Java LTS support length depends on the vendor. One tracker lists Oracle JDK premier support ending on 30 September 2026 for Java 17 and 30 September 2030 for Java 25, while the Adoptium project lists "at least" dates for its free builds. Check the dates for the distribution you actually run.
Key terms
LTS is a feature release that vendors agree to support for years. Since 2021 one release every two years has been designated LTS, and Adoptium says LTS releases are supported for at least four years. Premier support and extended support are commercial terms from a vendor. At least until is how Adoptium states its commitment for free community builds.
The dates side by side
The first set comes from endoflife.date, which tracks Oracle JDK. The second is from the Adoptium support page for Temurin.
| Java | Oracle JDK premier ends | Oracle JDK extended ends | Temurin available at least until |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2022-03-31 | 2030-12-31 | Dec 2030 |
| 11 | 2023-09-30 | 2032-01-31 | Oct 2027 |
| 17 | 2026-09-30 | 2029-09-30 | Oct 2027 |
| 21 | 2028-09-30 | 2031-09-30 | Dec 2029 |
| 25 | 2030-09-30 | 2033-09-30 | Sep 2031 |
These are different promises from different organisations, so do not mix columns. Oracle's own roadmap page returned an access error when I tried to fetch it, so confirm the Oracle dates there before relying on them.
How to read the table
- A later date does not mean a safer runtime. It means more time to receive patches.
- Free community builds and paid vendor builds can have different end dates for the same Java version.
- Other vendors publish their own dates. Look up the one you use.
Patch cadence matters as much as dates
Adoptium says OpenJDK ships a feature release every six months and a security and maintenance update for each active release every three months, with upstream releases typically on the third Tuesday of January, April, July and October. Its builds can lag upstream by up to about three weeks. A runtime that is "supported" but three quarterly updates behind is not protected.
What to do with this
- Find the vendor and exact build in each image and server.
- Write the end date for that build in your inventory.
- Flag anything that ends within 18 months.
- For Java 8 and 11, decide whether the date you rely on is a free community date or a paid one.
Try it yourself
The container image scan demo shows how a base image's contents are listed. Look for the runtime package, because that is where an old JDK hides.
Click through it at your own pace, or open it full screen.
Safeguard scans container images and dependencies, which helps you see which JDK a service ships with. You can try the free scan at gold.safeguard.sh/scan.
Quick check
Is Java 21 the current LTS?
No. Java 25, released in September 2025, is the newest LTS in the Adoptium list. Java 21 remains supported.
Does a vendor extended support date mean free patches?
Not necessarily. Extended support is a vendor term, usually commercial. Check your agreement or switch to a build whose terms you know.
See also How to plan a runtime upgrade before end of life.
Sources
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
