Joomla 6: What Is New and Should You Upgrade from Joomla 5?
Joomla 6.0 launched on 14 October 2025, and version 6.1 is scheduled for April 2026. If you are running Joomla 5, you may be wondering whether it is time to upgrade to the latest major release. Here is what Joomla 6 brings, what it changes, and whether upgrading now is the right move.
Key New Features in Joomla 6
Automatic core updates. Perhaps the most practically significant addition. Joomla 6 (and 5.4) can apply minor version security patches automatically, without requiring an administrator to log in and click "update." For website security, this is a major step forward.
Framework 4. Joomla 6 is built on a modernised framework that benefits extension developers with cleaner APIs and better tooling. For website owners, this means better extensions over time — faster, more secure, better maintained.
Compatibility Plugin. Joomla 6 includes a backward-compatibility plugin that allows extensions built for Joomla 4 and 5 to continue functioning. This eases the transition by ensuring most extensions work from day one, even before their developers release native Joomla 6 updates. The plugin adds some performance overhead, which can be eliminated as extensions update to native support.
Improved accessibility. Continued improvements to screen reader support, keyboard navigation, and ARIA implementation throughout the frontend and backend. Important for meeting European Accessibility Act requirements.
Performance improvements. Further optimisations building on Joomla 5's performance gains. Faster database queries, more efficient asset loading, and better caching integration.
Should You Upgrade from Joomla 5?
Not urgently. Joomla 5.4 is the Long Term Support release and continues to receive security patches. There is no pressing security reason to upgrade immediately — unlike moving from Joomla 3 or 4, where end-of-life status creates genuine urgency.
Consider upgrading when: Your key extensions have released native Joomla 6 versions (so you can disable the Compatibility Plugin for better performance). You want automatic core updates. You want the latest features. You are comfortable with a slightly younger extension ecosystem.
Wait if: Critical extensions have not confirmed Joomla 6 support. Your site is complex and stability is the top priority. You prefer to let others discover any edge-case issues first.
The upgrade from Joomla 5.4 to Joomla 6 is a standard in-place upgrade through the Joomla Update component. It is the simplest major version upgrade Joomla has ever offered.