New edition of ISO 9001:2026 published: what’s changing for quality management systems?
On 16 September 2026, ISO published the latest version of ISO 9001, the world’s most widely used quality management system standard. While not revolutionary, it is a targeted update based on the real-world experience of thousands of certified organisations worldwide, aligning the standard with modern quality management practices.
The main changes:
- Leadership and a culture of quality
- For the first time, the standard explicitly requires top management to actively promote a culture of quality and ethical behaviour throughout the organisation.
- Separate risks and opportunities: the planning process now distinguishes between risk and opportunity management in separate sub-clauses for a more systematic approach.
- Quality policy and objectives must now more explicitly reflect the organisation’s long-term strategy.
- Alignment with the Harmonised Structure: The standard is now fully aligned with the structure common to other ISO standards, facilitating integration with ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and other adopted schemes.
Transition periods
ISO has not yet set a formal deadline for the transition to this edition. Based on previous revisions, certified organisations can expect a transition period of several years – presumably around three – in which to complete the transition smoothly. Therefore, no urgent action is required at this stage. As soon as the accreditation bodies publish the exact dates, A Cube TIC will confirm them and guide each certified client step by step throughout the process.
If you have any questions about the new edition, please contact your local A Cube TIC office.