Sigil 2.8.5: Open Source ePub Editor Released with New Features

According to Habr publishing data, the Sigil 2.8.5 version was officially released on November 6, 2026. This free and open-source program is developed for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, with its main function being the editing of electronic books in ePub format.

In the new version, the old CSS analyzer was replaced with a new solution based on the modern Lexbor library. Additionally, support for AVIF and JPEG XL image formats was added to the program. Images in these formats are converted to JPEG via a special URL scheme and displayed correctly in the preview window.

For users, the Image Adjustment (Adjust Image) window was fully redesigned and became more convenient. Now, the special_characters.xml file in the settings folder can be used to create special character windows. On macOS, the ability to view recently opened files via the context menu of the program icon was also added.

The Table of Contents editor now supports selecting multiple elements at once, which speeds up making large changes. In the Image section, the original size of the file is displayed. Managing cover metadata using EPUB3 tools has been simplified and adapted to the EPUB 3.4 specification.

The program does not use old EPUB2 style cover metadata in EPUB3 files. The mass file addition process has been optimized: when existing images are replaced, information is written directly to the file, reducing changes in the OPF file. The navigation panel in the book browser also updates faster.