PrestaShop 9 is the 2026 major release — the biggest change since the 2017 jump from 1.6 to 1.7. This guide covers what’s new, what’s removed, the migration path from PrestaShop 8, and which version makes sense for new UK merchants on SmartXHosting.
The big changes in version 9 • Symfony migration complete • PHP 8.2+ requirement • Back Office redesign • Module compatibility • Theme compatibility • Migration from 8 to 9 • Which version for new UK stores • FAQ
PrestaShop 9 focuses on three goals: modernise the codebase, improve performance, and clean up the module/theme surface. Top-level changes:
PrestaShop has been migrating from its legacy framework to Symfony since version 1.7. Version 9 completes the migration — every core admin page now uses Symfony controllers, Twig templating and modern dependency injection.
Practical benefits for admins:
Trade-off: legacy modules written for PrestaShop 1.7 Smarty-only code may not work on 9 without adaptation.
PrestaShop 8 runs on PHP 7.4+ through PHP 8.1. PrestaShop 9 requires PHP 8.2 or 8.3. SmartXHosting provides PHP 8.3 on all Magento and PrestaShop plans, so the requirement is transparent to new customers.
Some older modules rely on PHP 7 features. Check compatibility before migrating. The PrestaShop Marketplace module listings show compatibility tags.
The admin interface has been simplified in PrestaShop 9:
The learning curve for admins moving from 8 to 9 is small — most functionality is in the same place.
PrestaShop 9 maintains backward compatibility with most 8.x modules via compatibility shims. Some situations to watch:
Best practice: test every installed module on a staging environment before migrating live. SmartXHosting provisions staging as part of Shop plan support.
PrestaShop 9’s default theme is an updated Classic theme. Third-party themes built for 8.x may need updates:
Most premium themes on PrestaShop Marketplace have 9-ready versions. Custom in-house themes need a review by your developer.
PrestaShop offers an upgrade module that handles database schema migration, file updates and module compatibility reports. The process:
SmartXHosting handles migration as a managed-service option for existing PrestaShop 8 customers moving to 9 — the UK support team works with you on test-and-cutover.
For new SmartXHosting PrestaShop deployments: version 9 is the default. Longevity is better (security patches for several years), PHP 8.3 is forward-compatible with community development, and the Back Office feels more modern.
Exception: if you depend on a specific module that is not yet 9-compatible, start on 8 with a planned upgrade path. Tell SmartXHosting at order time and they provision 8.x.
PrestaShop 9 with PHP 8.3 and managed migration
SmartXHosting provisions PrestaShop 9 on all new Shop plans with PHP 8.3. Existing 8.x customers can upgrade with managed migration support.
See PrestaShop plansQ: Is PrestaShop 8 still supported?
A: Yes — security patches continue until approximately 2027. Functional updates focus on version 9.
Q: How long does the upgrade take?
A: Usually 30–60 minutes for a standard store. Large catalogues (10,000+ products) may take a few hours. Stores remain accessible during most of the process; the final cutover takes 5–10 minutes of downtime.
Q: What happens to my data during upgrade?
A: Database is migrated in place. Orders, customers, products, CMS pages — all preserved. The upgrade module creates a backup before modifying data.
Q: Will my theme still work?
A: If it was built for PrestaShop 8 by a reputable developer, usually yes (with minor updates). Very old themes (1.7-era) often need substantial rework.
Q: Can I roll back if something goes wrong?
A: Yes — SmartXHosting takes a snapshot before migration. If anything critical breaks, roll back is a support-ticket operation, typically complete within hours.
Q: Does PrestaShop 9 support my existing payment modules?
A: The built-in Stripe Connect and PayPal modules are rewritten. Third-party payment modules need their 9-compatible versions. Most gateways have released them.
Q: When will PrestaShop 9 receive its first point release?
A: PrestaShop follows semver-like versioning. Minor releases (9.1, 9.2) add features; patch releases (9.0.1, 9.0.2) fix bugs. Expect minor releases every 6–9 months.