ISO 9001:2026: what is changing?

You have an ISO 9001 certificate. Maybe for years. Then you hear: there will be a new version in 2026. Should you do something now? Will your current certificate still be valid?

Good news: you don’t have to panic. ISO 9001:2026 is an update, not a revolution. Your current certificate remains valid. And yes, you get three years to switch. But it’s smart to know what’s changing now - so you’re prepared when the time comes.

In this article you can read what the most important changes are, when you need to take action and what this means for your organisation.

New to ISO 9001? First read our complete guide to ISO 9001 certification for the basics.

What exactly is changing?

The DIS (Draft International Standard) of ISO 9001:2026 was approved on November 20, 2024. The final version will be released in September 2026. It is an evolution of the current standard, not a complete rebuild. You can continue to use your existing system - with a few additions.

Climate change becomes mandatory

This point has been in the standard since 2024, but is now becoming more explicit. You must take climate change into account when determining your organizational context. In concrete terms: think about whether climate is relevant to your company.

Examples:

• A transport company must take into account the CO2 requirements of customers
• A production company with extreme weather that disrupts production
• A trader with customers who set sustainability criteria

You don’t have to write a climate plan if it is not relevant. But you must be able to explain why you are or are not taking it with you.

Quality culture and ethics have a place

New in 2026: top management is responsible for promoting a quality culture and ethical conduct. This is explicitly mentioned in the standard.

What does this mean in practice? You must demonstrate that quality is not just on paper, but lives in your organisation. Consider:

• Employees dare to report problems without consequences
• Mistakes are discussed to learn from them, not to look for blame
• Decisions are transparent and honest

Many organisations already do this, but it is now becoming a formal requirement.

Risks and opportunities are given separate clauses

In ISO 9001:2015, risks and opportunities are together in one clause. They will be split in 2026. Also new: you must not only identify risks and opportunities, but also analyse and evaluate them.

Practical example:

• Risk: important supplier may stop
• Analysis: what is the impact? Do we have alternatives?
• Evaluation: how bad is this risk compared to other risks?

This forces you to set priorities. You do not have to work out every theoretical risk in detail, but you must be able to substantiate which risks really deserve attention.

Digitization is recognised

Remote work, digital measurements, online customer contact - it has been normal for a long time, but was not explicitly included in the standard. That will change in 2026.

New:

• Software for measurements must be validated
• Remote work must be arranged in your quality system
• Digital processes require digital safeguards

If you already work with software validation (think of calibration software or ERP systems), then you are already on the right track. For many organisations this mainly means: documenting what you already do.

Better coordination with other standards

ISO 9001:2026 follows the Harmonized Structure even more strictly. That is the standard structure that all ISO standards use. If you have multiple certificates (for example ISO 9001 and ISO 14001), it becomes easier to combine systems.

You don’t have to maintain two separate systems. Many clauses overlap - and you can simply merge them.

The timeline: when should you take action?

ISO standards always have a transition period. Based on previous transitions (such as ISO 9001:2015), we expect this schedule:

Note: this is an expectation based on previous transitions. The exact dates will only be known when published in 2026.

Good to know. Your current certificate remains valid until the transition period ends. You do not have to take action immediately as soon as the new standard appears.

What does this mean for you?

If you already have ISO 9001:2015

Your certificate remains valid. Your certifier will ensure that you gradually switch to the 2026 version during the regular audits. This usually happens during your recertification (every three years).

What you can do now:

• Check whether climate change is relevant to your organisation
• See whether you have analysed and evaluated risks and opportunities
• Check whether your digital tools are validated

None of this is urgent. But if you tackle this now, you will avoid stress later.

If you don’t have ISO 9001 yet

Certification is still allowed based on ISO 9001:2015. This will remain possible until 2029. If you start in 2025 or 2026, you will simply receive a valid certificate.

Certifiers will guide you through the switch as soon as necessary. You don’t have to wait until 2026 if you want to start now.

If you doubt your current certifier

A change in standards is a good time to evaluate whether you are satisfied. Things that will become important in 2026:

• Does your certifier proactively guide you through the transition?
• Do you receive concrete tips, or is a checklist ticked off?
• Is the collaboration pleasant?

You can always switch, even during your certification cycle. Your current certificate remains valid, and the new certifier will take over your cycle.

Any questions?

This article gives you an overview based on the current DIS. The final text will not be published until September 2026. Details may still be adjusted.

Do you want to know which certifier suits you best - now or when you transition to 2026? View the overview and request free quotes.