Craft CMS Is Going Laravel: What This Means for Developers, Businesses, and the Future of Web Projects

If you're part of the Craft CMS ecosystem — whether as a developer, agency, or client — the latest Dot All 2025 conference in Lisbon dropped a game-changing announcement: Craft CMS is officially transitioning to Laravel.

After years of running on the Yii 2 framework, Craft is making the leap to Laravel starting with Craft 6, scheduled for release in 2026. It’s a move that’s got the Craft community buzzing — and for good reason. Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks in the world, known for its modern architecture, developer-friendly tools, and massive ecosystem of packages and integrations.

But before we dive into the why, the how, and what it means for businesses and developers, let’s take a moment to acknowledge just how significant this shift is. Craft isn’t just switching engines — it’s fine-tuning the entire driving experience. And just like our clients who appreciate performance and precision, we see this as a strategic evolution that paves the way for even smarter, more scalable, and more enjoyable digital experiences.

Let’s break it down.

Why Laravel?

The move to Laravel didn’t come out of nowhere — and it definitely wasn’t made on a whim. For Craft CMS, this is about future-proofing the platform, improving the developer experience, and tapping into a thriving PHP ecosystem.

Here’s what makes Laravel the logical next step:

Developer Familiarity

Laravel is arguably the most popular PHP framework today, and it’s already familiar to a large portion of the Craft development community. This means a shorter learning curve, easier onboarding, and more accessible talent for future projects.

A Rich Ecosystem

Laravel comes with a mature ecosystem of packages, services, and tools — from authentication and queueing to robust APIs and background jobs. By aligning with Laravel, Craft unlocks access to this massive toolbox without having to reinvent the wheel.

Better Long-Term Maintainability

While Yii 2 has served Craft well, it’s not growing at the same pace as Laravel. By adopting a more actively maintained and forward-thinking framework, Craft positions itself for long-term support, innovation, and stability.

A Strategic Move for Everyone

For a web development company like us, this means faster development cycles, access to Laravel-specific packages, and more seamless integration with other Laravel-friendly services.

For clients, it means more robust, scalable, and future-ready digital solutions — all without sacrificing Craft’s signature flexibility and author experience.

Lessons from the Past: What Went Wrong with Yii 2

When Craft CMS moved from its original framework to Yii 2 for the release of Craft 3, it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride. In fact, that transition became a bit of a cautionary tale — and it's clear the Craft team took those lessons to heart this time around.

So, what happened back then?

A Complete Rewrite

The switch to Yii 2 wasn’t just a framework update — it was a total codebase overhaul. Everything from the ground up had to be rewritten, including plugins. That meant longer development timelines and a lot of extra work for agencies and developers.

No Tangible Author-Facing Features

Despite all the technical effort, the end result didn’t offer much new value for content authors or marketers. It was hard to justify the time and cost when the changes were mostly under the hood.

Years in the Making

That rewrite took years longer than expected. It created gaps in plugin availability, slowed down adoption, and left many projects in a holding pattern while the dust settled.

This time around, the Craft team is doing things differently — and smarter. With Craft 6, they’re porting the system to Laravel without refactoring the core architecture. Most plugins will remain compatible via a Yii 2 adapter, and there are tangible benefits planned for both developers and content authors.

In other words: they’ve learned from the past. And that makes this transition one to look forward to — not fear.

What’s Changing (and What’s Not)

When you hear “framework switch,” it’s natural to think total rebuild. But that’s not the case here — and that’s a big part of why this transition is promising, not painful.

Here’s what’s actually changing with Craft 6 — and just as importantly, what’s staying the same.

1. Under the Hood: A Laravel Core

Craft is moving from Yii 2 to Laravel at the framework level. That means a new foundation for the CMS — one that’s modern, actively maintained, and packed with developer-friendly tools.

2. The Architecture Stays Familiar

Despite the framework switch, Craft’s overall architecture isn’t being radically refactored. If you’ve built with Craft 3, 4, or 5, you’ll still feel right at home with Craft 6. Your mental models won’t need to be rewritten.

3. Plugins Won’t Break (Thanks to a Yii 2 Adapter)

One of the smartest moves in this transition: Craft is releasing a Yii 2 adapter package. This provides a compatibility layer so plugins and modules built for Craft 5 can keep working in Craft 6 — often without a single code change.

This is a game-changer for developers and plugin maintainers. It means:

• Less stress during the upgrade cycle
• Faster adoption of Craft 6
• Lower technical debt for clients

4. The Craft Experience You Know and Love

For end users and content teams, the Craft authoring experience remains as intuitive as ever — with some shiny new features (more on that in the next section). This isn’t a “burn it down and rebuild” situation. It’s more like swapping the engine without changing the dashboard layout.

Author-Facing Features We’re Excited About

Let’s be honest — as developers, we love clean code and modern frameworks. But your clients? They care about the editing experience, publishing workflows, and what makes day-to-day content management easier.

Thankfully, Craft 6 brings some real upgrades to the authoring side of the CMS. These aren’t just “nice-to-haves” — they’re the kind of practical features content teams have been asking for.

Here’s what’s coming:

1. Content Releases

Group multiple entries and drafts into a single release, then publish them all at once — either immediately or on a schedule. Perfect for campaign launches, product rollouts, or content updates that need to go live together.

2. Scheduled Drafts

Working on a blog post, announcement, or landing page ahead of time? You’ll be able to schedule individual drafts to go live automatically — no manual publish button at 9AM on a Monday.

3. Content Importing

Finally, a built-in importer! Whether you’re migrating content or batch-adding new entries, this tool will streamline the process and reduce reliance on third-party plugins or one-off scripts.

4. Content Approval Workflows

Set up custom workflows for content approval — from first draft to published entry. This is especially useful for teams that need editorial oversight or regulatory review before hitting publish.

5. Edit Page Commenting

Collaborate directly within the CMS. Leave comments for team members on an entry’s edit page — great for feedback, revisions, or just a friendly “fix this typo.”

6. Element Activity Logs

Ever wonder who changed what — and when? Craft 6 introduces element-level activity logs so you can track changes over time. Editors and admins, rejoice.

These features bring real value to content teams — and they’re designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re building a publishing workflow for a large healthcare organization or managing a simple blog for a small business, Craft 6 gives you more control, clarity, and convenience.

The New UI: Sleek, Accessible, and Built for Today

Craft CMS has always had a clean, intuitive interface — one of the reasons content teams love it. But with Craft 6, the UI is getting a serious upgrade. And it's not just about looking modern — it’s about being more usable, accessible, and adaptable across devices.

Here’s what’s coming:

1. Dark Mode (Finally!)

Whether you're a night owl or just like less glare, Craft 6 is embracing dark mode. It's not only easier on the eyes, it also brings the interface in line with modern design expectations.

2. First-Class Mobile Experience

Craft is being reworked to feel just as smooth on mobile as it does on desktop. That means content editors can update entries, publish drafts, or leave comments — all from their phone or tablet without frustration.

3. Built with the Lion Web Component Framework

The new UI is powered by Lion, a modern web component framework. Why does that matter? It means:

• More modular and reusable UI components
• Faster performance
• Easier customization and extension by developers

4. Developer Toolkit: Storybook + Component Library

Craft isn’t just refreshing the UI for authors — they’re handing developers the same toolkit. Plugin developers will get access to a decoupled component library, complete with a Storybook-based style guide. That means more polished, consistent plugin UIs across the ecosystem.

5. Accessibility You Can Count On

Every new component is being tested against WCAG 2.2 standards, ensuring the interface works for all users — including those with disabilities. That’s not just a nice-to-have; it’s a must for any organization that values inclusivity or needs to meet compliance standards.

Timeline: What to Expect and When

One of the most reassuring things about Craft’s Laravel transition is the transparency around its rollout. The Craft team isn’t rushing this — they’re planning it carefully, giving developers, agencies, and clients plenty of time to prepare.

Here’s the current timeline:

1. Craft 6 Beta — Q3 2026

The beta release is expected sometime in the third quarter of 2026. This version will be for early adopters and developers who want to test new features, check plugin compatibility, and begin planning migrations.

If you're managing a large or complex Craft site, this is when you’ll want to start evaluating Craft 6 in a staging environment.

2. General Availability (GA) — Q4 2026

The official Craft 6 release is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. At this point, it’ll be production-ready — and the wider Craft community can confidently begin adopting it for live projects.

3. Craft 5 Becomes an LTS Release

Craft 5 is now designated as an LTS (Long-Term Support) release. That means:

• Ongoing support for five years after Craft 6 launches
• Critical security updates and maintenance until at least 2031

This is great news for agencies and businesses who want stability — or need more time before migrating. There's no rush, no forced upgrade cycle, and no pressure to make a move before you’re ready.

In short: Craft is giving the community the best of both worlds — a clear path forward and the safety net of continued support.

What This Means for Convergine Clients

For businesses partnering with Convergine — whether you're in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, or beyond — the Craft 6 transition is not just a backend upgrade. It’s a strategic opportunity to future-proof your digital presence with confidence.

Here’s how this move benefits you directly:

1. Stronger, More Scalable Foundations

Laravel brings a modern, well-supported codebase with a vast ecosystem. That means we can build faster, integrate more flexibly, and deliver robust solutions that scale with your growth.

Whether you’re planning a new build or future phases of an existing Craft site, Craft 6 sets the stage for long-term performance.

2. Seamless Plugin Compatibility

Thanks to the Yii 2 adapter, the plugins and custom functionality you rely on today will continue working with minimal adjustments. That reduces the risk and cost of upgrading — and protects the investment you’ve already made.

3. Improved Authoring Experience

Your team will benefit from the upgraded UI and new content workflows — like scheduled publishing, bulk content releases, and on-page commenting. These features streamline day-to-day operations and support collaboration, especially in regulated industries or busy content teams.

4. Accessibility and Compliance Built In

The new UI is being developed with WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards in mind. That’s a win for usability — and essential for industries like government, healthcare, and finance where compliance is a priority.

5. A Thoughtful, Low-Risk Transition

Craft’s LTS support means there’s no pressure to upgrade immediately. Our team at Convergine will work with you to plan the transition on your timeline — whether that’s right after the general release or closer to 2031.

We’re already preparing internally to support Craft 6 projects, testing workflows, and training our team on Laravel integration. If you’re curious what this means for your current Craft site — or thinking about starting a new one — now’s a great time to talk strategy.