Umbraco 17 LTS

Significant Step Forward

The launch of Umbraco 17 LTS marks one of the most significant steps forward in the platform’s evolution since the shift to .NET Core. This isn’t just another version release - it’s a clear reinforcement of what has always set Umbraco apart: true extensibility. And in a digital landscape being reshaped by AI, that matters more than ever.

At Wattle, we’ve long championed Umbraco for its flexibility, openness, and developer-friendly foundation. Umbraco 17 takes that DNA and strengthens it with a modern architecture built for the next decade of digital experiences.

Long Term Foundation 

Umbraco 17 ships with the latest Microsoft .NET 8 runtime and introduces a more modular, modern frontend architecture. The result is a CMS that is:

• Faster and more secure, thanks to the performance improvements in .NET 10.

• Easier to extend, with a cleaner, future-proofed backoffice architecture.

• Better equipped for complex integrations - from CRMs and marketing platforms to AI-driven workflows.

For organisations planning long-term roadmaps, the new LTS (Long Term Support) designation provides confidence: predictable updates, a stable API surface, and a foundation that will support innovation for years.

Flexibility over Feature Hype 

One of the standout themes in Umbraco’s announcement is a renewed focus on flexibility over feature hype. With AI rapidly entering everyday digital operations, the ability to extend a CMS - safely, reliably, and without fear of breaking changes - has become the defining metric of a future-ready platform.

Umbraco 17 pushes this principle to the forefront:

• Backoffice extensions are now better protected through updates.

• Developers have far more freedom to craft tailored editorial experiences.

• Integrations and custom workflows can be built with less friction and greater stability.

This renewed commitment to extensibility aligns strongly with how we design and deliver Umbraco solutions at Wattle - whether standalone or as part of our MemEx platform.

AI-Enabled Digital Experiences 

AI is reshaping expectations for content creation, personalisation, automation, and search. Rather than bolting on AI “features,” Umbraco 17 ensures the platform is ready to host AI-powered ecosystems, including:

• Content generation and optimisation tools

• Intelligent search and discovery

• Automated tagging and metadata enrichment

• Machine-driven publishing workflows

This future-proof approach means organisations can innovate at their own pace while maintaining full control of their digital experience.

Upgrading from Umbraco 13 to 17 

For teams planning their migration, Umbraco has released a comprehensive upgrade guide covering:

• Key architectural changes

• Changes to the backoffice extension model

• Deprecations and breaking changes

• How to prepare codebases built on older versions

As with any LTS transition, careful planning is essential. At Wattle, our Umbraco specialists can support upgrade assessments, code audits, and full-service migration programmes to ensure a smooth step forward.

What this means for you

For our clients using Umbraco - including those leveraging it as part of MemEx Web - Umbraco 17 represents a strongly aligned evolution:

• Greater performance and reliability for high-traffic member portals

• A more adaptable framework for integrating with D365, the MemEx API, and external systems

• A CMS that will support emerging AI-driven capabilities without sacrificing control or stability

Umbraco 17 reinforces why the platform remains our preferred CMS for building fast, flexible, and future-proof digital experiences.

Explore Umbraco 17

You can read the full release announcement and deep-dive into the details on the Umbraco website here. If you’re considering an upgrade, or want to understand what Umbraco 17 means for your roadmap, contact our team today.