A new version of the ISO 9001 standard is coming soon. ISO 9001:2026 is scheduled to roll out in September 2026, at which point it will replace ISO 9001:2015 as the current version of ISO 9001.
It may seem odd to be talking about 2026 when we're not yet a third of the way through 2025, but work on this much-anticipated update is already well underway. In the first week of April 2025, experts from more than 40 different nations convened in Paris to move things forward. A progress report issued by ISO/TC 176/SC 2 (the ISO subcommittee that's responsible for the development of the ISO 9001 standard) stated:
"The meeting focused on addressing the comments submitted by more than 40 different countries on key topics such as operation and control, infrastructure, organisational knowledge, business continuity, ethics, and more."
The bulletin goes on to stress that this revision is still very much a work in progress, but if you're in charge of maintaining your organisation's ISO certification, you may well be thinking ahead and wondering what changes the year 2026 might bring.
Because we're still in the early stages of the update process, solid information is thin on the ground right now. Read on for a roundup of what we know so far – and be sure to bookmark this page, because we'll be updating it periodically over the next year and a half.
SKIP TO HEADING:
- What is ISO 9001?
- When will ISO 9001:2026 be published?
- What does this mean for my existing certification?
- What will be different in ISO 9001:2026?
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is the global standard for quality management systems. A company that has implemented a quality management system (QMS) can obtain ISO 9001 certification through an accredited certification body if their QMS is compliant with the ISO 9001 standard.
Securing ISO 9001 certification is a great way to demonstrate your organisation's commitment to customer satisfaction and right-first-time quality.
When will ISO 9001:2026 be published?
According to an ISO/TC 176/SC 2 bulletin published in October 2024:
"The publication of the revised ISO 9001 is now planned for September 2026."
At some point before the revision is finalised, a draft international standard (DIS) will be released for public comment. This should give us an initial picture of the changes that are coming our way before the update process moves into its final stages.
What does this mean for my existing ISO 9001 certification?
If your organisation is certified to the current version of the standard (ISO 9001:2015) it is likely that your existing certification will remain valid for a period of time after the revision rolls out in September 2026.
When ISO 9001:2015 was published, it replaced the previous version of the standard, namely ISO 9001:2008 – but organisations were then given three whole years to transition to ISO 9001:2015. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it seems reasonable to expect a similar 'grace period' this time around.
What will be different in the new version of ISO 9001?
It's far too early to answer that question with any certainty. What we have been told is that the meeting which took place in Paris on 31 March – 4 April was spent "working to ensure that the world's best-known standard for quality management systems remains aligned with the evolving needs of organisations and addresses today's challenges". This gives us a rough idea of what the revision is aiming to achieve; much has changed since 2015, and it's important for the ISO 9001 standard to reflect how organisations actually work in the present day.
Looking ahead, the "next major milestone" in the update process will be the release of the draft international standard (DIS). We don't yet know exactly when to expect the DIS, but it is sure to arrive well in advance of the planned publication date so as to give the global community a chance to have their say.
Rest assured that, when ISO 9001:2026 nears its publication date, your certification body will provide all the information you need to accomplish a smooth and timely transition to the new standard. If you're certified with ISO Accelerator, we will provide total support to make sure your certification remains valid going forward.
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