ISO 9001 is being revised for the first time since 2015, apart from the recent inclusion of climate change considerations. The new edition, ISO 9001:2026, is currently at the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) stage. The FDIS was released for ballot in May 2026, with voting closing in July, and publication is currently expected in September 2026.
Once published, organisations holding ISO 9001:2015 certification will need to transition to the revised standard during an expected transition period.
In this guide, we explain what is changing in ISO 9001:2026, why the revision is taking place, what it means for organisations already certified to ISO 9001:2015, and the practical steps businesses should take to prepare for the transition.
What Is Happening with ISO 9001 in 2026?
The current version of the world’s most recognised quality management standard is ISO 9001:2015.
Following a formal review process, the International Organization for Standardization agreed that the standard should be revised to reflect how organisations now operate and the challenges businesses face.
The revision has reached the Final Draft International Standard stage, which represents the final draft before publication. The FDIS was released for ballot in May 2026, with voting closing on 9 July 2026.
Publication of the new ISO 9001:2026 standard is currently expected in September 2026.
ISO standards are reviewed periodically to ensure they remain relevant, practical and aligned with changes in business environments, technology and stakeholder expectations.
ISO 9001 Revision Timeline
- 2015: ISO 9001:2015 published
- 2023: Decision taken to revise the standard
- 2025: Draft International Standard stage
- May 2026: Final Draft International Standard released
- 9 July 2026: FDIS ballot closed
- September 2026: Publication of ISO 9001:2026 expected
Why Is ISO 9001 Being Revised?
Business has changed significantly since ISO 9001:2015 was first published.
Organisations now operate in increasingly digital environments. Supply chains have become more complex. Stakeholder expectations continue to develop, while sustainability has become a key consideration for many businesses.
Organisations are also expected to demonstrate stronger leadership, better governance and greater resilience when responding to new business risks.
The ISO 9001 revision 2026 aims to ensure the standard continues to support organisations by reflecting these changes while maintaining the principles that have made ISO 9001 the world’s leading quality management standard.
What Are the Key Changes in ISO 9001:2026?
As the document has not yet been finally published, the following changes are based on the proposed revisions within ISO/FDIS 9001.
Minor editorial changes may still occur before publication. The guidance below provides a high-level summary of the key ISO 9001:2026 changes.
Greater Emphasis on Quality Culture
The revision places greater importance on developing a positive organisational culture that supports quality throughout the business.
Quality should form part of normal business activity rather than rely solely on documented procedures.
What This Means for Businesses
Organisations should ensure quality forms part of everyday decision-making.
Leadership, communication and employee engagement will become increasingly important. Employees should understand how their work affects quality and how their responsibilities support the wider Quality Management System.
A strong quality culture can also help organisations improve consistency, customer satisfaction and business performance.
Ethics and Integrity
The revised standard introduces greater recognition of ethical behaviour and organisational integrity as part of an effective Quality Management System.
This places greater focus on how organisations make decisions and how their values influence business activity.
What This Means for Businesses
Businesses should review governance arrangements, codes of conduct and decision-making processes to ensure ethical considerations are embedded throughout the organisation.
Leadership teams should also consider whether existing policies and controls clearly support ethical behaviour and organisational integrity.
Enhanced Focus on Risks and Opportunities
Risk-based thinking remains central to ISO 9001, but the revised standard provides greater clarity around identifying, assessing and managing risks and opportunities.
There is clearer separation between risks and opportunities and a stronger emphasis on opportunity-based thinking.
What This Means for Businesses
Organisations should review their existing risk management processes and ensure they actively identify opportunities for improvement alongside potential threats.
Businesses should consider opportunity-based thinking and how it aligns with their Quality Management System.
Opportunities could include improving processes, introducing new technology, reducing waste, developing employee skills or improving customer experience.
Climate Change and Organisational Context
Following recent amendments across ISO management system standards, climate change continues to feature within organisational context.
Climate change and sustainability management form an important part of the revised standard.
What This Means for Businesses
Businesses should consider whether climate-related issues are relevant to their organisation, customers, supply chain and wider business environment.
Where climate change or sustainability issues are relevant, organisations should ensure these considerations are reflected within their Quality Management System.
There should be clear evidence that the organisation has considered climate change and sustainability within the context of its management system.
Leadership and Accountability
Leadership responsibilities have been further strengthened, reinforcing the need for senior management to actively support and demonstrate commitment to the Quality Management System.
What This Means for Businesses
Senior leaders should remain actively involved in:
- Reviewing performance
- Setting objectives
- Allocating resources
- Supporting quality improvement
- Reviewing risks and opportunities
- Promoting continual improvement
For some organisations, this may present a challenge and require more structured engagement with senior leaders.
Quality should be supported by leadership rather than being treated solely as the responsibility of a quality manager or compliance team.
Changes to Structure and Terminology
The revised standard includes updated terminology and further alignment with the International Organization for Standardization’s Harmonised Structure used across modern management system standards.
What This Means for Businesses
Most organisations will not need to redesign their management system.
However, documentation and terminology may require review to ensure alignment with the published standard.
Businesses should review these areas once the final ISO 9001:2026 requirements are confirmed.
Is ISO 9001:2026 a Major Change from ISO 9001:2015?
For most organisations, ISO 9001:2026 represents an evolution rather than a complete redesign.
Businesses with a well-maintained Quality Management System should not expect to rebuild everything from scratch.
Instead, the transition is likely to involve:
- Reviewing existing processes
- Identifying gaps against the revised requirements
- Updating documentation where necessary
- Ensuring employees understand the changes
- Implementing new or changed requirements
- Providing evidence of compliance with those requirements
Organisations that regularly review and improve their management systems are likely to find the transition more straightforward than businesses whose systems have become outdated over time.
What Does ISO 9001:2026 Mean for Organisations Already Certified to ISO 9001:2015?
If your organisation is already certified to ISO 9001:2015, your certificate will not become invalid immediately when the new standard is published.
A transition period is expected following publication. Current industry guidance suggests organisations may have up to three years to complete the ISO 9001 transition.
The final transition arrangements are expected to be confirmed once ISO 9001:2026 is officially published.
During this period, organisations should:
- Review their existing Quality Management System.
- Carry out a gap analysis against ISO 9001:2026.
- Update documentation where required.
- Raise awareness with leadership and employees.
- Implement any necessary changes.
- Verify effectiveness through internal audits.
- Complete their transition audit with their certification body.
Starting early will make the transition significantly easier than waiting until the end of the ISO 9001 transition period.
What Should Businesses Do Now to Prepare for ISO 9001:2026?
Although the final standard has not yet been published, there are several practical steps organisations can begin taking now.
1. Understand the Proposed Changes
Keep informed about the revision process and understand the likely direction of the new standard.
This gives your organisation time to consider which areas of the Quality Management System may require attention.
2. Review Your Existing Quality Management System
Identify where your current system already performs well and where improvements may be required.
An effective existing system should provide a strong starting point for the transition.
3. Carry Out a Gap Analysis
Compare your existing management system against the emerging requirements within the FDIS.
An ISO 9001:2026 gap analysis can help identify where existing processes already meet the proposed requirements and where changes may be required.
4. Review Processes and Documentation
Identify policies, procedures and documented information that may need updating once the final standard is published.
Businesses should avoid changing documentation without a clear reason. Updates should support the requirements of the revised standard and improve the effectiveness of the management system.
5. Brief Leadership and Employees
Ensure senior management and key personnel understand the forthcoming changes and their responsibilities.
Leadership awareness will be particularly important due to the stronger focus on quality culture, accountability and opportunity-based thinking.
6. Implement Necessary Improvements
Update your management system in a controlled manner rather than leaving changes until the end of the transition period.
Organisations should also ensure they can evidence compliance with new or changed requirements.
7. Use Internal Audits to Check Readiness
Internal audits provide valuable assurance that new requirements have been successfully embedded throughout the organisation.
They also give businesses an opportunity to identify issues before completing the formal ISO 9001 transition.
8. Plan Your Certification Transition
Work with your certification body and implementation partner to schedule your transition audit well before the end of the transition period.
There is no need to panic or change everything immediately. However, organisations should avoid leaving transition planning until the final stages of the permitted period.
How Quadra Can Support Your ISO 9001:2026 Transition
Transitioning to a revised ISO standard does not need to be complicated.
Quadra supports organisations throughout every stage of the ISO 9001:2026 transition, including:
- ISO 9001:2026 gap analysis
- Transition planning
- Management system updates
- Internal auditing
- Staff awareness and training
- Senior management awareness and training
- Ongoing consultancy support
- Integrated Management System reviews
- Performance of management reviews
Our practical approach helps organisations implement the new requirements efficiently while maintaining control of their management systems and minimising disruption to day-to-day operations.
Quadra’s consultancy team also has experience assisting clients with previous updates to ISO 9001, including ISO 9001:1994, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015.
That experience matters. Our team understands the practical work involved in moving from one version of ISO 9001 to another and can help organisations protect their certification throughout the transition.
ISO 9001:2026 FAQs
When Will ISO 9001:2026 Be Published?
ISO 9001:2026 is currently expected to be published on 16 September 2026.
What Is the Latest Version of ISO 9001?
The current published standard is ISO 9001:2015.
ISO 9001:2026 is currently at the Final Draft International Standard stage.
What Are the Main Changes in ISO 9001:2026?
The proposed revision places greater emphasis on:
- Quality culture
- Leadership
- Ethics and integrity
- Organisational resilience
- Climate considerations
- Risk management
- Opportunity management
- Updated terminology within the Harmonised Structure
The final requirements will be confirmed when ISO 9001:2026 is officially published.
How Long Will Businesses Have to Transition to ISO 9001:2026?
A transition period is expected following publication.
Current industry guidance anticipates a transition period of up to three years, although the final arrangements will be confirmed after publication.
Do I Need to Start Preparing for ISO 9001:2026 Now?
Yes.
While organisations should wait for the final published standard before completing detailed implementation work, now is the ideal time to understand the proposed changes, review your existing Quality Management System and begin planning your transition.
Conclusion
The publication of ISO 9001:2026 marks the first major revision to the world’s leading quality management standard in over a decade.
The update is expected to build upon the strong foundations of ISO 9001:2015 rather than replace them entirely. Organisations should therefore begin preparing now to support a smooth transition.
By understanding the proposed changes, reviewing existing systems and planning ahead, businesses can transition with confidence while continuing to improve quality, strengthen performance and meet customer expectations.
If you would like support preparing for ISO 9001:2026, Quadra’s experienced consultants can help you understand the changes, identify gaps, update your management system and guide you through every stage of the transition.
Our consultancy team has experience assisting clients through previous ISO 9001 revisions, including ISO 9001:1994, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015.
That experience can help your organisation manage the ISO 9001:2026 transition effectively and protect your certification.