Is IBM z/OS Still Supported? End-of-Life Dates (2026)
Short answer
IBM z/OS is supported and new versions continue to ship.
IBM z/OS 2.5 left standard support on 30 September 2026 and is now covered only by IBM's paid Service Extension, which runs to 30 September 2029; z/OS 3.1 and 3.2 have no announced end date.
Legacy Technology Tracker · Status as of 16 Oct 2026. Data checked 7 Oct 2026; refreshed monthly, with quarterly snapshots kept unchanged.
Risk rating
Low: supported, with new release lines continuing; no exploited-vulnerability or licence signal. How ratings work
Key facts
Every value links to its source and shows when we last checked or retrieved it. Data checked 7 Oct 2026; status as of 16 Oct 2026.
| Fact | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support status | Supportedz/OS releases with IBM lifecycle pages verified: 2.5, 3.1 and 3.2. | ||
| Support end date | No end date announced | ||
| Extended support offer | IBM Service Extension for z/OS 2.5 (vendor), until 30 Sep 2029Pricing basis: An extra charge set by IBM, available after a release's end-of-support date under the Enhanced lifecycle policy; IBM publishes no amount. | ||
| Known exploited vulnerabilities (CISA KEV) | 0 CVEs all time; 0 added in the last 24 monthsMatched by vendor and product name in the KEV catalog. No CISA KEV entry names z/OS. | ||
| Job postings and salaries | Not published: the job-posting source is on hold pending a data licence. | — | — |
Versions in scope
z/OS releases with IBM lifecycle pages verified: 2.5, 3.1 and 3.2. Dates per version, each with its source.
| Version | Status | Standard support ends | Extended support ends | Latest release | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z/OS 2.5 | Paid extended support only | — | ||||
| z/OS 3.1 | Supported | — | — | — | ||
| z/OS 3.2 | Supported | — | — | — |
If you still run IBM z/OS
The date that matters is 30 September 2026, when z/OS 2.5 left standard IBM support; defect fixes after that date depend on a paid Service Extension.
The realistic options:
- Upgrade to z/OS 3.1 or 3.2. Both have no announced end date, so an upgrade ends the extension question for now. Check your vendor software and middleware levels against the target release before you plan the cutover.
- Buy the Service Extension for 2.5. It runs to 30 September 2029 and covers new and known defects. It fits when an upgrade is blocked for a known reason with a known end.
- Rehost. Moving workloads to cloud infrastructure removes the dependence on IBM's release cycle. See mainframe to AWS and mainframe to Azure.
- Migrate the applications. COBOL to Java is the usual route when the goal is to leave the platform.
Mainframe modernization companies lists suppliers for rehosting and conversion, and modernization costs shows what these projects have cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is z/OS still supported?
When does z/OS 2.5 reach end of support?
IBM's lifecycle page for z/OS 2.5.0 lists 30 September 2026 as the date of "Transition to Extended/Sustained or End of Support" (announcement AD25-0071), read from an archived copy because the live page no longer loads.
Can I get extended support for z/OS 2.5?
Yes, from IBM, for a fee. IBM's Service Extension schedule lists a new and known defect extension for z/OS 2.5 from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029, with usage support extensions sold separately. IBM publishes no price; ask your IBM sales representative.
What can replace z/OS?
Most z/OS users upgrade to 3.1 or 3.2. Moving the workloads off the mainframe is a separate, larger project; see the mainframe to AWS and mainframe to Azure migration guides.