Last updated 13 August 2026.
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.
Work on this much-anticipated update is now more or less complete. In May 2026, a bulletin was published by ISO/TC 176/SC 2 (the ISO subcommittee responsible for developing the ISO 9001 standard) stating:
"Following the resolution of comments received on ISO/DIS 9001, the revision of ISO 9001 has progressed to the next stage. The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) has now been released to ISO/TC 176/SC 2 members for ballot. The ISO/FDIS 9001 ballot will close on 9 July 2026."
Another bulletin followed in early August, stating:
"ISO/FDIS 9001 has been approved with overwhelming international support. The sixth edition of ISO 9001 is scheduled for publication on 16 September 2026."
ISO 9001:2026 has not yet been formally rolled out, but we now have a firm date for it: Wednesday 16 September 2026. If you're in charge of maintaining your organisation's ISO certification, you may well be thinking ahead and wondering what changes might lie ahead.
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 weeks and months to come.
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 on 7 August 2026:
"The sixth edition of ISO 9001 is scheduled for publication on 16 September 2026."
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?
The release of the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) in May 2026 gave us a reasonably clear idea of the key differences between ISO 9001:2015 and the updated standard. In particular, ISO 9001:2026 will put greater emphasis on:
- Leadership accountability
- Ethical behaviour
- Fostering a culture of quality throughout the whole organisation
- Sustainability
- Continual improvement
- Opportunities (pursuing success instead of merely avoiding failure)
- Resilience and future-readiness
Rest assured that, when ISO 9001:2026 rolls out, your certification body will give you all the information and assistance 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.
