diff --git a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_2026.py b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_2026.py
index 5e20568ad2d32..7a5e4d547c364 100644
--- a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_2026.py
+++ b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_2026.py
@@ -39,9 +39,16 @@
 numWFIB.extend([38234.0]) #2026D85
 numWFIB.extend([38634.0]) #2026D86
 numWFIB.extend([39034.0]) #2026D87
-numWFIB.extend([39434.0,39434.5,39434.501,39434.502]) #2026D88, pixelTrackingOnly, Patatrack local reconstruction on CPU, Patatrack local reconstruction on GPU
+numWFIB.extend([39434.0,39434.5,39434.501,39434.502,39434.911]) #2026D88, pixelTrackingOnly, Patatrack local reconstruction on CPU, Patatrack local reconstruction on GPU, DD4hep XML
+numWFIB.extend([39634.99,39634.999]) #2026D88 premixing combined stage1+stage2 (ttbar+PU200, ttbar+PU50 for PR test)
+numWFIB.extend([39434.21,39634.21,39634.9921]) #2026D88 prodlike, prodlike PU, prodlike premix stage1+stage2
 numWFIB.extend([39834.0]) #2026D89
 numWFIB.extend([40234.0]) #2026D90
 
+#additional sample for short matrix
+#CloseByPGun
+numWFIB.extend([39496.0]) #CE_E_Front_120um D88
+numWFIB.extend([39500.0]) #CE_H_Coarse_Scint D88
+
 for numWF in numWFIB:
     workflows[numWF] = _upgrade_workflows[numWF]
diff --git a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_steps.py b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_steps.py
index 1bbd079ee3fde..56ba23f564cd4 100644
--- a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_steps.py
+++ b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/python/relval_steps.py
@@ -3464,6 +3464,7 @@ def gen2021HiMix(fragment,howMuch):
 defaultDataSets['2026D49']='CMSSW_12_0_0_pre4-113X_mcRun4_realistic_v7_2026D49noPU-v'
 defaultDataSets['2026D76']='CMSSW_12_0_0_pre4-113X_mcRun4_realistic_v7_2026D76noPU-v'
 defaultDataSets['2026D77']='CMSSW_12_1_0_pre2-113X_mcRun4_realistic_v7_2026D77noPU-v'
+#defaultDataSets['2026D88']='CMSSW_12_2_0_pre3-122X_mcRun4_realistic_v4_2026D88noPU-v1'
 
 puDataSets = {}
 for key, value in defaultDataSets.items(): puDataSets[key+'PU'] = value
diff --git a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/scripts/runTheMatrix.py b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/scripts/runTheMatrix.py
index 185164d43e20a..4664299090288 100755
--- a/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/scripts/runTheMatrix.py
+++ b/Configuration/PyReleaseValidation/scripts/runTheMatrix.py
@@ -97,7 +97,11 @@ def runSelected(opt):
                      28234.0, #2026D60 (exercise HF nose)
                      35034.0, #2026D77 ttbar (2021 new baseline)
                      35234.999, #2026D77 ttbar premixing stage1+stage2, PU50
-                     38634.0, #2026D86 ttbar
+                     38634.0, #2026D86 ttbar (to be removed when migration to D88 is complete)
+                     39434.0, #2026D88 ttbar
+                     #39634.999, #2026D88 ttbar premixing stage1+stage2, PU50 (to disable when PU is available)
+                     39496.0, #CE_E_Front_120um D88
+                     39500.0, #CE_H_Coarse_Scint D88 
                      25202.0, #2016 ttbar UP15 PU
                      250202.181, #2018 ttbar stage1 + stage2 premix
                      ],