October 6, 2026 · By Drupal Company
For a new project, the safe default is the newest major release whose modules and themes you need are ready for. Today that is usually Drupal 11, with Drupal 10 as the fallback when a key contributed module has not caught up.
What to check
- Module compatibility. Check each contributed module on drupal.org for a release that supports the target version.
- PHP version. Drupal 11 needs a current PHP 8.x release. Confirm your hosting supports it.
- Custom code. Deprecated API use is the main source of upgrade work. Tools such as Upgrade Status and Drupal Rector find and fix much of it automatically.
- Support runway. Each major version has a limited support window. Starting on the newer one gives you more time before the next upgrade.
Upgrading from 10 to 11
Most of the work is done on Drupal 10 before the switch: update contributed modules, remove deprecated calls, and get Upgrade Status to green. The core bump itself is then a Composer change plus database updates.
Our usual advice
Start new builds on Drupal 11 unless a required module blocks it. For existing Drupal 10 sites, plan the move to 11 as a small, regular maintenance task rather than a big project.
Drupal 11 Drupal 10 Upgrades