The main innovation in the Maya 2026.1 release was MotionMaker, a generative system that creates motion animations for bipedal and four-legged characters. It is enough for the animator to set the starting and ending points, or the trajectory, and the system automatically builds realistic animations - from walking and running to jumping and sitting. MotionMaker focuses primarily on the stages of previsuation and layout, allowing you to get "80% of the desired result" in a matter of minutes. After that, the result can be finalized manually, and the built-in editing window allows you to apply animation layers, including motion capture and keyframes. Controlling the character's speed, scale, and weight makes movement more natural.

The update also introduces modular rigging in the Bifrost node effects system. The new framework allows you to assemble production-ready rigs that can be converted into standard Maya elements. Improved simulation of liquids: now the physical properties of objects, such as viscosity and roughness, affect the behavior of the liquid, and simulation of air resistance for foam and splashes has been added.

In terms of visualization and compatibility, Maya 2026.1 adds support for OpenPBR materials in FBX, expands the capabilities of LookdevX, and improves the export of animations to USD, including camera curves.

The Arnold Renderer update (Mesa 5.5.2) accelerates rendering on multi-core systems.

The new version of Maya Creative 2026.1, a lightweight version of Maya, now also includes MotionMaker and other key features, with the exception of Bifrost. It is available on a flexible payment system - from $ 3 per day, with a minimum cost of $ 300 per year.
The full version of Maya 2026.1 is distributed by subscription: $255 per month or $2010 per year. Maya Indie is still available for $330 per year for artists with an income of less than $100,000 per year.