Mojang has released the third snapshot for the upcoming 26.3 update, alongside the 26.40.30 Beta and Preview. These test versions introduce several new features confirmed for the third game update of 2026.
The latest snapshot, Beta, and Preview focus on two new features: cushions and straw beds. For Minecraft, this is a rare addition of decorative furniture in recent years, and it finally introduces a functional "sit" mechanic. Players building lounge areas or interior scenes will no longer need to rely on awkward workarounds like minecarts to simulate seating.
The other new addition is the straw bed. This is a temporary bed that allows players to skip the night without updating their spawn point. For those who frequently go on long expeditions, its value is straightforward: you can safely pass the night without worrying about overwriting your original spawn location. Here is a look at the most notable updates in this Minecraft snapshot and preview.
What’s New in Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 3 and Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview?
Cushions
Cushions are one of the most eye-catching additions in this snapshot and preview. Players can craft them using 3 wool slabs of the same color, and like other wool-based blocks, cushions come in all 16 colors. Once placed, players can interact with them directly to sit down.
What makes cushions truly interesting is that they aren't just decorative items to be placed on the floor. They can be placed on various flat surfaces, such as stairs and trapdoors, offering great versatility for interior design, camping setups, and creative builds.
Straw Beds
By placing 3 hay bales in a crafting table, players can craft 4 straw beds at once. Like regular beds, they can be placed on the ground and used to sleep through the night, but their mechanics are more akin to a single-use item: the straw bed disappears immediately after the player wakes up.
The key feature of the straw bed is that it does not change your spawn point upon use. This means players can carry multiple straw beds to rest during long-distance exploration, traveling through the wilderness, or avoiding nocturnal hostile mobs without the risk of disrupting their original spawn location. Additionally, straw beds can be stacked up to 16, so carrying a few extra won't put too much pressure on your inventory space.
Other Changes in Minecraft 26.3 Snapshot 3
In addition to cushions and straw beds, the Java Edition 26.3 Snapshot 3 adds support for the Gothic language. Technically, this version introduces the posteffect command, allowing developers to add or remove post-processing shader effects for players.
Furthermore, this snapshot includes a series of technical adjustments and bug fixes, focusing more on underlying functional improvements rather than just surface-level content updates.
Changes and Fixes in Minecraft Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview
Compared to the Java snapshot, the Bedrock 26.40.30 Preview focuses more on Abandoned Camps and the Mottled Forest.
In this new version, Abandoned Camps now correctly generate in Pale Garden and Flower Forest biomes, and players can find straw beds within these camps. Meanwhile, the aspen leaves in the Mottled Forest have received new textures, and the biome now uses fog settings consistent with other forest biomes.
26.40.30 also fixes several graphical and display issues, such as stray pixels on the aspen door icon, incorrect textures for aspen signs, black backgrounds on aspen leaves, incorrect pixels on sulfur spikes, and graphical anomalies with Vibrant Visuals on certain Android GPUs. Overall, this Bedrock preview feels like a concentrated polish effort centered around the new biomes and visual performance.
