The C++26 draft failed its DIS ballot on 23 October 2026, marking the first such failure in C++ history. Robert Seacord, convenor of the C committee, confirmed no SC22 language standard had ever failed a ballot before. Daveed Vandevoorde noted no prior C++ draft received even a single negative vote.
Features including reflection, std::execution, library hardening, and contracts are now in an unapproved draft. The ballot required 14 votes in favor (two-thirds of 20) and no more than 5 negative votes (25% of 22). The draft received only 12 positive and 9 negative votes.
Nine countries voted No: Denmark, Finland, Iran, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. France and Ireland abstained with comments; Poland and the U.S. abstained without comments. Seacord expressed personal support for contracts, emphasizing their value in documentation and runtime verification.
He teaches C++26 contracts in workshops and uses them in mp-units. The full report with comments is expected by mid-January 2027.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing