# OpenAI Deprecates gpt-image-2: Shutdown on 10 February 2027, Move to GPT-Image-2.6

OpenAI has deprecated gpt-image-2 and its gpt-image-2-2026-04-21 snapshot, with shutdown on 10 February 2027 and gpt-image-2.6-sunburst or gpt-image-2.6-flare as the replacement. Three older image models still shut down first, on 1 December 2026.

By Neomanex. Updated 2026-11-13.

**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](/models/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](/models/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

1. Search your code, configs and prompt templates for `gpt-image-2` and `gpt-image-2-2026-04-21`.
2. Finish moving `gpt-image-1-mini`, `gpt-image-1.5` and `chatgpt-image-latest` calls before 1 December 2026. Send them straight to a GPT-Image-2.6 model, not to gpt-image-2, so you migrate once.
3. Test `gpt-image-2.6-sunburst` and `gpt-image-2.6-flare` on your own prompts, then switch gpt-image-2 calls before 10 February 2027.

## What we have not checked

[GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst](/models/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.

Canonical: https://neomanex.com/news/openai-deprecates-gpt-image-2-shutdown-feb-10-2027