OpenAI Deprecates gpt-image-2: Shutdown on 10 February 2027, Move to GPT-Image-2.6
- What happened
- OpenAI deprecated gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21 on 10 November 2026, with shutdown on 10 February 2027.
- Why it matters
- Image calls naming either id stop working on that date; the replacement is gpt-image-2.6-sunburst or gpt-image-2.6-flare.
- What to do
- Finish the 1 December image migrations first, then move gpt-image-2 calls to a GPT-Image-2.6 model before 10 February 2027.
Verdict: gpt-image-2 now has a fixed end date of 10 February 2027. Plan the move now, but finish your 1 December migrations first. OpenAI gave exactly the minimum notice its own policy allows for image models, and named two replacements: GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst and GPT-Image-2.6 Flare.
Affected models: gpt-image-2 and its snapshot gpt-image-2-2026-04-21 (deprecated), with GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst and GPT-Image-2.6 Flare as the named replacements.
What happened
OpenAI's API deprecations page now carries this row:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Models | gpt-image-2, gpt-image-2-2026-04-21 |
| Status | Deprecated |
| Notice date | 10 November 2026 |
| Shutdown | 10 February 2027 |
| Replacement | gpt-image-2.6-sunburst or gpt-image-2.6-flare |
The same page sets the notice period for "Specialized variants of generally available models and image generation models" at "At least 3 months". 10 November to 10 February is three months, so this is the shortest window OpenAI's policy permits.
Why it matters
Any image call that names either id stops working on 10 February 2027. And this is the second image deadline in flight: the same page still lists three older image models for shutdown on 1 December 2026, all with the same two replacements.
| Shutdown | Model ids | Notice date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 December 2026 | gpt-image-1-mini | 2 June 2026 |
| 1 December 2026 | gpt-image-1.5, gpt-image-1.5-2025-12-16 | 2 June 2026 |
| 1 December 2026 | chatgpt-image-latest | 2 June 2026 |
| 10 February 2027 | gpt-image-2, gpt-image-2-2026-04-21 | 10 November 2026 |
If you still run any of the 1 December models, that deadline is 18 days out and comes first. Teams that already moved those calls to gpt-image-2 now have to move again.
What changes for you
- Search your code, configs and prompt templates for
gpt-image-2andgpt-image-2-2026-04-21. - Finish moving
gpt-image-1-mini,gpt-image-1.5andchatgpt-image-latestcalls before 1 December 2026. Send them straight to a GPT-Image-2.6 model, not to gpt-image-2, so you migrate once. - Test
gpt-image-2.6-sunburstandgpt-image-2.6-flareon your own prompts, then switch gpt-image-2 calls before 10 February 2027.
What we have not checked
GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst is in our directory with a Conditional verdict; GPT-Image-2.6 Flare is not listed yet. We have not compared either model's output or price against gpt-image-2 for this post, so run your own prompts on both before you pick one.
FAQ
When does gpt-image-2 stop working? On 10 February 2027, for both gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21.
What should I replace it with? OpenAI names gpt-image-2.6-sunburst or gpt-image-2.6-flare as the replacement.
Does this change the 1 December 2026 shutdowns? No. gpt-image-1-mini, gpt-image-1.5, gpt-image-1.5-2025-12-16 and chatgpt-image-latest still shut down on 1 December 2026.
What to do
- 1 Search your code, configs and prompt templates for gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21.
- 2 Move gpt-image-1-mini, gpt-image-1.5 and chatgpt-image-latest calls straight to a GPT-Image-2.6 model before 1 December 2026.
- 3 Test gpt-image-2.6-sunburst and gpt-image-2.6-flare on your own prompts and switch gpt-image-2 calls before 10 February 2027.
Affected tools & models
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