What does 26.1 mean?
26.1 is the first edition of Java Edition on the new Mojang numbering. After 1.21.11, the following became 26.1 instead of 1.22: the first number is the year of issue; the second is the issue number of this year. 26.1 was the first issue of 2026.
For a player, it's just a new name: the version is set up and running as before. For servers, this is an ordinary update -- the Paper and Purpur cores are coming out of the new version quickly, and the servers on the plagins are going to be one of the first ones. mod projects need more time: each mode is updated separately.
The line 1.21 did not disappear: many servers remained on 1.21.11 and allowed new clients to enter via ViaVersion. If the server has one 1.21.11 without a range, from 26.1, it needs the same version.
How to log in and from which version
The Minecraft server 26.1 is often played by ViaVersion and ViaBackwards. Then the server monitors a range such as "1.21-26.1" and can be entered from any version of it. If one 26.1, the client must match it.
The version is based on a launcher: you choose 26.1 on the list, and it downloads the game. The website has its own, JuxLauncher. The old versions stay close, so there's no need to reset for another server.
On the server page - online now, chart for the day and week, peak, record and uptime by day for 90 days. I don't know. Online monitoring measures itself, pinging, is not a number from the owner's words. Press Copy Address, open Network Game Add and put an address.