Vercel Announces Deprecation of Node.js 20 Starting October 2026
Vercel has announced the official deprecation timeline for Node.js 20, requiring developers to transition their deployments to newer runtime versions to ensure continued support and security.
According to the latest Vercel Changelog, support for Node.js 20 will be deprecated on October 1, 2026. This deprecation affects all backend services, serverless functions, and framework deployments like Next.js and SvelteKit running on the Node.js 20 runtime on Vercel's platform. Developers must plan their upgrades to newer Node.js long-term support versions to maintain compatibility and receive security patches.
Primary source
Open Vercel Changelog ↗This article summarizes the source. Check the original for full details and conditions.
Comparison
| Aspect | Before / Alternative | After / This |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js Runtime Version | Node.js 20 (Active / Maintenance LTS) | Node.js 22 or newer (Active LTS) |
| Vercel Build Support | Fully supported as the default or configured runtime | Builds targeting Node.js 20 will fail or trigger warnings after deprecation |
| Security Patches | Regular upstream security backports provided | No security updates or patches for Node.js 20 deployments |
Action Checklist
- Identify all Vercel projects currently targeting Node.js 20 in project settings Check the Node.js Version setting in the Vercel Dashboard under Project Settings
- Update local development environments and CI pipelines to Node.js 22 Ensure package.json engines field and local .nvmrc files are synchronized
- Verify dependency compatibility with the newer Node.js runtime Pay close attention to native binary packages and framework-specific APIs
- Deploy to a staging preview environment on Vercel to run regression tests Validate serverless function execution times and cold-start behavior