diff --git a/benchmarks/string-bench/src/serialized.rs b/benchmarks/string-bench/src/serialized.rs
index 29d2115ed49..bb9f5fbe872 100644
--- a/benchmarks/string-bench/src/serialized.rs
+++ b/benchmarks/string-bench/src/serialized.rs
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ mod tests {
     use vortex::VortexSessionDefault;
     use vortex::array::Canonical;
     use vortex::array::VortexSessionExecute;
+    use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+    use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
     use vortex::io::runtime::BlockingRuntime;
     use vortex::io::runtime::current::CurrentThreadRuntime;
     use vortex::io::session::RuntimeSessionExt;
@@ -404,6 +406,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (column, expected_uncompressed_bytes) = crate::repeated_fixture();
         let runtime = CurrentThreadRuntime::new();
         let session = VortexSession::default().with_handle(runtime.handle());
+        session.enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)?;
 
         for (encoder, expected_label) in [
             (StringEncoder::OnPair, "onpair-12"),
diff --git a/docs/specs/editions.md b/docs/specs/editions.md
index 52c3d1c2b97..b3c6d721107 100644
--- a/docs/specs/editions.md
+++ b/docs/specs/editions.md
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@ guarantee applies to that serialized contract, not to the in-memory implementati
 
 Editions belong to independently versioned families and are cumulative within a family. Each edition includes all
 components from the preceding edition in that family, plus any newly added components. A writer selects at most one
-edition from each family and may use the union of their components. For example, selecting `core2026.07.0` and
-`unstable2026.06.0` allows stable components released through July 2026 and unstable components released through June
-
-2026.
+edition from each family and may use the union of their components. For example, selecting `core2026.08.1` and
+`preview2026.06.0` allows stable components released through August 2026 and preview components released through
+June 2026.
 
 The first frozen edition, `core2025.05.0`, contains the components that Vortex `0.36.0` could write. This marks the
 start of the Vortex file format's stability guarantee. Every Vortex release from `0.36.0` onward can read
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ the previous selection.
 You can change the default configuration to:
 
 - **Target an older `core` edition** when the file must remain readable by an older Vortex deployment.
-- **Enable another family** to use components outside `core`. Vortex currently defines `unstable`, `spatial`, and
+- **Enable another family** to use components outside `core`. Vortex currently defines `preview`, `spatial`, and
   `json` in addition to `core`.
 
 Sessions created without the Vortex facade must register and enable their editions before writing files. The lower-level
@@ -210,43 +209,49 @@ Minimum Vortex release: `0.54.0`.
 
 - `array`: `fastlanes.rle`, `vortex.fixed_size_list`, `vortex.listview`, `vortex.masked`
 
-#### `core2026.07.0`
-
-Minimum Vortex release: `0.65.0`.
-
-- `array`: `vortex.variant`
-- `dtype`: `vortex.uuid`
-
 #### `core2026.08.0`
 
 Minimum Vortex release: `0.84.0`.
 
-- `array`: `vortex.map`
 - `layout`: `vortex.zoned`
 - `aggregate`: `vortex.bounded_max`, `vortex.bounded_min`, `vortex.max`, `vortex.min`,
   `vortex.nan_count`, `vortex.null_count`
 
+#### `core2026.08.1`
+
+Minimum Vortex release: `0.84.0`.
+
+- `array`: `vortex.map`
+
 ### Draft editions
 
 Draft component lists may change and have no minimum reader or permanent compatibility guarantee.
 
-#### `unstable2025.05.0`
+#### `core2026.08.2`
+
+- `array`: `vortex.parquet.variant`, `vortex.variant`
+- `dtype`: `vortex.uuid`
+
+#### `core2026.08.3`
+
+- `array`: `vortex.onpair`
+
+#### `preview2025.05.0`
 
 - `array`: `fastlanes.delta`
 
-#### `unstable2026.02.0`
+#### `preview2026.02.0`
 
 - `array`: `vortex.zstd_buffers`
 
-#### `unstable2026.04.0`
+#### `preview2026.04.0`
 
-- `array`: `vortex.parquet.variant`, `vortex.patched`, `vortex.tensor.cosine_similarity`,
-  `vortex.tensor.inner_product`, `vortex.tensor.l2_norm`, `vortex.tensor.normalized`
+- `array`: `vortex.patched`, `vortex.tensor.cosine_similarity`, `vortex.tensor.inner_product`,
+  `vortex.tensor.l2_norm`, `vortex.tensor.normalized`
 - `dtype`: `vortex.tensor.fixed_shape_tensor`, `vortex.tensor.vector`
 
-#### `unstable2026.06.0`
+#### `preview2026.06.0`
 
-- `array`: `vortex.onpair`
 - `layout`: `vortex.list`
 
 #### `spatial2026.08.0`
diff --git a/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/format.rs b/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/format.rs
index 4e59821dbfa..4cf6ab5c9bf 100644
--- a/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/format.rs
+++ b/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/format.rs
@@ -320,6 +320,19 @@ impl VortexFormatFactory {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Creates a factory with an explicit session and session-driven table options.
+    ///
+    /// Formats created by this factory start from the DataFusion session's `vortex` options,
+    /// falling back to [`VortexTableOptions::default`]. Table-level `OPTIONS(...)` are still
+    /// applied last.
+    pub fn new_with_session(session: VortexSession) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            session,
+            options: None,
+            expression_convertor: None,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Creates a factory with an explicit session and factory-level options.
     ///
     /// The supplied options become the complete starting value for every
diff --git a/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/tests.rs b/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/tests.rs
index 41d8141165f..35dd745461d 100644
--- a/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/tests.rs
+++ b/vortex-datafusion/src/persistent/tests.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ use vortex::array::arrays::VarBinArray;
 use vortex::array::validity::Validity;
 use vortex::buffer::Buffer;
 use vortex::buffer::buffer;
+use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
 use vortex::file::OpenOptionsSessionExt;
 use vortex::file::WriteOptionsSessionExt;
 use vortex::io::VortexWrite;
@@ -497,8 +499,8 @@ async fn arrow_uuid_extension_roundtrip() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     use vortex_arrow::ArrowSessionExt;
 
     let ctx = TestSessionContext::default();
-    // Default vortex session has importer/exporter for Arrow UUID
     let session = VortexSession::default();
+    session.enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)?;
 
     let mut uuid_field = Field::new("id", DataType::FixedSizeBinary(16), false);
     uuid_field.try_with_extension_type(Uuid)?;
@@ -565,6 +567,7 @@ async fn arrow_uuid_extension_roundtrip_nested_struct() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     let ctx = TestSessionContext::default();
     let session = VortexSession::default();
+    session.enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)?;
 
     let mut inner_uuid_field = Field::new("id", DataType::FixedSizeBinary(16), false);
     inner_uuid_field.try_with_extension_type(Uuid)?;
diff --git a/vortex-duckdb/src/lib.rs b/vortex-duckdb/src/lib.rs
index b16d41e9e75..c8d35eb74e9 100644
--- a/vortex-duckdb/src/lib.rs
+++ b/vortex-duckdb/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ use std::sync::OnceLock;
 
 use vortex::VortexSessionDefault;
 use vortex::cloud::Registry;
+use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
 use vortex::error::VortexExpect;
 use vortex::error::VortexResult;
+use vortex::error::vortex_err;
 use vortex::io::runtime::BlockingRuntime;
 use vortex::io::runtime::current::CurrentThreadRuntime;
 use vortex::io::session::RuntimeSessionExt;
@@ -48,6 +51,10 @@ static RUNTIME: LazyLock<CurrentThreadRuntime> = LazyLock::new(CurrentThreadRunt
 static REGISTRY: LazyLock<Registry> = LazyLock::new(Registry::new);
 static SESSION: LazyLock<VortexSession> = LazyLock::new(|| {
     let session = VortexSession::default().with_handle(RUNTIME.handle());
+    session
+        .enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)
+        .map_err(|error| vortex_err!("{error}"))
+        .vortex_expect("DuckDB-supported draft core edition is registered");
     vortex_spatial::initialize(&session);
     session
 });
diff --git a/vortex-jni/src/session.rs b/vortex-jni/src/session.rs
index 081f55e9b56..8132fd8213a 100644
--- a/vortex-jni/src/session.rs
+++ b/vortex-jni/src/session.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ use jni::EnvUnowned;
 use jni::objects::JClass;
 use jni::sys::jlong;
 use vortex::VortexSessionDefault;
+use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
+use vortex::error::VortexExpect;
+use vortex::error::vortex_err;
 use vortex::io::runtime::BlockingRuntime;
 use vortex::io::session::RuntimeSessionExt;
 use vortex::session::VortexSession;
@@ -17,6 +21,10 @@ use crate::RUNTIME;
 /// an opaque pointer that Java must pass to [`Java_dev_vortex_jni_NativeSession_free`].
 pub(crate) fn new_session() -> Box<VortexSession> {
     let session = VortexSession::default().with_handle(RUNTIME.handle());
+    session
+        .enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)
+        .map_err(|error| vortex_err!("{error}"))
+        .vortex_expect("JNI-supported draft core edition is registered");
     vortex_parquet_variant::initialize(&session);
     vortex_spatial::initialize(&session);
     Box::new(session)
diff --git a/vortex-python/src/io.rs b/vortex-python/src/io.rs
index 7d117d2b940..a9a1d2017ad 100644
--- a/vortex-python/src/io.rs
+++ b/vortex-python/src/io.rs
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ impl PyVortexWriteOptions {
     /// >>> vx.io.VortexWriteOptions.default().write(sprl, "chonky.vortex")
     /// >>> import os
     /// >>> os.path.getsize('chonky.vortex')
-    /// 215716
+    /// 215684
     ///
     /// Wow, Vortex manages to use about two bytes per integer! So advanced. So tiny.
     ///
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ impl PyVortexWriteOptions {
     ///
     /// >>> vx.io.VortexWriteOptions.compact().write(sprl, "tiny.vortex")
     /// >>> os.path.getsize('tiny.vortex')
-    /// 54920
+    /// 54888
     ///
     /// Random numbers are not (usually) composed of random bytes!
     #[staticmethod]
diff --git a/vortex-sqllogictest/bin/sqllogictests-runner.rs b/vortex-sqllogictest/bin/sqllogictests-runner.rs
index fd5aa0cec60..a0ad4a74e00 100644
--- a/vortex-sqllogictest/bin/sqllogictests-runner.rs
+++ b/vortex-sqllogictest/bin/sqllogictests-runner.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ use sqllogictest::harness::Arguments;
 use sqllogictest::harness::Failed;
 use sqllogictest::harness::Trial;
 use sqllogictest::strict_column_validator;
+use vortex::VortexSessionDefault;
+use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
+use vortex::session::VortexSession;
 use vortex_datafusion::VortexFormatFactory;
 use vortex_datafusion::VortexTableOptions;
 use vortex_sqllogictest::duckdb::DuckDB;
@@ -64,7 +68,9 @@ fn drive_datafusion(path: &Path, work_dir: &Path, mode: Mode) -> anyhow::Result<
     let rt = build_runtime()?;
     rt.block_on(async {
         let config = SessionConfig::default().with_option_extension(VortexTableOptions::default());
-        let factory = Arc::new(VortexFormatFactory::new());
+        let vortex_session = VortexSession::default();
+        vortex_session.enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)?;
+        let factory = Arc::new(VortexFormatFactory::new_with_session(vortex_session));
         let session_state_builder = SessionStateBuilder::new()
             .with_config(config)
             .with_default_features()
diff --git a/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/adapter.rs b/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/adapter.rs
index be23417e44b..89cc43c678c 100644
--- a/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/adapter.rs
+++ b/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/adapter.rs
@@ -87,11 +87,21 @@ pub fn write_compressed(
 pub fn write_compressed_to_bytes(
     chunk: ArrayRef,
     strategy: Arc<dyn LayoutStrategy>,
+) -> VortexResult<ByteBuffer> {
+    write_compressed_to_bytes_with_session(&VortexSession::default(), chunk, strategy)
+}
+
+/// Write a `.vortex` file into memory using a caller-provided session and layout strategy.
+pub fn write_compressed_to_bytes_with_session(
+    session: &VortexSession,
+    chunk: ArrayRef,
+    strategy: Arc<dyn LayoutStrategy>,
 ) -> VortexResult<ByteBuffer> {
     let stream = ArrayStreamAdapter::new(chunk.dtype().clone(), stream::iter([Ok(chunk)]));
+    let session = session.clone();
 
-    runtime()?.block_on(async {
-        let session = VortexSession::default().with_tokio();
+    runtime()?.block_on(async move {
+        let session = session.with_tokio();
         let mut bytes = Vec::new();
         let _summary = session
             .write_options()
diff --git a/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/fixtures/arrays/datasets/mod.rs b/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/fixtures/arrays/datasets/mod.rs
index 1f84d0edeea..f3d506539fd 100644
--- a/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/fixtures/arrays/datasets/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-test/compat-gen/src/fixtures/arrays/datasets/mod.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,15 @@ pub fn fixtures() -> Vec<Box<dyn DatasetFixture>> {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use vortex::VortexSessionDefault;
     use vortex::compressor::BtrBlocksCompressorBuilder;
+    use vortex::editions::CORE_2026_08_3;
+    use vortex::editions::EditionSessionExt;
     use vortex::file::WriteStrategyBuilder;
-    use vortex_array::array_session;
+    use vortex::session::VortexSession;
     use vortex_arrow::ArrowSessionExt;
+    use vortex_error::VortexResult;
+    use vortex_error::vortex_err;
 
     use super::fixtures;
     use crate::adapter;
@@ -29,28 +34,32 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn roundtrip_non_clickbench_fixtures_to_bytes() {
-        let session = array_session();
+    fn roundtrip_non_clickbench_fixtures_to_bytes() -> VortexResult<()> {
+        let session = VortexSession::default();
+        session
+            .enable_edition(CORE_2026_08_3)
+            .map_err(|error| vortex_err!("{error}"))?;
         for dataset in fixtures()
             .into_iter()
             .filter(|fixture| !is_clickbench_fixture(fixture.name()))
         {
-            let array = dataset.build(&session.arrow()).unwrap();
-            let regular_bytes = adapter::write_compressed_to_bytes(
+            let array = dataset.build(&session.arrow())?;
+            let regular_bytes = adapter::write_compressed_to_bytes_with_session(
+                &session,
                 array.clone(),
                 WriteStrategyBuilder::default().build(),
-            )
-            .unwrap();
-            let _regular = adapter::read_file(regular_bytes).unwrap();
+            )?;
+            let _regular = adapter::read_file(regular_bytes)?;
 
-            let compact_bytes = adapter::write_compressed_to_bytes(
+            let compact_bytes = adapter::write_compressed_to_bytes_with_session(
+                &session,
                 array,
                 WriteStrategyBuilder::default()
                     .with_btrblocks_builder(BtrBlocksCompressorBuilder::default().with_compact())
                     .build(),
-            )
-            .unwrap();
-            let _compact = adapter::read_file(compact_bytes).unwrap();
+            )?;
+            let _compact = adapter::read_file(compact_bytes)?;
         }
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/core/mod.rs b/vortex/src/editions/core/mod.rs
index 00e295e542e..84a0dcb8a05 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/core/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/core/mod.rs
@@ -9,11 +9,14 @@
 pub mod v2025_05;
 pub mod v2025_06;
 pub mod v2025_10;
-pub mod v2026_07;
 pub mod v2026_08;
+pub mod v2026_08_2;
+pub mod v2026_08_3;
 
 pub use v2025_05::CORE_2025_05_0;
 pub use v2025_06::CORE_2025_06_0;
 pub use v2025_10::CORE_2025_10_0;
-pub use v2026_07::CORE_2026_07_0;
-pub use v2026_08::CORE_2026_08;
+pub use v2026_08::CORE_2026_08_0;
+pub use v2026_08::CORE_2026_08_1;
+pub use v2026_08_2::CORE_2026_08_2;
+pub use v2026_08_3::CORE_2026_08_3;
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08.rs b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08.rs
index 589f6c969b5..07979c9976f 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The August 2026 core edition adding canonical Map arrays and zoned layouts.
+//! The frozen August 2026 core editions.
 
 use vortex_edition::Edition;
 use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
 use vortex_edition::EditionId;
 use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
 
-/// The August 2026 core edition containing canonical Map arrays and zoned layouts.
-pub const CORE_2026_08: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 0);
+/// The August 2026 core edition containing zoned layouts.
+pub const CORE_2026_08_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 0);
 
-/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_08`] and the components that join the family at it.
+/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_08_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
 ///
 /// The aggregates are the set the default writer records in zone maps. A strategy asking for an
 /// aggregate outside this set fails the write instead of producing zone maps an older reader would
@@ -20,13 +20,12 @@ pub const CORE_2026_08: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 0);
 /// `vortex.sum` is deliberately not a member: zone maps prune, a zone sum does not, and its
 /// null-on-empty semantics were changed and reverted within a single week. The writer no longer
 /// records it, so the two stay consistent.
-pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
+pub static DECLARATION_0: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
     edition: Edition {
-        id: CORE_2026_08,
+        id: CORE_2026_08_0,
         min_vortex_version: Some("0.84.0"),
     },
     added: &[
-        EditionMember::array(&"vortex.map"),
         EditionMember::layout(&"vortex.zoned"),
         EditionMember::aggregate(&"vortex.bounded_max"),
         EditionMember::aggregate(&"vortex.bounded_min"),
@@ -36,3 +35,15 @@ pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
         EditionMember::aggregate(&"vortex.null_count"),
     ],
 };
+
+/// The second August 2026 edition of the `core` family, adding OnPair arrays.
+pub const CORE_2026_08_1: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 1);
+
+/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_08_1`] and the components that join the family at it.
+pub static DECLARATION_1: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
+    edition: Edition {
+        id: CORE_2026_08_1,
+        min_vortex_version: Some("0.84.0"),
+    },
+    added: &[EditionMember::array(&"vortex.onpair")],
+};
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_2.rs b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_2.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6c423b2f838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_2.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+//! The August 2026 draft core edition adding canonical Map arrays.
+
+use vortex_edition::Edition;
+use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
+use vortex_edition::EditionId;
+use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
+
+/// The third August 2026 edition of the `core` family.
+pub const CORE_2026_08_2: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 2);
+
+/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_08_2`] and the components that join the family at it.
+pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
+    edition: Edition {
+        id: CORE_2026_08_2,
+        min_vortex_version: None,
+    },
+    added: &[EditionMember::array(&"vortex.map")],
+};
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_07.rs b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_3.rs
similarity index 54%
rename from vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_07.rs
rename to vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_3.rs
index b5f0664a24d..20c3e092b77 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_07.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/core/v2026_08_3.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,24 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The `core` edition adding stable components released through July 2026.
+//! The August 2026 draft core edition adding Variant arrays and UUID extension dtypes.
 
 use vortex_edition::Edition;
 use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
 use vortex_edition::EditionId;
 use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
 
-/// The July 2026 edition of the `core` family.
-pub const CORE_2026_07_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 7, 0);
+/// The fourth August 2026 edition of the `core` family.
+pub const CORE_2026_08_3: EditionId = EditionId::new("core", 2026, 8, 3);
 
-/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_07_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
+/// The declaration of [`CORE_2026_08_3`] and the components that join the family at it.
 pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
     edition: Edition {
-        id: CORE_2026_07_0,
-        min_vortex_version: Some("0.65.0"),
+        id: CORE_2026_08_3,
+        min_vortex_version: None,
     },
     added: &[
+        EditionMember::array(&"vortex.parquet.variant"),
         EditionMember::array(&"vortex.variant"),
         EditionMember::dtype(&"vortex.uuid"),
     ],
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/mod.rs b/vortex/src/editions/mod.rs
index 2837762e8ff..a6dd8ee7fe9 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/mod.rs
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@
 //! its declared members, so an empty set permits no components of that kind.
 //!
 //! The default file writer resolves the session's enabled editions at write time. The
-//! facade enables the newest frozen `core` edition, [`crate::editions::CORE_2026_08`], and
-//! additionally enables the latest unstable edition when the `unstable_encodings` feature is
+//! facade enables the newest frozen `core` edition, [`crate::editions::CORE_2026_08_1`], and
+//! additionally enables the latest preview edition when the `unstable_encodings` feature is
 //! selected.
 
 pub mod core;
+pub mod preview;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
-pub mod unstable;
 
 pub use vortex_edition::ComponentKind;
 pub use vortex_edition::Edition;
@@ -38,31 +38,35 @@ use vortex_session::VortexSession;
 pub use self::core::CORE_2025_05_0;
 pub use self::core::CORE_2025_06_0;
 pub use self::core::CORE_2025_10_0;
-pub use self::core::CORE_2026_07_0;
-pub use self::core::CORE_2026_08;
-pub use self::unstable::UNSTABLE_2025_05_0;
-pub use self::unstable::UNSTABLE_2026_02_0;
-pub use self::unstable::UNSTABLE_2026_04_0;
-pub use self::unstable::UNSTABLE_2026_06_0;
+pub use self::core::CORE_2026_08_0;
+pub use self::core::CORE_2026_08_1;
+pub use self::core::CORE_2026_08_2;
+pub use self::core::CORE_2026_08_3;
+pub use self::preview::PREVIEW_2025_05_0;
+pub use self::preview::PREVIEW_2026_02_0;
+pub use self::preview::PREVIEW_2026_04_0;
+pub use self::preview::PREVIEW_2026_06_0;
 
 /// The `core` edition enabled for writing by the default Vortex session.
-pub const DEFAULT_CORE_EDITION: EditionId = CORE_2026_08;
+pub const DEFAULT_CORE_EDITION: EditionId = CORE_2026_08_1;
 
-/// The `unstable` edition enabled for writing by the default Vortex session when the
+/// The `preview` edition enabled for writing by the default Vortex session when the
 /// `unstable_encodings` feature is selected.
-pub const DEFAULT_UNSTABLE_EDITION: EditionId = UNSTABLE_2026_06_0;
+pub const DEFAULT_PREVIEW_EDITION: EditionId = PREVIEW_2026_06_0;
 
 /// The first-party Vortex edition declarations.
 pub static EDITION_DECLARATIONS: &[&EditionDeclaration] = &[
     &core::v2025_05::DECLARATION,
     &core::v2025_06::DECLARATION,
     &core::v2025_10::DECLARATION,
-    &core::v2026_07::DECLARATION,
-    &core::v2026_08::DECLARATION,
-    &unstable::v2025_05::DECLARATION,
-    &unstable::v2026_02::DECLARATION,
-    &unstable::v2026_04::DECLARATION,
-    &unstable::v2026_06::DECLARATION,
+    &core::v2026_08::DECLARATION_0,
+    &core::v2026_08::DECLARATION_1,
+    &core::v2026_08_2::DECLARATION,
+    &core::v2026_08_3::DECLARATION,
+    &preview::v2025_05::DECLARATION,
+    &preview::v2026_02::DECLARATION,
+    &preview::v2026_04::DECLARATION,
+    &preview::v2026_06::DECLARATION,
 ];
 
 /// Register the Vortex edition declarations with the session's [`EditionSession`].
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ pub fn register_default_editions(session: &VortexSession) {
 
 /// Enable the default Vortex editions for writing.
 ///
-/// This selects the newest frozen `core` edition and, when configured, the newest unstable
+/// This selects the newest frozen `core` edition and, when configured, the newest preview
 /// edition. All declarations must have been registered first with
 /// [`register_default_editions`].
 pub fn enable_default_editions(session: &VortexSession) {
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ pub fn enable_default_editions(session: &VortexSession) {
 
     #[cfg(feature = "unstable_encodings")]
     session
-        .enable_edition(DEFAULT_UNSTABLE_EDITION)
+        .enable_edition(DEFAULT_PREVIEW_EDITION)
         .map_err(|e| vortex_err!("{e}"))
-        .vortex_expect("default unstable edition is registered");
+        .vortex_expect("default preview edition is registered");
 }
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/mod.rs b/vortex/src/editions/preview/mod.rs
similarity index 57%
rename from vortex/src/editions/unstable/mod.rs
rename to vortex/src/editions/preview/mod.rs
index 298e262d727..cba3ba1dc6c 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/preview/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The `unstable` edition family: opt-in components without a frozen compatibility guarantee.
+//! The `preview` edition family: opt-in components without a frozen compatibility guarantee.
 //!
 //! One module per draft edition, each declaring the components that join the family at it.
 //! Members of earlier editions are inherited and never restated.
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ pub mod v2026_02;
 pub mod v2026_04;
 pub mod v2026_06;
 
-pub use v2025_05::UNSTABLE_2025_05_0;
-pub use v2026_02::UNSTABLE_2026_02_0;
-pub use v2026_04::UNSTABLE_2026_04_0;
-pub use v2026_06::UNSTABLE_2026_06_0;
+pub use v2025_05::PREVIEW_2025_05_0;
+pub use v2026_02::PREVIEW_2026_02_0;
+pub use v2026_04::PREVIEW_2026_04_0;
+pub use v2026_06::PREVIEW_2026_06_0;
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2025_05.rs b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2025_05.rs
similarity index 58%
rename from vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2025_05.rs
rename to vortex/src/editions/preview/v2025_05.rs
index 0cbae6cc56b..818ec96b15a 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2025_05.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2025_05.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The May 2025 `unstable` encoding cohort.
+//! The May 2025 `preview` encoding cohort.
 
 use vortex_edition::Edition;
 use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
 use vortex_edition::EditionId;
 use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
 
-/// The May 2025 draft edition of the `unstable` family.
-pub const UNSTABLE_2025_05_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("unstable", 2025, 5, 0);
+/// The May 2025 draft edition of the `preview` family.
+pub const PREVIEW_2025_05_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("preview", 2025, 5, 0);
 
-/// The declaration of [`UNSTABLE_2025_05_0`] and the encodings that join the family at it.
+/// The declaration of [`PREVIEW_2025_05_0`] and the encodings that join the family at it.
 pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
     edition: Edition {
-        id: UNSTABLE_2025_05_0,
+        id: PREVIEW_2025_05_0,
         min_vortex_version: None,
     },
     added: &[EditionMember::array(&"fastlanes.delta")],
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_02.rs b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_02.rs
similarity index 57%
rename from vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_02.rs
rename to vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_02.rs
index 28930435885..691e96c1850 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_02.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_02.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The February 2026 `unstable` encoding cohort.
+//! The February 2026 `preview` encoding cohort.
 
 use vortex_edition::Edition;
 use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
 use vortex_edition::EditionId;
 use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
 
-/// The February 2026 draft edition of the `unstable` family.
-pub const UNSTABLE_2026_02_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("unstable", 2026, 2, 0);
+/// The February 2026 draft edition of the `preview` family.
+pub const PREVIEW_2026_02_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("preview", 2026, 2, 0);
 
-/// The declaration of [`UNSTABLE_2026_02_0`] and the encodings that join the family at it.
+/// The declaration of [`PREVIEW_2026_02_0`] and the encodings that join the family at it.
 pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
     edition: Edition {
-        id: UNSTABLE_2026_02_0,
+        id: PREVIEW_2026_02_0,
         min_vortex_version: None,
     },
     added: &[EditionMember::array(&"vortex.zstd_buffers")],
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_04.rs b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_04.rs
similarity index 68%
rename from vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_04.rs
rename to vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_04.rs
index bbce4a890e3..4d1a5ede4b8 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_04.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_04.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,23 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
 
-//! The April 2026 `unstable` component cohort.
+//! The April 2026 `preview` component cohort.
 
 use vortex_edition::Edition;
 use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
 use vortex_edition::EditionId;
 use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
 
-/// The April 2026 draft edition of the `unstable` family.
-pub const UNSTABLE_2026_04_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("unstable", 2026, 4, 0);
+/// The April 2026 draft edition of the `preview` family.
+pub const PREVIEW_2026_04_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("preview", 2026, 4, 0);
 
-/// The declaration of [`UNSTABLE_2026_04_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
+/// The declaration of [`PREVIEW_2026_04_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
 pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
     edition: Edition {
-        id: UNSTABLE_2026_04_0,
+        id: PREVIEW_2026_04_0,
         min_vortex_version: None,
     },
     added: &[
-        EditionMember::array(&"vortex.parquet.variant"),
         EditionMember::array(&"vortex.patched"),
         EditionMember::array(&"vortex.tensor.cosine_similarity"),
         EditionMember::array(&"vortex.tensor.inner_product"),
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_06.rs b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_06.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fee5ee4da4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/preview/v2026_06.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+//! The June 2026 `preview` component cohort.
+
+use vortex_edition::Edition;
+use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
+use vortex_edition::EditionId;
+use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
+
+/// The June 2026 draft edition of the `preview` family.
+pub const PREVIEW_2026_06_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("preview", 2026, 6, 0);
+
+/// The declaration of [`PREVIEW_2026_06_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
+pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
+    edition: Edition {
+        id: PREVIEW_2026_06_0,
+        min_vortex_version: None,
+    },
+    added: &[EditionMember::layout(&"vortex.list")],
+};
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/tests.rs b/vortex/src/editions/tests.rs
index 9167683ec1b..4ba621baf7a 100644
--- a/vortex/src/editions/tests.rs
+++ b/vortex/src/editions/tests.rs
@@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ use vortex_session::registry::Id;
 use vortex_utils::aliases::hash_set::HashSet;
 
 use super::CORE_2025_05_0;
-use super::CORE_2026_07_0;
-use super::CORE_2026_08;
+use super::CORE_2026_08_0;
+use super::CORE_2026_08_1;
+use super::CORE_2026_08_2;
+use super::CORE_2026_08_3;
 use super::DEFAULT_CORE_EDITION;
-use super::DEFAULT_UNSTABLE_EDITION;
+use super::DEFAULT_PREVIEW_EDITION;
 use super::EDITION_DECLARATIONS;
-use super::UNSTABLE_2026_06_0;
+use super::PREVIEW_2026_06_0;
 
 fn session() -> Result<EditionSession, EditionError> {
     let session = EditionSession::empty();
@@ -72,9 +74,9 @@ fn every_declared_edition_validates() -> Result<(), EditionError> {
 /// way it may change is by declaring a *new* edition, so a failure here means a frozen
 /// declaration was edited.
 #[test]
-fn core_2026_07_encoding_set_is_pinned() {
+fn core_2026_08_1_encoding_set_is_pinned() {
     let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
-    let encodings = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_07_0, ComponentKind::Array);
+    let encodings = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array);
     let ids: Vec<&str> = encodings
         .iter()
         .map(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str())
@@ -102,6 +104,7 @@ fn core_2026_07_encoding_set_is_pinned() {
             "vortex.listview",
             "vortex.masked",
             "vortex.null",
+            "vortex.onpair",
             "vortex.pco",
             "vortex.primitive",
             "vortex.runend",
@@ -110,7 +113,6 @@ fn core_2026_07_encoding_set_is_pinned() {
             "vortex.struct",
             "vortex.varbin",
             "vortex.varbinview",
-            "vortex.variant",
             "vortex.zigzag",
             "vortex.zstd",
         ]
@@ -118,21 +120,71 @@ fn core_2026_07_encoding_set_is_pinned() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn core_2026_07_dtype_set_is_pinned() {
+fn core_2026_08_1_dtype_set_is_pinned() {
     let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
-    let dtypes = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_07_0, ComponentKind::DType);
+    let dtypes = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::DType);
     let ids: Vec<&str> = dtypes
         .iter()
         .map(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str())
         .collect();
-    assert_eq!(
-        ids,
-        [
-            "vortex.date",
-            "vortex.time",
-            "vortex.timestamp",
-            "vortex.uuid",
-        ]
+    assert_eq!(ids, ["vortex.date", "vortex.time", "vortex.timestamp"]);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn core_2026_08_2_is_draft() {
+    let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .find(&CORE_2026_08_2)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("{CORE_2026_08_2} is not registered"))
+            .is_draft()
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_2, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.map")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .all(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() != "vortex.map")
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn core_2026_08_3_adds_variants() {
+    let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .find(&CORE_2026_08_3)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("{CORE_2026_08_3} is not registered"))
+            .is_draft()
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_3, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.variant")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_3, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.parquet.variant")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_2, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .all(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() != "vortex.parquet.variant")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_3, ComponentKind::DType)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.uuid")
     );
 }
 
@@ -140,14 +192,14 @@ fn core_2026_07_dtype_set_is_pinned() {
 fn encodings_in_editions_unions_families() {
     let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
     let core_only: Vec<_> = session
-        .components_in(&CORE_2026_07_0, ComponentKind::Array)
+        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array)
         .into_iter()
         .map(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id)
         .collect();
     let mut both = core_only.clone();
     both.extend(
         session
-            .components_in(&UNSTABLE_2026_06_0, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .components_in(&PREVIEW_2026_06_0, ComponentKind::Array)
             .into_iter()
             .map(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id),
     );
@@ -156,7 +208,7 @@ fn encodings_in_editions_unions_families() {
 
     assert!(both.len() > core_only.len());
     assert!(both.iter().any(|id| id.as_str() == "fastlanes.delta"));
-    assert!(both.iter().any(|id| id.as_str() == "vortex.onpair"));
+    assert!(both.iter().any(|id| id.as_str() == "vortex.zstd_buffers"));
     assert!(core_only.iter().all(|id| both.contains(id)));
 }
 
@@ -164,7 +216,7 @@ fn encodings_in_editions_unions_families() {
 fn earlier_editions_are_subsets() {
     let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
     let first = session.components_in(&CORE_2025_05_0, ComponentKind::Array);
-    let latest = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_08, ComponentKind::Array);
+    let latest = session.components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array);
     assert!(first.iter().all(|inclusion| {
         latest
             .iter()
@@ -173,6 +225,48 @@ fn earlier_editions_are_subsets() {
     assert!(first.len() < latest.len());
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn core_2026_08_editions_add_onpair_before_map() {
+    let session = session().unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("registering editions: {e}"));
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_0, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .all(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() != "vortex.onpair")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_0, ComponentKind::Layout)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.zoned")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_0, ComponentKind::Aggregate)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.min")
+    );
+
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.onpair")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .all(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() != "vortex.map")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        session
+            .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_2, ComponentKind::Array)
+            .iter()
+            .any(|inclusion| inclusion.component_id.as_str() == "vortex.map")
+    );
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn default_session_enables_the_write_editions() {
     use crate::VortexSessionDefault;
@@ -182,9 +276,9 @@ fn default_session_enables_the_write_editions() {
     assert!(enabled.contains(&DEFAULT_CORE_EDITION));
 
     #[cfg(feature = "unstable_encodings")]
-    assert!(enabled.contains(&DEFAULT_UNSTABLE_EDITION));
+    assert!(enabled.contains(&DEFAULT_PREVIEW_EDITION));
     #[cfg(not(feature = "unstable_encodings"))]
-    assert!(!enabled.contains(&DEFAULT_UNSTABLE_EDITION));
+    assert!(!enabled.contains(&DEFAULT_PREVIEW_EDITION));
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -197,7 +291,7 @@ fn core_edition_ids_are_registered_array_encodings() {
     let registry = session.arrays().registry().clone();
     for inclusion in session
         .editions()
-        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08, ComponentKind::Array)
+        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Array)
     {
         assert!(
             registry.contains_key(&inclusion.component_id),
@@ -217,7 +311,7 @@ fn core_dtype_ids_are_registered_extension_dtypes() {
     let registry = session.dtypes().registry().clone();
     for inclusion in session
         .editions()
-        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08, ComponentKind::DType)
+        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::DType)
     {
         assert!(
             registry.contains_key(&inclusion.component_id),
@@ -238,7 +332,7 @@ fn core_aggregate_ids_are_registered_aggregate_fns() {
     let session = VortexSession::default();
     let declared = session
         .editions()
-        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08, ComponentKind::Aggregate);
+        .components_in(&CORE_2026_08_1, ComponentKind::Aggregate);
     assert!(
         declared
             .iter()
diff --git a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_06.rs b/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_06.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index fe4915dfa70..00000000000
--- a/vortex/src/editions/unstable/v2026_06.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
-
-//! The June 2026 `unstable` component cohort.
-
-use vortex_edition::Edition;
-use vortex_edition::EditionDeclaration;
-use vortex_edition::EditionId;
-use vortex_edition::EditionMember;
-
-/// The June 2026 draft edition of the `unstable` family.
-pub const UNSTABLE_2026_06_0: EditionId = EditionId::new("unstable", 2026, 6, 0);
-
-/// The declaration of [`UNSTABLE_2026_06_0`] and the components that join the family at it.
-pub static DECLARATION: EditionDeclaration = EditionDeclaration {
-    edition: Edition {
-        id: UNSTABLE_2026_06_0,
-        min_vortex_version: None,
-    },
-    added: &[
-        EditionMember::array(&"vortex.onpair"),
-        EditionMember::layout(&"vortex.list"),
-    ],
-};