The LHC restarted its final 2026 run with higher-energy proton and lead-ion collisions to test equipment ahead of a 2030 upgrade.

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN has restarted its final physics run for 2026, beginning proton collisions on March 7. The machine, operating at near absolute zero, will run until late June, conducting proton and lead-ion collisions and high-intensity beam tests using proton bunches with 40% more particles than normal. These tests will assess equipment performance ahead of a four-year upgrade to the High-Luminosity LHC, expected to begin in 2030 and significantly increase collision rates for more detailed particle studies.