How to Install MariaDB on Ubuntu 26.04

To install MariaDB on Ubuntu 26.04, install the server and run mariadb-secure-installation.

Step 1 : Update.

sudo apt update

Step 2 : Install MariaDB.

sudo apt install mariadb-server

Step 3 : Secure the install. Press Enter if no root password is set yet; answer Y to the rest.

sudo mariadb-secure-installation

• Root password: Enter (empty if none is set yet)
• Switch to unix_socket authentication: Y
• Change the root password: Y
• Remove anonymous users: Y
• Disallow root login remotely: Y
• Remove test database: Y
• Reload privilege tables: Y

Step 4 : Start and enable.

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Step 5 : Check status.

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Step 6 : Log in.

sudo mysql

Step 7 : Create an admin user (change the password).

CREATE USER 'admin'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'admin'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

You have installed MariaDB on Ubuntu 26.04.