The SOLIDWORKS 2026 release is designed to accelerate the design process and enhance efficiency, focusing on improved part and assembly design, better drawing detailing, and streamlined collaboration. With enhanced tools for large assemblies, rendering, and ECAD/MCAD integration, users can create, manage, and share designs more effectively while maintaining accuracy and control across projects.

Highlights include:

• Boost productivity with faster part creation, quick sketching, and improved handling of large assemblies.
• Enhance collaboration by sharing designs directly within SOLIDWORKS and keeping files up-to-date on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
• Improve drawing accuracy with Family Tables, DimXpert propagation, magnetic lines, and automated annotation tools.
• Streamline workflows with advanced selection tools, flexible routing for pipes, tubes, and electrical paths, routing BOM consolidation, and efficient import/export processes.
• Optimize design management with better handling of flexible/deformable parts, reliable change tracking, version updates, and improved tracking of parent-child ECAD/MCAD data.

The SOLIDWORKS 2026 release is poised to redefine team productivity by focusing heavily on seamless collaboration and robust data management, empowering design teams to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. With tighter integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, users can easily share designs, manage documents, and streamline workflows across the organization.

Highlights include:

• Improves productivity with in-application collaboration that lets you share files via 3DDrive and 3DSwym directly from SOLIDWORKS, while accessing recent project data faster through active-tenant filtering.
• Ensure accuracy with automated drawing stamps, document maturity routing, and up-to-date bookmarks.
• Streamline workflows by supporting cut lists in EBOM/MBOM structures for better manufacturing alignment, while new bookmark editor enhancements allow quicker access to linked project data.
• Improve design management with better handling of flexible parts and reliable change tracking

The SOLIDWORKS 2026 PDM (Product Data Management) release strengthens how teams store, protect, and work with design data. The update brings greater control over file security, better previewing and versioning, and improved tools to simplify administration. Users gain enhanced access controls, smoother file version upgrades, stronger encryption, and more flexible web-based workflows. All these improvements are aimed at reducing risk, increasing efficiency, and promoting collaboration from various locations while maintaining governance and data integrity.

Highlights include:

• Increase data protection with precise access control, traffic encryption, and enhanced authentication mechanisms.
• Save time and reduce errors thanks to streamlined workflows, upgraded file version control, and an improved interface for managing large datasets.
• Make everyday work easier with better CAD file previews, collapsible panels, and improved web client usability everywhere.
• Accelerate upgrades and file conversions using an enhanced File Version Upgrade tool, added scripting support (DraftSight, Office-to-PDF), and greater control over ASICs/Parasolid versions.

The SOLIDWORKS 2026 Simulation release is designed to give engineers greater control, precision, and diagnostic power in analyzing how designs perform under real conditions. It introduces finer control over forces and boundary conditions, improved validity and setup checks, better tools for vibrations, thermal, and shell analyses, and enhanced post-processing capabilities. Together, these improvements reduce model setup time, help catch issues early, and improve the accuracy of simulation results across all types of components and loading scenarios.

Highlights include:

• Increase simulation accuracy by choosing between Per Item or Total force definitions on beam elements for more precise load application.
• Speed issue detection using improved validity checks with clear diagnostics for missing materials, invalid mesh settings, and fixture errors.
• Refine vibration analysis with detailed force breakdowns (shear, axial, bending, torque) for pin connectors under random vibration loads.
• Improve thermal and shell modeling via features like filling thin slots automatically, defining edge-based air vents, and setting global defaults for shell behavior.
• Streamline result analysis with enhanced post-processing tools such as Unfilled Volume plots and consolidated temperature summaries in the Component Explorer.

The SOLIDWORKS 2026 Electrical release delivers improved precision, efficiency, and collaboration for electrical design workflows. From better management of connectors and accessories to more robust ECAD-MCAD synchronization, this update helps engineers reduce errors, speed up documentation, and unify design processes. Enhancements in library control, PDF export customisation, and integrated 3D electrical routing ensure teams can deliver accurate schematics and harnesses faster, while maintaining consistency and clarity across projects.

Highlights include:

• Boost documentation clarity with improved PDF export options, accessory-part assignments to terminals/circuits, and full BOM output.
• Accelerate library and component setup through faster import of manufacturer parts/cables and better 3DEXPERIENCE library management.
• Streamline data import by importing manufacturer parts and cable references from spreadsheets, simplifying entry for multiple items like circuits, terminals, and cable cores.

The DraftSight 2026 release enhances 2D drafting and project documentation workflows, helping design teams better organize sheets, collaborate across 2D/3D environments, and improve productivity through smarter UI tools. With support for BIM models, improved sheet management, cloud-attaching of files, and better tools for batch printing and data extraction, users will save time and reduce errors. Multiple enhancements to the interface and view controls, plus improved ribbon layout, further streamline drafting tasks and make working with multiple drawings easier.

Highlights include:

• Improve collaboration by integrating BIM workflows and allowing DWG files to attach directly from the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
• Speed up documentation and delivery with features like Sheet Set Manager, batch printing, and centralized start-hub for quick access to resources.
• Enhance drafting flexibility through detached document windows, resizable view tiles, and more responsive ribbon/tab content.
• Reduce manual work and prevent errors with enhanced data extraction tools and support for custom text expressions (Diesel expressions) within drawings.