Sibelius - the leading music composition and notation software

Hello everyone,

We are excited to announce that the February 2026 release of Sibelius is here and can now be accessed in My Avid and Avid Link. This release features:

-New dark theme for a modern, flexible workspace
-Fully refreshed hi res iconography and a new font for Mac users
-Cross staff beaming and bar rest enhancements
-Improved two-note tremolo engraving
-ManuScript upgrades and a wide range of important bug fixes

You may read all about it here as well:

https://www.avid.com/resource-center/sibelius-february-2026-release

Enjoy!

The Sibelius team

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Ingrid
Avid Customer Support
[email protected]

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Musix4me - 26 Feb 06:08AM

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Cool. 1st time I've enjoyed 3 components I use DAILY that were created/upgraded/fixed! Thanks!

• Sibelius now sorts the Playback Devices and Configurations lists alphabetically

While this is still fresh in everyone's mind, I would love to see the ability to move instruments up and down in the list when importing from MusicXML.

Sometimes I miss an instrument, and instead of just adding it when I notice and moving it into place, I have to remove all the instruments back to the spot where I missed one and re-enter them.

Good Update. Thanks!

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Robert Moody
https://www.musix4me.com
Windows 11 Pro, Sibelius Ultimate 2025.12, Note Performer 5.0.1
AMD 9950X3D, 96GB DDR5 6000, NVIDIA 5090, Gen5 NVMe, 1Gb Fiber

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Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robert - 26 Feb 09:58AM

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Yes, it is a slight step foreword, it looks now much better, and some functions are improved. But it is not the really jump in the future. The workflow is about the same as it always was.

Still missing for example are the editable toolbars, what would make the working much easier, if you could show only these tools that you really need on your piece that you work on.

Therefore for that update a laughing and a crying eye!
Robert

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Dejan Badnjar - 28 Feb 12:56PM

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I noticed a huge problem with fonts on the Mac (Sequoia) since updating to 2026.2 When having two or more documents open, font sizes for Instrument names, rehearsal numbers, page numbers, etc. are being changed to larger size in one of the documents opened. It even transfers to PDF. To revert to proper file settings, I have to quit and open one document at the time. I am still note sure if anything else is being changed. I have reset the font cache, reinstalled Sibelius and still the same. I rolled back to 2025.12 for now....

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 28 Feb 04:06PM

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I just upgraded to 26.2. I opened a score and got this message in the title bar "This score contains more than 8 staves, so you cannot edit it. You can, however, play back and print this score. To edit this score, you require the full Sibelius product" There's also a button to "Unlock more features". How can I resolve this swiftly please.

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Composer/saxophonist/flautist; Sib Ultimate 26.2; Perpetual Licence; Mac Studio 2025 M4 Max; Mac OS X Sequoia 15.7.4; Focusrite Clarett+ 4Pre

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robin Walker - 28 Feb 07:18PM

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> How can I resolve this swiftly please.

Fix whatever licensing problem you have. This is how Sibelius now reacts to an invalid license: it drops into Sibelius First.

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Sibelius 2025.12/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 11 64-bit 64GB Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book Studio.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 28 Feb 09:59PM

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I don't think that I have a licencing problem. I've followed every path that I can find to update my subscription, and Avid tells me that I am up to date.

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Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robin Walker - 28 Feb 10:15PM

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> I don't think that I have a licencing problem.

If you are using an old version of macOS unsupported by Apple (anything other than Sonoma, Sequoia, Tahoe), then the macOS is missing essential updates from Apple, required for "Avid Link" to work correctly, and for your Sibelius licence to work.
You need:
either (a) to upgrade to a version of macOS supported by Apple;
or (b) to keep your current macOS and apply the "Solution" given in:
https://kb.avid.com/pkb/articles/Knowledge/Avid-Link-Syncing-Account-fails-to-complete-or-Pro-Tools-No-Internet-Connection-on-macOS-13-Ventura-and-earlier

If the above is not your issue, then please:
- ensure that you are signed in to the application "Avid Link" on its "Profile" page;
- ensure that "Avid Link" has been updated to its most recent version;
- tell us what version of macOS or Windows you are using;
- tell us what version number of Sibelius Ultimate you are using;
- show us a screen-shot of the application "Avid Link" on your computer (not your "My Avid" web account) displaying its "Products" page.

--
Sibelius 2025.12/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 11 64-bit 64GB Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book Studio.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 01 Mar 04:19PM (edited 01 Mar 09:03PM)

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Thank you for your suggestions. The first solution is not appropriate because I am on Sequoia 15.7.4.

I open Avid Link on my computer, which is in an Avid folder in my Applications folder. [NB It used to be in the menu bar at the top right of the screen, although I was never able to update Sibelius using Avid Link in the past, so I always downloaded new versions from the My Products page on the Avid site].

I click on Products and I'm invited to enter my System and Activation IDs. Avid Link, Sibelius 2026.2, and Proximity:EQ+ are displayed. Sibelius has a warning "Reconnect to Avid". I can open Sibelius from here, but only in Sibelius First mode. In the drop down menu I click on Licence, then Activate. A spinning disk appears in the bottom right hand corner. After a while I get the error message "Activation Failed: 105 Activation Failed. Device has already been Authorized via source=Cloud License."

On the My Products page of the Avid site Auto Renewal is ON. There's a green tick saying "Active". And my updates and support plan renew on May 30, 2026. I have the annual upgrade and support plan renewal for Sibelius Ultimate.

In a score opened in Sibelius First there is the legend at the bottom of the score window "Activate Sibelius". This just takes me to my Avid Link window with the information I've given you above.

NB Although Avid Link is displaying my Products correctly, if I click on the Profile page I enter my email, and because I can't remember my password I click "Forgot password" but when I tick the box to say that I am not a robot, I get a failed message, and a link to Troubleshoot. I've tried all the email addresses I've ever had on this page, even though I'm certain of what the email I use with Sibelius is, but in trying to reset my password I always get the failed message after clicking the I am not a robot box. However it doesn't seem to matter because it seems that I am signed in any case, otherwise I presume that my products wouldn't be displayed?

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Composer/saxophonist/flautist; Sib Ultimate 2026.2. MacOS Sequoia 15.7.4. Mac Pro M4 Max. 64Gb RAM.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robin Walker - 02 Mar 09:55AM

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> Sibelius has a warning "Reconnect to Avid"

That is the cause of your problems. "Avid Link" is unable to verify your licence because it is being prevented from contacting the Avid licensing servers over the internet.

This might be because of a firewall or VPN in your computer, or a firewall on the network to which the computer is connected (sometimes the case with school or college networks).

There is nothing you can adjust in Avid Link or Sibelius: you need to allow "Avid Link" internet access. Find out what is blocking it, and stop it.

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Sibelius 2026.2/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 11 64-bit 64GB Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book Studio.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 02 Mar 12:09PM

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I don't have a VPN, and I am not on an institutional network of any kind, just my home network.

I checked the Firewall on my Mac and under Options com.avid.ApplicationManager Helper and com.avid.appmanager "Allow incoming connections" is permitted for both.

Under Privacy & Security > Local Network, Sibelius has permission to communicate with devices on my local network.

Is there anywhere else I should look?

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robin Walker - 02 Mar 12:46PM (edited 02 Mar 12:52PM)

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> I checked the Firewall on my Mac and under Options com.avid.ApplicationManager Helper and com.avid.appmanager "Allow incoming connections" is permitted for both.

I'm guessing from this statement that you have enabled the macOS firewall.

"com.avid.appmanager" is (I think) an obsolete reference, to the predecessor of "Avid Link". I would instead expect to see some reference to "com.avid.link" - although in fact I don't think that the Avid licensing system relies on any incoming connections: what it needs is the ability for the background processes of "Avid Link" to make outgoing connections to the Avid licensing servers: to "phone home" as some describe it.

Does "Avid Link" start working again if you completely disable the macOS firewall, then restart the macOS?

Is your home network router capable of blocking outgoing connections?

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Sibelius 2026.2/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 11 64-bit 64GB Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book Studio.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 02 Mar 01:17PM

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> Does "Avid Link" start working again if you completely disable the macOS firewall, then restart the macOS?

No

> Is your home network router capable of blocking outgoing connections?

I don't know. I wouldn't know how to find out. But in any case, why would it suddenly start blocking Avid?

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Composer/saxophonist/flautist; Sib Ultimate 2018.7, Sibelius 2026.2. MacOS 15.7.4. Mac Pro M4 Max

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Robin Walker - 02 Mar 01:52PM (edited 02 Mar 01:55PM)

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Jan,

In "Avid Link", please click "Sync Account" and describe what happens next, including any colour changes. Do any messages appear?

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Sibelius 2026.2/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 11 64-bit 64GB Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book Studio.

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available!
Posted by Jan Steele - 02 Mar 02:16PM

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Hi Robin, I tried the solution in your previous message (which now seems to have disappeared!) and deleted everything in the Commons directory. There was no License folder. I was then able to sign in to Avid Link, and then able to synch my licence, and everything finally seems to be ok. [NB Previously clicking on Synch licence produced no effect]. I'm very relieved. Thank you for your assistance! Best wishes, Jan

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Messages in this thread

Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Ingrid, 25 Feb 05:02PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Musix4me, 26 Feb 06:08AM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robert, 26 Feb 09:58AM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Dejan Badnjar, 28 Feb 12:56PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 28 Feb 04:06PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robin Walker, 28 Feb 07:18PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 28 Feb 09:59PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robin Walker, 28 Feb 10:15PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 01 Mar 04:19PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robin Walker, 02 Mar 09:55AM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 02 Mar 12:09PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robin Walker, 02 Mar 12:46PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 02 Mar 01:17PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Robin Walker, 02 Mar 01:52PM

Re: Sibelius 2026.2 Now Available! - Jan Steele, 02 Mar 02:16PM