ISO 9001:2026: the key changes

The new ISO 9001:2026 is coming. The Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) has been officially approved. This means the content is now fixed, and the standard is in its final phase before publication on 16 September 2026.

Good news for everyone already working with quality management: the changes are smaller than the shift from 2008 to 2015. So not a complete overhaul, but a targeted update.

What stands out immediately: Annex A becomes considerably more extensive, and the climate requirements added to ISO 9001 in 2024 are now fully integrated into the new standard. Which chapters are affected? We take you through them briefly.

• The FDIS is approved; publication follows on 16 September 2026.
• The changes are smaller than the shift from 2008 to 2015.
• Climate change becomes a standing question in your context and stakeholder analysis.
• Quality culture and ethical behaviour receive more emphasis.
• Certified organisations will get a transition period after publication. The exact duration and conditions are still to be officially confirmed.

Climate change earns a place in your risk analysis

The climate requirements added to ISO 9001 in 2024 are now fully integrated into the new standard. Concretely: under clause 4.1, you must determine whether climate change is a relevant issue for your organisation. Under clause 4.2, you examine which interested parties have concrete requirements or expectations around it. So no separate chapter, but a standing question in your context and stakeholder analysis.

Leadership is about culture, not just structure

Top management must promote a quality culture and ethical behaviour (5.1). The quality policy (5.2) will soon cover two things: setting the policy and committing to meeting the applicable requirements. In 7.1.6, available knowledge becomes shared knowledge: knowledge must circulate.

Communication with customers and partners takes a more central role

Clause 8.2 makes communication a key concept: including on relevant disruptions in processes or products, and towards interested parties in the event of changes.

8.4.3 goes a step further: how do you want external providers to communicate with your customers and other interested parties?

In 8.5.1, you consciously choose between product or service verification and/or process validation, with customer requirements as the starting point.

And 9.1.2 broadens customer satisfaction to perception, also measurable via complaints or social media.

Managing changes through the PDCA cycle

Clause 6.3 (Planning of changes) gets a full PDCA treatment. Change becomes a process in itself, not a one-off action:

• Determine the objective
• Safeguard the integrity of your quality management system
• Provide resources and information
• Assign responsibilities
• Measure effectiveness
• Communicate and evaluate

Research and development: finally aligned with services

This chapter is now better aligned with service organisations. Clause 8.3.1 allows more flexibility in review, verification and validation cycles.

8.3.3 recognises that inputs are not always fully known in advance.

And in 8.3.6, you must determine changes rather than merely identify them.

Documented information: no revolution, but a sharper focus

Clause 7.5 continues to cover the documents, procedures and records required by the standard or your organisation, which must be available. 8.1 places emphasis on documentation that provides confidence that processes run as planned.

Internal audits and improvement: a tighter focus

Clause 9.2 asks for reporting to the relevant managers, not the entire management team. And chapter 10 (Improvement) is restructured from three paragraphs to two.

Management review: a minor adjustment

Clause 9.3 mainly changes in the wording of inputs and outputs. No major change.

When do you need to be ready?

ISO 9001:2026 is expected to be published in September 2026. Certified organisations will then get a transition period to adapt their quality management system to the new requirements. The exact duration, deadlines and conditions of that transition have not yet been officially set.

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