The Wait is Over: SQL Server 2016 General Availability and Tools

SQL Server 2016 is generally available today. The release blog provides more details. The full featured Developer Edition is free. This can be downloaded. 
  

The generally available release of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is annouced today. It provides a means for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server. SSMS combines a broad group of graphical tools with a number of rich script editor. It features improved compatibility with previous versions of SQL Server, a stand-alone web installer, and toast notifications within SSMS when new releases become available.

The SQL Server 2016 RTM build is 13.0.1601.5. SSMS 2016 has a build number of 13.0.15000.23.

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio 2015 is now generally available.

SSDT can be  downloaded for free to build SQL Server relational databases, Azure SQL databases, Integration Services packages, Analysis Services data models, and Reporting Services reports.

The SQL Server 2016 free e-book can be downloaded. It  covers

• Mission-Critical Performance: Chapters cover faster queries, better security, higher availability, and the improved database engine.
• Deeper Insights Across Data: Chapters cover the broader data access, increased analytics, and better reporting in SQL Server 2016.
• Hyperscale Cloud: Chapters cover the improvements in Azure SQL Database and how to expand your options with SQL Data Warehouse.