Maya 2026 API Update guide

The guide is based on What’s New in the Maya Devkit in Maya 2026 with some extra info. The details could be found here.

Building environment

On the macOS, Xcode has been updated to 14.3 or higher. Other platforms remain the same as Maya 2025.

• Windows – Visual Studio 2022 (17.8.3 or higher)
• macOS – Xcode version 14.3 or higher
• Linux – RHEL 8.6 or higher, DTS-11 with gcc 11.2.1

The minimum version of CMake required is 3.27.3.

SDK/Devkit Changes

SDK Changes for Maya 2026

Here are some API changes in the SDK for Maya 2026:

• Added TBB to the Devkit
• Python has been updated from 3.11.4 to 3.11.9
• Alembic has been updated
• Updated the usage of canMakeLive method in gpuCacheShapeNode.cpp
• Updated the dx11Shader to make it reload the shader after loading the file the for security reasons.
• The stock standard material has been replaced with stock OpenPBR in several samples.
• Added a method to get matrix for matching local matrix in MDagPath.
• Added a method for locking/unlocking the plug in MDGModifier.
• Added two methods to get color and values at positions in MRampAttribute.
• Added a method for extracting geometry in MGeometryExtractor.
• Using MObject instead of MDagPath in the MGeometryExtractorConstructHelper
• Added enums for supporting boolean operations and a method for boolean operations in MFnMesh.
• Added the three methods for selected objects in M3dView. Fixed a typo of parameter in the getM3dViewFromModelPanel method.
• Added an enum and a method for setting axis of faces in MFnVolumeLight.
• Added an enumeration and methods for setting and getting culling modes MHWGeometry*.
• Added two stock shaders for MShaderManager.
• Added a pointer to a callback function which takes a string and a boolean in MMessage.
• Added a callback to be notified when the view selected state or view selected objects for any 3D view changes in MUiMessage (not available in .NET).
• Added flip the image from left to right or upside down MPxImagePlane.
• Added a function that returns if the shading node can handle consolidated geometry and methods to get fragment name or update shader based if a fragment or shader is textured in MPxShadingNodeOverride.

For the full details about devkit changes, please refer to the What’s new in the Maya 2026 devkit.