What's the current COVID-19 variant?

I can’t verify live surveillance data for October 2026, so I can’t reliably name the variant circulating most widely right now. COVID-19 lineages can change quickly, and the most common one may differ by country.

The latest information I can reliably identify from 2025 included Omicron-descendant lineages such as XFG (sometimes called Stratus) and NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus) among those being monitored. That does not establish which variant is dominant today. For an up-to-date answer, check WHO variant tracking or your national public-health agency’s latest reports.