SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces AI-powered drawing automation, enhanced assembly tools, and performance improvements designed to streamline design workflows. Here are the main updates across different modules.
Drawings
The new AutoGenerate Drawing command, accessible directly from the New menu, uses AI to automatically create 2D drawings for parts and assemblies. The system generates appropriate dimensions, views, and sheet formats while recognising hole geometry in both native SOLIDWORKS and imported files, automatically applying the correct hole callouts.
Additional drawing enhancements include:
- Family Tables for configurations display configuration details and custom properties automatically
- Automatic dimension line breaks at intersections with text and annotations
- New Flattened BOM type showing total quantities across assemblies and sub-assemblies
- Enhanced magnetic lines supporting Notes, Weld Symbols, and other annotations
- BOM filtering by display state
- Custom text support in Geometric Tolerance values
- Surface Finish indicators compliant with ISO 21920-1
- Toggle visibility for property text expressions
- Lock first row visibility for Revision Tables
Assemblies
Assembly design receives significant automation improvements to reduce manual work and improve accuracy. The new AI-powered fastener recognition automatically identifies and assembles components that appear to be nuts, bolts, or washers, while selective loading capabilities allow teams to work on specific sections of large assemblies without loading the entire structure.
Key assembly improvements focus on automation and selective loading:
- Selective loading of assembly components from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform allows designers to open specific sections of large assemblies
- AI-powered fastener recognition automatically identifies nuts, bolts, and washers, creating mates automatically for both SOLIDWORKS toolbox and non-toolbox components
- Configuration and Display State Tables now wrap text automatically and remove unnecessary columns
- Automatic warnings for unusually large component displacements
Parts and Sheet Metal
Parts modelling expands with new Physical Product creation capabilities and enhanced sheet metal tools. Users can now create Physical Products directly on the platform, with attributes such as project numbers and descriptions, while sheet metal design gains more flexible edge-flange controls and custom base-flange starting points.
Parts modelling gains new capabilities:
- Create Physical Products with attributes like project numbers and names directly on the platform
- Use sketch points to define edge flange endpoints in sheet metal
- New “From” option in Base Flange PropertyManager for custom starting points
3D Dimensioning and Tolerancing
Model-based definition capabilities expand to support better data exchange and standardisation. The addition of STEP AP242 format support enables sharing 3D models with embedded PMI data, while DimXpert dimensions can now be saved to library features for reuse across projects.
Model-based definition features expand with:
- STEP AP242 format support for sharing models with PMI data
- DimXpert dimensions can be saved to library features
- Selective hiding/showing of DimXpert annotations
- New filter bar for DimXpertManager
Electrical and Pipe Routing
Routing tools gain enhanced documentation and management capabilities. Users can now combine routing BOMs from multiple sub-assemblies into a single comprehensive list, while improved template switching and clip support provide greater flexibility in routing design.
Routing improvements include:
- Template switching in flattened drawings with automatic scaling
- Combined routing BOMs from multiple route sub-assemblies
- Support for assembly-based clips, mounts, and hangers
ECAD-MCAD Collaboration
CircuitWorks collaboration improves with better synchronisation and relationship management. The ability to overwrite previous IDX pushes helps maintain sync between CircuitWorks and SOLIDWORKS Design, while new parent-child relationship support ensures related components update together.
Enhanced collaboration features:
- Ability to overwrite previous pushes in IDX 3.0
- Parent-child relationship support in IDX 3.0 for CircuitWorks
Rendering
SOLIDWORKS Visualize integration brings photorealistic rendering directly into the design environment. Users can create high-quality renderings without leaving SOLIDWORKS Design, thanks to new tessellation controls that balance quality and performance.
SOLIDWORKS Visualize integration brings:
- Direct rendering within SOLIDWORKS Design
- Tessellation control with Default, Simple, and Advanced mesh refinement settings
- Denoiser support in CPU render mode
Import/Export
File sharing and export capabilities streamline collaboration workflows. The new Export as Package option in the Share dialogue simplifies file distribution, while advanced selection filters help manage complex multi-body parts more efficiently.
File sharing improvements:
- Export as a Package option directly from the Share dialogue
- Optional drawing inclusion in package exports
- Advanced selection filters for multi-body parts, including Select Identical Bodies and Select Bodies by Size
User Experience
The interface receives updates focused on accessibility and productivity. A new Simplified Interface mode helps new users focus on essential commands, while enhanced command search with expanded keywords makes it easier to find tools, even using terminology from other CAD software.
Interface and workflow enhancements:
- Automatic unplanned offline mode during connectivity disruptions
- Enhanced command search with expanded keywords, including terms from other CAD software
- Simplified Interface mode displaying commonly used commands
Performance
Performance optimisations target large assembly workflows and rebuild times. Smarter rebuild recognition skips unnecessary rebuilds for cosmetic changes, while incremental graphics updates replace full graphics rebuilds for faster response times.
Speed improvements include:
- Smarter rebuild recognition that skips rebuilds for cosmetic changes
- Option to disable auto-resolve for lightweight components
- Incremental graphics updates replacing full graphics rebuilds
Collaboration and Data Management
Platform integration features enhance traceability and workflow management. Drawing stamping now includes user information and email addresses for better accountability, while improved tenant-based file filtering prevents confusion for users working across multiple platforms.
Platform integration features:
- Drawing stamping with maturity status, usernames, and email addresses
- Cut list support on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
- Recent files filtered by active tenant
SOLIDWORKS 2026 focuses on reducing manual effort through AI automation, improving performance with large assemblies, and enhancing collaboration capabilities across the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.