Benchmark Almanac

MRCR v2

Muse Spark 1.3 98.5% leads since September 2026
In use

Multi-round coreference: retrieve the n-th of several similar requests hidden in a long synthetic conversation, up to 1M tokens.

Google's internal 8-needle MRCR, reported as up to 128K average and 1M pointwise since the Gemini 2.5 GA cards. Google open-sourced it in eval_hub on February 18th, 2026. OpenAI's dataset is a separate test (openai-mrcr).

Made by
Google DeepMind
Released
June 2025
Kind
Finding facts in long inputs
Level
Everyday
Scored
Checked automatically
Answers
Short answer
Tasks
All public
Strongest model tested
Gemini 3.7 Flash #25 on the capability index
Last in a launch post
October 2026
Last model added
October 2026

In the authors’ words

We introduce Michelangelo: a minimal, synthetic, and unleaked long-context reasoning evaluation for large language models which is also easy to automatically score. This evaluation is derived via a novel, unifying framework for evaluations over arbitrarily long contexts which measure the model's ability to do more than retrieve a single piece of information from its context. The central idea of the Latent Structure Queries framework (LSQ) is to construct tasks which require a model to “chisel away” the irrelevant information in the context, revealing a latent structure in the context. To verify a model's understanding of this latent structure, we query the model for details of the structure. Using LSQ, we produce three diagnostic long-context evaluations across code and natural-language domains intended to provide a stronger signal of long-context language model capabilities. We perform evaluations on several state-of-the-art models and demonstrate both that a) the proposed evaluations are high-signal and b) that there is significant room for improvement in synthesizing long-context information.

Abstract of Michelangelo: Long Context Evaluations Beyond Haystacks via Latent Structure Queries (arXiv:2409.12640, CC0)
30
Models scored in lab cards
29
Launch posts list it, from 8 labs
18
System cards report it, from 6 labs

Muse Spark 1.3 leads with 98.5%

Best score per model as labs report them in their own cards. Labs pick their own settings, so these compare less cleanly than independent runs.

  1. 1 Muse Spark 1.3 98.5%
  2. 2 Gemini 3.7 Flash 97%
  3. 3 Qwen 3.8 Max 92.9%
  4. 4 Gemini 3.6 Flash 91.8%
  5. 5 Qwen3.7-Plus 91.7%
  6. 6 Qwen3.7-Max 90.4%
  7. 7 Gemini 3.1 Pro 84.9%
  8. 8 DeepSeek-V4-Pro 83.5%
  9. 9 Ling-2.6-1T 80.4%
  10. 10 DeepSeek-V4-Flash 78.7%
  11. 11 Gemini 3.5 Flash 77.3%
  12. 12 Gemini 3 Pro 77%
  13. 13 Mercury 3 75.5%
  14. 14 Gemini 2.5 Flash Jun 2025 74%
  15. 15 Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite 72.2%
  16. 16 Gemini 3 Flash 67.2%
  17. 17 Gemma 4 31B IT 66.4%
  18. 18 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite 60.1%
  19. 19 Gemini 2.5 Pro Jun 2025 58%
  20. 20 Muse Spark 1.1 54.1%
  21. 21 Seed2.0 Pro 54%
  22. 22 Gemini 2.5 Flash Sep 2025 52.4%
  23. 23 MiMo-V2-Flash 45.7%
  24. 24 Gemma 4 26B A4B 44.1%
  25. 25 Gemma 4 12B 43.4%
  26. 26 DiffusionGemma 26B A4B 32%
  27. 27 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Jun 2025 30.6%
  28. 28 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Sep 2025 25.6%
  29. 29 Gemma 4 E4B 25.4%
  30. 30 Gemma 4 E2B 19.1%

Source: Labs’ model cards

#ModelScoreSettingDateSource
1 Muse Spark 1.3 98.5% Sep 2026 Lab model card
2 Gemini 3.7 Flash 97% Aug 2026 Lab model card
3 Qwen 3.8 Max 92.9% Aug 2026 Lab model card
4 Gemini 3.6 Flash 91.8% Jul 2026 Lab model card
5 Qwen3.7-Plus 91.7% Jun 2026 Lab model card
6 Qwen3.7-Max 90.4% May 2026 Lab model card
7 Gemini 3.1 Pro 84.9% Feb 2026 Lab model card
8 DeepSeek-V4-Pro 83.5% Apr 2026 Lab model card
9 Ling-2.6-1T 80.4% Apr 2026 Lab model card
10 DeepSeek-V4-Flash 78.7% Apr 2026 Lab model card
11 Gemini 3.5 Flash 77.3% May 2026 Lab model card
12 Gemini 3 Pro 77% Nov 2025 Lab model card
13 Mercury 3 75.5% Oct 2026 Lab model card
14 Gemini 2.5 Flash Jun 2025 74% Jun 2025 Lab model card
15 Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite 72.2% Jul 2026 Lab model card
16 Gemini 3 Flash 67.2% Dec 2025 Lab model card
17 Gemma 4 31B IT 66.4% Apr 2026 Lab model card
18 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite 60.1% Mar 2026 Lab model card
19 Gemini 2.5 Pro Jun 2025 58% Jun 2025 Lab model card
20 Muse Spark 1.1 54.1% Jul 2026 Lab model card
21 Seed2.0 Pro 54% Feb 2026 Lab model card
22 Gemini 2.5 Flash Sep 2025 52.4% Sep 2025 Lab model card
23 MiMo-V2-Flash 45.7% Dec 2025 Lab model card
24 Gemma 4 26B A4B 44.1% Apr 2026 Lab model card
25 Gemma 4 12B 43.4% Jun 2026 Lab model card
26 DiffusionGemma 26B A4B 32% Jun 2026 Lab model card
27 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Jun 2025 30.6% Jun 2025 Lab model card
28 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Sep 2025 25.6% Sep 2025 Lab model card
29 Gemma 4 E4B 25.4% Apr 2026 Lab model card
30 Gemma 4 E2B 19.1% Apr 2026 Lab model card

9 models have held number one in labs’ own numbers since its release in June 2025

Lab claims count from the day the card came out, independent runs from the model’s release.

Google DeepMind Qwen Meta
Lab claims Passed 85% in May 2026, by Qwen3.7-Max

Source: Labs’ model cards

Qwen’s own number for Qwen3.7-Max passed 85% in May 2026

All the scores we have, one dot each, so a model tested at several settings appears more than once.

Reported by the lab in its model card Best so far
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 2025 2026 Near the ceiling (85%) Muse Spark 1.3 Qwen 3.8 Max Gemini 3.1 Pro Gemini 3 Pro Gemini 2.5 Flash 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 2025 2026 Near the ceiling (85%) Muse Spark 1.3 Gemini 3.6 Flash

Source: Labs’ model cards

4 labs put it in a launch post in the last six months

Launch posts from every lab that has listed it, one tick per post. Tall colored ticks include it, and short gray ones leave it out.

Google DeepMind
Xiaomi Corp
ByteDance Seed
DeepSeek
Ant Group
Qwen
Meta
Inception Labs
DateLaunch postScoreAs the post writes it
Oct 19, 2026 Mercury 3 75.5 MRCR v2
Sep 2, 2026 Muse Spark 1.3 98.5 Best of MRCR 256K-512K (Long context) / MRCR 512K-1M (Long context)
Aug 13, 2026 Gemini 3.7 Flash 97 GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average)
Aug 3, 2026 Qwen 3.8 Max 92.9 MRCR v2 256K (8-needle)
Jul 21, 2026 Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite 72.2 Best of GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Jul 21, 2026 Gemini 3.6 Flash 91.8 Best of GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Jun 10, 2026 DiffusionGemma 26B A4B 32 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Jun 3, 2026 Gemma 4 12B 43.4 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Jun 1, 2026 Qwen3.7-Plus 91.7 MRCR-v2 128k
May 20, 2026 Qwen3.7-Max 90.4 MRCR-v2 128k
May 19, 2026 Gemini 3.5 Flash 77.3 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Apr 29, 2026 Ling-2.6-1T 80.4 MRCR (16K-256K)
Apr 24, 2026 DeepSeek-V4-Flash 78.7 MRCR 1M (MMR), V4-Flash Max
Apr 24, 2026 DeepSeek-V4-Pro 83.5 MRCR 1M (MMR)
Apr 2, 2026 Gemma 4 E4B 25.4 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Apr 2, 2026 Gemma 4 E2B 19.1 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Apr 2, 2026 Gemma 4 26B A4B 44.1 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Apr 2, 2026 Gemma 4 31B IT 66.4 MRCR v2 8 needle 128k (average)
Mar 3, 2026 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite 60.1 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Feb 19, 2026 Gemini 3.1 Pro 84.9 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Feb 14, 2026 Seed2.0 Pro 54 MRCR v2 (8-needle)
Dec 17, 2025 Gemini 3 Flash 67.2 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Dec 16, 2025 MiMo-V2-Flash 45.7 MRCR
Nov 18, 2025 Gemini 3 Pro 77 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)
Sep 25, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite 25.6 MRCR v2 (8-needle) 128k (average), Thinking (1M pointwise 7.7)
Sep 25, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash 52.4 MRCR v2 (8-needle) 128k (average), model card
Jun 17, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash 74 MRCR v2 128k (average), earlier non-8-needle version (1M pointwise 32)
Jun 17, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite 30.6 MRCR v2 (8-needle) 128k (average), Thinking (1M pointwise 5.40)
Jun 17, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Pro 58 Best of MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) / MRCR v2 (8-needle), 1M (pointwise)

18 system cards report it, from 6 labs

Besides launch posts, we read the system cards, model cards and technical reports labs publish with a release. They report far more, including safety and frontier-risk tests.

DateDocumentScoreAs the document writes itSection
Aug 13, 2026 Gemini 3.7 Flash model card 97 GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.5) Capabilities
Jul 24, 2026 Gemma 4 E4B technical report 25.4 MRCR v2 8-needle, 128k, thinking (Table 5) Capabilities
Jul 24, 2026 Gemma 4 E2B technical report 19.1 MRCR v2 8-needle, 128k, thinking (Table 5) Capabilities
Jul 24, 2026 Gemma 4 31B IT technical report 66.4 MRCR v2 8-needle, 128k, thinking (Table 5) Capabilities
Jul 24, 2026 Gemma 4 26B A4B technical report 44.1 MRCR v2 8-needle, 128k, thinking (Table 5) Capabilities
Jul 21, 2026 Gemini 3.6 Flash model card 91.8 GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.4). 1M (pointwise) = 54.0% Capabilities
Jul 21, 2026 Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite model card 72.2 GDM-MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.4). 1M (pointwise) = 21.3% Capabilities
Jul 9, 2026 Muse Spark 1.1 system card 54.1 MRCR Long Context (1M context window) (Figure 44). MRCR version not named Capabilities
Jun 13, 2026 Ling-2.6-1T technical report 80.4 MRCR(16K-256K), mean over 16K to 256K (Table 5) Capabilities
May 19, 2026 Gemini 3.5 Flash model card 77.3 MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.4). 1M (pointwise) = 26.6% Capabilities
Apr 26, 2026 DeepSeek-V4-Flash technical report 78.7 MRCR 1M (MMR), DeepSeek-V4-Flash Max (Table 7). Figure 9 prints 8-needle MMR by context length Capabilities
Mar 3, 2026 Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite model card 60.1 MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.4). 1M (pointwise) = 12.3% Capabilities
Feb 19, 2026 Gemini 3.1 Pro model card 84.9 MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average) (results table, p.4). 1M (pointwise) = 26.3% Capabilities
Feb 14, 2026 Seed2.0 Pro model card 54 MRCR v2 (8-needle) (Table 3) Capabilities
Jan 6, 2026 MiMo-V2-Flash technical report 45.7 MRCR, 2, 4 and 8 needles, maximum 128K (Table 9) Capabilities
Sep 26, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash model card 52.4 Long context MRCR v2 (8-needle), 128k (average), 1M (pointwise) 16.3 (Table, p.5) Capabilities
Jul 7, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Pro technical report 58 MRCR-V2 (8-needle), <=128K average (Table 3); 1M pointwise = 16.4% Capabilities
Jul 7, 2025 Gemini 2.5 Flash technical report 54.3 MRCR-V2 (8-needle), <=128K average (Table 3); 1M pointwise = 21.0% Capabilities

Versions

More in Long context

All 79 in Long context
  • LongBench v2 In use 503 multiple-choice questions over 8K-2M-word contexts (QA, dialogue, code repos, structured data). Accuracy. Inkling 2 Small 70.6%
  • GraphWalks In use A graph is given as an edge list in long context. The model answers BFS or parent queries, scored by F1. Claude Fable 5 99.96%
  • OpenAI MRCR v2 In use Models read a long synthetic chat that hides 2, 4 or 8 identical writing requests and must reproduce the response to the i-th one. Scored by mean string match ratio per context bin. Gemini 3.7 Flash 89%
  • CL-bench In use Model must learn new knowledge from a supplied long context (rules, procedures, data) and solve tasks. Strict LLM-verified rubrics. GPT-5.4 27.9%
  • AA-LCR 1.1 In use Models answer 100 questions that need reasoning across sets of real documents of about 100K tokens. An LLM equality checker with a fixed system prompt compares each answer with the key. Step 5 Preview 88.3%
  • LOCA-Bench In use Agentic tasks whose environment state is scaled to grow context length while task semantics stay fixed. Success rate versus context length. GPT-5.2 21.3%