Umbraco 13 reaches end of life on December 14th 2026 – a little over 12 months from the publication of this piece – which means the clock is already ticking. After that date, your CMS will stop receiving security patches, bug fixes, and new features – putting your organisation at risk while missing out on the huge improvements landing in Umbraco 17.
The good news: upgrading between long-term support (LTS) versions is now simpler than ever, thanks to Umbraco’s predictable release cycle and reduced breaking changes. Organisations that plan their upgrade early can minimise disruption, reduce risk, and unlock a far more powerful, performant, and flexible CMS.
This in-depth article walks you through:
And if you need support at any stage, our consultants are ready to help you prepare, plan, and deliver the upgrade confidently.
Upgrading is more than just staying current – it’s essential for reducing risk, improving experience, and ensuring your digital estate doesn’t fall behind.
Once Umbraco 13 reaches end of life, no further security fixes will be released. Whilst uncommon, security breaches can have devastating operational and reputational impact – especially for organisations handling member data, payments, or sensitive content.
Older versions are slower, less efficient, and more likely to suffer performance bottlenecks. Faster load times matter – users only give you microseconds before deciding whether to stay or leave.
The further behind you fall, the harder – and more expensive – upgrades become. In some cases, you may even face a forced rebuild. Staying on LTS → LTS keeps upgrades lightweight.
Everything from content workflows, multilingual enhancements, improved search, and new editor tools are available in newer releases. Delaying means delaying real business value.
The upgrade to Umbraco 17 is significant. Some enhancements already exist in versions 14-16, but 17 brings the maturity and stability of an LTS release.
Umbraco has re-engineered the back office using modern, extendable-first technology – faster, more accessible, and designed for future enhancements.
Large sites start up faster, use more efficient caching, and offer smoother experiences for editors and users alike.
Translate only what you need – not entire pages. This is a game-changer for multilingual teams.
Multiple drafts, smart scheduling pipelines, and enhanced editorial control simplify content operations.
No more building pages just to preview a form. Editors can test directly in the back office.
Early AI capabilities allow developers to interrogate and optimise CMS structures more intelligently – with more tooling on the way.
Umbraco Cloud now supports load balancing without dedicated back-office servers, reducing hosting costs and simplifying setup.
Plug into Azure Cognitive Search, ElasticSearch, or other platforms with ease.
Start with a full review of:
This ensures the upgrade isn’t just technical – it’s an opportunity to optimise.
Check:
Some may already be redundant or superseded by new native features.
Cleaning up technical debt reduces long-term costs and makes future upgrades faster. Think of it as "tending the garden" – remove legacy code, trim back unused features, and modernise where needed.
Not everything needs to be implemented immediately. But deciding early helps you plan:
These can be rolled into a roadmap after the upgrade.
Umbraco’s LTS cycle runs every 3 years, making financial planning predictable.
Work out:
You’ll need:
Make sure everyone knows timelines, constraints, and key blackout periods (e.g., membership renewals, peak events).
After the upgrade itself, consider:
This shifts upgrades from reactive to strategic, ensuring your website evolves alongside organisational goals.
Here are some of the most common questions we hear from organisations preparing for their Umbraco upgrade.
Your CMS will no longer receive security patches, leaving you exposed to vulnerabilities and compliance risks.
Your CMS will no longer receive security patches, leaving you exposed to vulnerabilities and compliance risks.
Yes — it’s an LTS release, meaning 24 months of feature support and 12 months of security patches. Stability is one of its core goals.
Yes — it’s an LTS release, meaning 24 months of feature support and 12 months of security patches. Stability is one of its core goals.
Potentially — caching improvements and new load balancing capabilities may allow you to consolidate server infrastructure.
Potentially — caching improvements and new load balancing capabilities may allow you to consolidate server infrastructure.
No — most new features in Umbraco 17 are opt-in, and can be added gradually after the initial upgrade.
No — most new features in Umbraco 17 are opt-in, and can be added gradually after the initial upgrade.
Reusable blocks become a native Umbraco feature, eliminating the need for custom components that were previously developer-built.
Reusable blocks become a native Umbraco feature, eliminating the need for custom components that were previously developer-built.
The move from Umbraco 13 to 17 is straightforward when approached early – and risky if left until the deadline. With major improvements in performance, accessibility, editorial workflow, and hosting flexibility, the upgrade unlocks meaningful value across your organisation.
If you’d like help with:
Our expert consultants are here to guide you through every stage.