Node.js 26 End of Life
Support dates, the patch stream you lose at EOL, and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Node.js 26 is actively supported. It reaches end of life on 30 Apr 2029.
Support timeline
Official dates, read directly from github.com and nodejs.org.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 5 May 2026 | 5mo ago |
| Active Support ended | 20 Oct 2027 | security fixes only after this |
| Security Support ends | 30 Apr 2029 | in 2y 7mo |
| Latest release | 26.10.0 · 21 Sept 2026 | current |
What you lose on 30 Apr 2029
Being supported means fixes keep shipping to this branch. Here is the stream that stops. Source: NVD.
Node.js CVEs published and patched, by year
30 published in the last 12 months · data refreshed 2026-10-05
At the last-12-month rate of 30 Node.js CVEs, running 26 for a year past 30 Apr 2029 means roughly that many vulnerabilities fixed upstream but never backported to your branch. Past branches bear this out: Node.js 25 has missed 15 since it went end of life.
How much runway a newer branch buys
Moving to Node.js 27 extends security support by about 365 days.
| Branch | End of life | Days left | vs 26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js 27 | 30 Apr 2030 | 1,303 | +365 days |
| Node.js 26 | 30 Apr 2029 | 938 | this branch |
| Node.js 24 | 30 Apr 2028 | 573 | -365 days |
| Node.js 22 | 30 Apr 2027 | 207 | -731 days |
Review the Node.js changelog before moving to Node.js 27. Run npx ls-engines to check package compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
When does Node.js 26 reach end of life?
Node.js 26 reaches end of life on 30 Apr 2029 — 938 days from now. After that date it receives no security fixes.
Is Node.js 26 still supported?
Yes. Node.js 26 is currently maintained. Latest release: 26.10.0, published 21 Sept 2026.
What happens when Node.js 26 reaches end of life?
Security fixes stop. Over the last 12 months 30 Node.js vulnerabilities were published and patched across supported branches; once 26 is end of life, fixes at that rate no longer reach it.
How long do I have to upgrade from Node.js 26?
938 days. Moving to Node.js 27 instead buys roughly 365 more days of security support.