| Major version | 17.x | 18.x |
| UI design | Visual Studio Theme | Fluent UI (new) |
| .NET support | up to .NET 9 | native .NET 10 |
| C# version | up to C# 13 | native C# 14 |
| GitHub Copilot | as a plug-in | deeply integrated |
| Solution load time | Baseline | up to 2× faster |
| Xamarin | available | removed (now .NET MAUI) |
| Cloud agents | – | integrated |
| Extensions | VS Marketplace | compatible with VS 2022 |
| Side-by-side install | – | alongside VS 2022 possible |
| Microsoft RRP (Pro) | €539 | €539 (€129 at Karinex) |
What's new in Visual Studio 2026?
GitHub Copilot deeply integrated
The biggest visible difference: GitHub Copilot is no longer just a plug-in — it's now a core part of the IDE. Code completion, refactoring suggestions and the Copilot chat appear directly in the editor context, with no separate setup required. Microsoft relies on the new GPT-5 model for greater accuracy in code suggestions.
Important note: the AI features still require a GitHub account. For privacy-sensitive projects, Copilot can be fully disabled in the settings.
.NET 10 and C# 14 natively supported
Visual Studio 2026 brings full out-of-the-box support for .NET 10 (released November 2025) and C# 14. You don't need to install an additional SDK or enable a preview feature update. Anyone working with modern frameworks such as ASP.NET Core 10, Blazor United or .NET MAUI 10 has a clear advantage here.
Double solution load speed
Microsoft has completely overhauled the solution loader for large projects. In internal benchmarks, a sample solution with 700 projects loaded in VS 2026 in roughly half the time compared to VS 2022. For enterprise codebases, that's a game changer.
Completely redesigned Fluent UI
The interface has been rebuilt from the ground up and now consistently follows Microsoft's Fluent Design System. Rounded corners, larger click targets, better readability and a new default theme called Mica deliver a more contemporary experience.
Cloud agent integration for DevOps
New in Visual Studio 2026 are cloud agents — AI-powered helpers that can autonomously handle routine tasks such as code reviews, test generation and pull request preparation.
Improved debugger with AI hints
The debugger now shows context-aware AI hints for exceptions. That often saves minutes or hours on complex bugs.
What was removed from Visual Studio?
As part of the major release, Microsoft removed several outdated components:
- Xamarin: No longer included. Microsoft recommends migrating to .NET MAUI.
- Visual Studio Installer Projects: The extension is no longer officially supported. Alternative: WiX Toolset or Inno Setup.
- UWP projects (classic): Still usable, but Microsoft recommends WinUI 3.
- JavaScript project templates (legacy): Replaced by modern templates via Node.js and Vite.
How much faster is Visual Studio 2026?
Microsoft published concrete benchmark figures in its release blog post and at the 2025 Build Conference:
| Benchmark | VS 2022 | VS 2026 | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading a solution with 700 projects | 72 sec. | 36 sec. | −2× faster |
| Build (Roslyn compiler, cold) | 4:12 min. | 3:24 min. | −19% |
| IntelliSense response time | 120 ms | 68 ms | −43% |
| Memory usage | 2.8 GB | 2.1 GB | −25% |
| Cold start time | 14 sec. | 9 sec. | −36% |
Above all, IntelliSense response time and solution load time are noticeable in everyday use.
What are the system requirements for Visual Studio 2026?
| Component | VS 2022 | VS 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 1909+ / 11 | Windows 10 22H2+ / 11 |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz, dual-core | 1.8 GHz, 4+ cores recommended |
| RAM (minimum) | 4 GB | 4 GB (16 GB recommended) |
| Storage | 850 MB – 210 GB | 20–50 GB typical |
| Architecture | x64 | x64 + native ARM64 |
Important: Windows 10 21H2 and earlier are no longer supported. Windows 11 Pro is available at Karinex.
Should you upgrade to Visual Studio 2026?
Upgrade recommended if …
- You actively work with .NET 10 / C# 14 or plan to migrate soon
- Your solutions comprise 200+ projects
- You use GitHub Copilot intensively
- You're starting a new project and want to benefit from the modern Fluent UI
- You develop on ARM64 hardware
Wait for now if …
- You actively maintain Xamarin projects
- You use Visual Studio Installer Projects
- Your extensions aren't yet compatible with VS 2026
- You run Windows 10 without the 22H2 update
Tip: side-by-side installation
Visual Studio 2026 can be installed alongside Visual Studio 2022. So you can test it risk-free.
How do you upgrade from Visual Studio 2022 to 2026?
Get a Visual Studio 2026 licence
Buy an original licence — Visual Studio 2026 Professional at Karinex — for €129 instead of the €539 RRP.
Update the Visual Studio Installer
Open the Visual Studio Installer → select version 2026. Do not uninstall VS 2022.
Choose workloads
Check the workloads you need (e.g. .NET Desktop, ASP.NET, C++, Python, MAUI).
Carry over extensions
In the installer, carry over extensions from VS 2022.
Activate the licence
Launch Visual Studio 2026 → sign in with your account or enter the product key.
Test your first project
Open an existing solution in VS 2026 – no conversion required.
What does Visual Studio 2026 cost in comparison?
Microsoft sells Visual Studio Professional 2026 in its official store for €539 (RRP). At Karinex you get the same original licence thanks to the UsedSoft ruling (CJEU C-128/11).
| Vendor | Edition | Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store (RRP) | Professional 2026 | €539.00 | – |
| Karinex.de | Professional 2026 | €129.00 | − €410 (76%) |
| Karinex.de | Professional 2022 | €11.90 | – |
Visual Studio 2026 Professional
€129 instead of €539 RRP · Instant download · Statutory right of withdrawal: 14 days
Buy nowFrequently asked questions
Can I install Visual Studio 2026 and 2022 side by side?
Yes. Both versions can be installed and run alongside each other without any issues. Licences, workloads and extensions are managed separately.
Are my VS 2022 extensions compatible with VS 2026?
Microsoft designed the extension API so that over 4,000 Marketplace extensions run in VS 2026 without modification.
Is Xamarin still supported in Visual Studio 2026?
No. Xamarin has been removed from Visual Studio 2026. Microsoft recommends migrating to .NET MAUI.
Does Visual Studio 2026 work on Mac or Linux?
No. Visual Studio 2026 is only available for Windows 10 22H2+ and Windows 11.
Do I need Visual Studio 2026, or is Visual Studio 2022 enough?
If you actively work with .NET 10 or C# 14, use GitHub Copilot intensively, or manage large solutions, the upgrade is worthwhile.
Can I use my VS 2022 licence as an upgrade to VS 2026?
No. You need a new VS 2026 licence. Professional 2026 for €129 at Karinex.
Is GitHub Copilot included in Visual Studio 2026?
The IDE integration is included. The AI features require a GitHub account.
What happens to my VS 2022 projects in VS 2026?
VS 2022 and VS 2026 use the same project format. You can switch a solution between both versions without any issues.
How long will Visual Studio 2026 be supported?
Microsoft guarantees 10 years of support, i.e. roughly until November 2035.
Perpetual licence or Microsoft 365 Developer subscription?
For most individual developers and SMEs, the perpetual licence is more economical.
Conclusion – Visual Studio 2026, or stay on 2022?
Visual Studio 2026 is the biggest advancement of Microsoft's IDE since the jump from Visual Studio 2019 to 2022. The combination of deeply integrated GitHub Copilot, double solution load speed, native .NET 10 / C# 14 support and the modern Fluent UI makes the upgrade worthwhile for active developers in most cases.
If, on the other hand, you maintain stable existing projects, use Xamarin, or rely on particular extensions, you can stay with Visual Studio 2022 Professional for now.
Our practical tip: get a Visual Studio 2026 Professional licence for €129, install it alongside VS 2022, and decide after two weeks of hands-on use.
Visual Studio 2026 Professional
Original licence · Instant download · Statutory right of withdrawal: 14 days
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