Organisations are gearing up for the ISO 9001:2026 revision, the first major update to the Quality Management System (QMS) standard since June 2015. The new ISO 9001:2026 is expected to be published by September 2026, with ISO 9001:2015 remaining valid for a standard three-year transition period, until around September 2029.
This means organisations will have plenty of time to upgrade, and your current ISO 9001:2015 certification will stay valid through 2029. This blog post breaks down the key changes between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026, covering important dates and how to prepare. We will also explain how Critical Path International can support Quality Managers in smoothly transitioning to the new standard, whether as a guiding hand alongside your team, or as an outsourced ISO resource to lighten the workload.
Why ISO 9001 Is Being Revised
ISO 9001 is periodically reviewed to keep it relevant in a changing world. The last full revision was back in 2015, and by 2023 it became clear an update was needed. In August 2023, after extensive international consultation, ISO’s technical committee agreed that revising the standard would “enhance its value” and address evolving needs (ISO.org). Since 2015, the business landscape has shifted significantly, with factors such as:
In order to remain valuable and effective, ISO 9001:2026 aims to address these trends. The ISO has indicated the revision will include adjustments related to the following: resilience, supply chain management, change management, sustainability, risk management, and organisational knowledge.
Timeline of the ISO 9001:2026 Revision
2023: ISO approves the revision of ISO 9001:2015
2024: Amendment adds climate change to clause 4.1.
2025: Draft Internationak Standard (DIS) released 27th August
2026: Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) expected
2027: ISO 9001:2026 officially published
This timeline means there is no immediate rush to transition, but it’s wise to stay informed and start planning for gradual changes. The three-year transition period provides plenty of breathing room to update documentation, train staff on new requirements, and address any gaps. Next, let’s look at what changes are actually coming with ISO 9001:2026.
Key Changes from ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2026
The revision will refine and clarify the 2015 requirements rather than introduce sweeping new ones. Many core concepts (process approach, plan-do-check-act and risk-based thinking) will remain intact. However, there are several targeted updates and new emphases to be aware of. Below we highlight the most significant changes expected in ISO 9001:2026, compared to ISO 9001:2015.
Leadership and Quality Culture
Top management will be expected to show how they promote a culture of quality and integrity. Leaders must set clear values, encourage ethical behaviour, and lead by example. This goes further than 2015 by making culture and ethics an explicit duty.
Risk and Opportunity
Risks and opportunities will be treated separately for clarity. Clause 6.1 will have new sub-clauses to ensure organisations identify and manage risks and opportunities independently. This strengthens the focus on proactive risk management without demanding a formal risk framework.
Climate and Context
Clause 4.1 will now require organisations to consider climate change and sustainability when reviewing their external context. This could mean looking at resource availability, environmental conditions, or carbon reduction commitments. Stakeholder expectations (Clause 4.2) may also expand to cover wider societal needs.
Interested Parties
There will be greater emphasis on engaging with stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, employees, and regulators. Organisations may be expected to seek feedback and show how they address the needs of these groups within the QMS.
Sustainability and Responsibility
ISO 9001:2026 will link quality management more closely to sustainability and corporate responsibility. It will encourage objectives such as reducing waste or improving efficiency, recognising that quality performance supports broader ESG goals.
Resilience and Change Management
The new edition will highlight business continuity and managing change. Organisations should plan for disruptions, build resilience into their systems, and ensure their QMS can maintain quality even during crises.
Digitalisation and Knowledge
The standard will acknowledge digital tools and knowledge management. Organisations should ensure data integrity, manage digital documents effectively, and retain critical knowledge as staff or systems change.
Annex A and Alignment
The 10-clause structure will stay the same, but terminology will be updated to align with other ISO standards. Annex A will be expanded to give clearer explanations and practical guidance, making the standard easier to apply.
Despite these updates, it’s important to highlight that most of the core ISO 9001:2015 requirements remain intact. The process approach, documentation needs, internal audit, management review, corrective actions – all those familiar elements will still be there. So, if you have a robust ISO 9001:2015 QMS, you already have the foundation for ISO 9001:2026.
Preparing for ISO 9001:2026
The prospect of a new ISO 9001 standard can sound daunting and time consuming. But the good news is that this revision is more about fine-tuning rather than a complete overhaul. Here’s how Critical Path recommend navigating the transition:
Step 1: Plan
Firstly, recognise that your ISO 9001:2015 certificate remains valid until late 2029. There is no sudden drop-dead date in 2026; you will have about three years to transition. Certification bodies will likely start offering ISO 9001:2026 audits in 2027, so use 2026 and 2027 as planning and preparation years. Keep an eye out for when your certification body announces it is ready to audit against ISO 9001:2026, and schedule your transition audit at a sensible time, perhaps you could align it with a re-certification cycle.
Step 2: Assess the Gaps
Once the final standard is published (or even when the FDIS is available), perform a gap analysis against your current QMS. Identify what new or changed requirements apply to your organisation. You may only find a few small gaps, e.g. needing to document how leadership promotes quality culture, or updating your context analysis to mention climate factors. One advantage of the expanded Annex A guidance is that it can help interpret any new clauses during your gap analysis.
Step 3: Continual Improvement
If you’ve been maintaining your ISO 9001:2015 system with regular improvements, you are likely already well prepared for ISO 9001:2026. By continuing regular internal audits and management reviews with these updates in mind, you’ll have clear evidence of conformity when it comes time to transition.
Step 4: Staff Training
Ensure that your teams (especially quality managers/internal auditors) are aware that the revision is coming and what the high-level changes are. You don’t need to retrain everyone on a whole “new standard” since much is the same but do highlight the new focus areas. For example, conduct a briefing on what “quality culture” means for day-to-day operations, or update risk management training to reflect clearer separation of risk vs. opportunity.
Step 5: Engage with Experts
At Critical Path, we offer complete flexibility to suit your organisation’s needs. You may prefer a tailored document pack to manage the ISO 9001:2026 transition internally, or a fully dedicated support package where we carry out the majority of the work on your behalf. The level of involvement is entirely your choice. To help keep costs down, we provide a mix of remote and on-site support, giving you access to expert guidance without the expense of a full-time resource.
If you’re considering how best to begin or resource the transition, our team is here to help. We’d be pleased to discuss your requirements and outline a support plan that works for you.
We’re committed to staying ahead of industry developments. Keep an eye on our website and social media for ongoing updates as ISO 9001:2026 progresses. For official announcements, visit ISO.org.
If your organisation is ISO 9001 certified or you’re planning to become certified, you’ve likely heard about ISO 9001:2026 – the upcoming revision of the world’s most recognised quality management standard.
ISO 9001:2026 is scheduled for official publication in September 2026, following a public consultation on the Draft International Standard (DIS) expected in mid-2025. Organisations will have around three years, until approximately September 2029, to transition from ISO 9001:2015.
While the details continue to evolve, key anticipated updates include the following:
ISO 9001:2015 brought numerous benefits to organisations worldwide, including:
With ISO 9001:2026, these benefits are set to be enhanced further:
Stronger Risk Management
Enhanced frameworks for deeper risk analysis and more proactive risk mitigation.
Advanced Digital Capabilities
Incorporating new technologies such as AI, IoT, and automation to further streamline and optimise operations.
Greater Sustainability and Ethical Focus
Stronger integration of ESG principles to improve long-term resilience and stakeholder trust.
Leadership and Cultural Alignment
Reinforced leadership roles and a deeper embedding of quality culture across the entire organisation.
If you’re feeling uncertain about the upcoming transition to ISO 9001:2026, don't worry—Critical Path consultants are here to simplify your journey.
We strongly recommend beginning your preparation by booking an internal gap analysis of your current ISO 9001 Quality Management System. Typically, just one day onsite with one of our experts is enough to give you clarity and a structured plan for the transition ahead.
Conducting a gap analysis helps you by:
Get in touch with our friendly consultants today to schedule your gap analysis – this first step will pinpoint exactly where your QMS needs to evolve and prepare for ISO 9001:2026. And don’t forget to visit ISO.org regularly for official updates and the latest information on ISO standards.
At Critical Path, we continuously review our services to ensure we can offer our customers the best experience possible. We proudly announce that our United Arab Emirates office has achieved ISO 9001 certification.
Achieving this certification cements our commitment to our clients and means that we truly practice what we preach by complying with the same standards we sell. What exactly is ISO 9001 accreditation, and what are some of the biggest benefits? We decided to take a closer look.
ISO 9001:2015 is known as the leading standard for quality management. The framework is designed to improve businesses, boost profits, and reach more customers. This certification lays out the steps companies need to follow to set up a quality management system.
A Quality Management System (QMS) is a structured plan that outlines how to achieve an organisation’s goals and quality standards. By implementing a QMS, businesses can organise their activities to meet both regulations and customer needs effectively.
ISO 9001 aims to ensure that companies meet customer expectations and other stakeholders’ needs. It’s widely used worldwide, with over a million certified companies benefiting from its guidelines.
The comprehensive ISO 9001:2015 standard covers a wide range of methodology and information that covers an extensive range of areas, including:
The ISO 9001:2015 standard is based on the seven core principles of customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and relationship management. The importance of these seven principles will depend on the organisation, and they can also change over time in response to market influence.
Now we have explored the question, “what is ISO 9001 certification?” the next question is what are the benefits that it brings? For us here at Critical Path, it is an important milestone in our business and demonstrates our commitment to our clients. However, achieving the ISO 9001 certification can also provide your business with a wide range of benefits, including:
A big advantage of ISO 9001 certification is that it can help your business boost its income. Organisations can leverage the standard’s prestigious reputation for potential customers, allowing them to stand out from their competitors and win more tenders and contracts. The ISO 9001:2015 standard can also help you increase retention rates among your existing clients.
When organisations start looking for new suppliers, having the ISO 9001:2015 standard as part of your pitch proposal will ensure you can meet their expectations. For businesses operating within the public sector, having an ISO 9001 QMS is often an essential requirement.
Another significant advantage of achieving the standard for your organisation is that it can help you improve your customer satisfaction levels. The standard will help you understand their needs while having strict processes in place, reducing the risk of errors that can damage clients’ confidence in your abilities.
Being able to implement an ISO 9001:2015 standard quality management system means you are implementing the industry’s best practices. Alongside helping you focus on quality, these practices will also help to maximise your team’s efficiency.
Having your entire team working towards the same goals and agenda will also help to enhance their overall communication and engagement with your business. This will help them to feel a core part of the company, ensuring they are happier and more productive.
The standard is focused on delivering a clear set of practices for your entire team to follow. By following these procedures, you will gain a vast understanding of your operations and can use that information to make more informed decisions.
An ISO 9001:2015 standard quality management system is about creating a systematic approach that helps you provide the best experience possible for your customers. This involves regular auditing and reviewing to ensure you are meeting your clients’ ever-changing demands. Adopting these practices for your business will help create a company-wide culture of development.
Of course, ISO 9001:2015 is not just about improving your actions. By incorporating the best practices into your business, you will be able to create more efficient relationships with your supply chain as well as other stakeholders.
Now that we have explored what ISO 9001 certification is and its benefits, the final step is to explore how you can achieve this for your business. To help you, we have taken a look at some of the key steps that you need to consider:
Start your ISO certification journey with confidence through Critical Path’s expert initial assessment. Our experienced consultants will thoroughly evaluate your organisation’s current quality management practices. This includes a comprehensive gap analysis to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for optimisation.
Work with our experts to develop a tailored plan and strategy for achieving ISO 9001 certification. Together, we’ll establish clear objectives, define roles and responsibilities, and devise a roadmap for implementation. We aim to ensure seamless alignment between quality management requirements and your organisation’s overarching goals and values.
Let Critical Path guide you through the development of essential ISO 9001 documentation. Our consultants will work closely with your team to create a comprehensive suite of documents, including:
Quality Manual: A central document that outlines your organisation’s quality management system and demonstrates your commitment to meeting ISO requirements.
Procedures: Documented procedures detailing how various quality management processes are carried out within your organisation.
Work Instructions: Detailed instructions that guide employees on how to perform specific tasks and activities in accordance with quality standards.
Forms: Templates for recording data, information, and observations related to quality management processes.
Records: Documentation of key activities, events, and outcomes to demonstrate compliance with ISO 9001 standards.
Each document is meticulously customised to suit your organisation’s needs and requirements.
Implementing quality management requirements is made easy with our comprehensive training and support services. Our consultants will provide thorough training on ISO 9001 principles and best practices to equip your team with the knowledge and skills needed for successful implementation. Additionally, we’ll conduct internal audits to ensure ongoing compliance and readiness for certification.
Prepare for the certification audit confidently through Critical Path’s mock audit services. Our experts will conduct a rigorous review of your quality management system, simulating the conditions of the official assessment. By identifying areas for improvement and providing valuable feedback, we’ll help enhance your readiness and optimise your chances of certification success.
While Critical Path does not conduct the verification audit, we offer ongoing support to ensure your readiness for the certification assessment. We’ll guide you in engaging an independent auditing body for the verification audit process. Our consultants remain available to address any concerns and optimise your preparedness, maximising your chances of achieving ISO 9001 certification.
We are incredibly proud that our UAE office has achieved ISO 9001 certification. If you want to discover how you can get your business certified, our team is here to help. At Critical Path, we are committed to working closely with our clients, providing tailored guidance and support to help them successfully achieve and continually manage ISO 9001.
Want to learn more about our services and how we can help you? Get in touch with our friendly team today!
