Kentico 13 exit checklist: what to do before support ends on December 31, 2026

Kentico Xperience 13 reaches the end of technical support on December 31, 2026. Through 2026, Kentico releases security hotfixes only. From January 1, 2027, it stops all support, maintenance and security fixes for Xperience 13 (source: Kentico support lifecycle).

Another deadline comes first. Microsoft ends support for .NET 8 on November 10, 2026. Kentico recommends moving Xperience 13 live sites to .NET 10, which Xperience 13 supports since Refresh 14 (source: Xperience 13 release notes).

Use this checklist to see where you stand before either date. Fill it in with your developers, your content owners and the person who signs the Kentico contract.

How to score it

• Give each item 2 points if it is done, 1 point if it is in progress and 0 if nobody has started it.
• Add up your points and divide the total by the maximum (2 points times the number of items).
• A score above 75% means you can schedule the work. Between 40% and 75%, close the gaps this quarter. Under 40%, start with an assessment before you commit to a date.

Dates and contracts

• Confirm which Xperience 13 refresh and hotfix level you run today.
• Check which .NET version your live site targets, and plan the move to .NET 10 before November 10, 2026 if it still runs on .NET 8.
• Read your Kentico licence renewal date and the terms for moving to Xperience by Kentico.
• Name one owner for the exit decision and set a date for the go or no-go call.

Inventory what you run

• List every site, channel and language on the instance, including microsites.
• Export your page types, custom tables and forms with the number of items in each.
• List custom modules, scheduled tasks, global event handlers and third-party NuGet packages.
• Map every integration: CRM, marketing automation, search, single sign-on and ERP.
• Flag the features you rely on (personalization, contact management, e-commerce, A/B tests) and confirm how each one works on your target platform.

Content and SEO

• Archive or delete pages that have had no traffic in the last 12 months.
• Export your full URL list and plan a 301 redirect for every URL that changes.
• Record page titles, meta descriptions and structured data so rankings carry over.
• Check that English and French versions are paired and complete before you migrate them.
• Name an owner for media library cleanup and image alt text.

Choose your target

• Compare three options side by side: upgrade to Xperience by Kentico, move to another CMS, or rebuild only the parts that need it.
• Run the Kentico migration tool on a copy of your database to see what moves without manual work.
• Estimate front-end rework for widgets, page builder sections and templates.
• Get a budget range and a timeline that ends before December 31, 2026, or a written plan for a short, defined period on unsupported software.

Security and run plan

• Apply the latest Xperience 13 security hotfix and keep applying them until you move.
• Decide who is accountable for security incidents if the site still runs Xperience 13 after January 1, 2027.
• Book a content freeze window and a rollback plan for launch week.

Get a second opinion

Scored under 75%, or not sure where to start? Our free Kentico audit reviews your Xperience 13 instance and helps you choose between upgrading and moving.

Sources

1. Kentico product support lifecycle
   www.kentico.com
2. Kentico Xperience 13 release notes
   docs.kentico.com
3. .NET and .NET Core official support policy
   dotnet.microsoft.com