GitHub schedules Copilot model retirements for November
The short version
GitHub will retire Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Opus 5, and GPT-5.6 Terra across GitHub Copilot experiences on November 16, 2026, and names supported replacement models.
What changed
Copilot workflows using the three listed models must move to Claude Opus 5.5, GPT-6.1 Sol, or GPT-6 Luna before November 16.
What it means for you
Teams should update model names and Enterprise or Business policies before the retirement date to avoid broken model selection or integrations.
GitHub says it will retire Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Opus 5, and GPT-5.6 Terra across Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask and agent modes, and code completions on November 16, 2026. The exception is Claude Opus 4.8 for individual Copilot subscribers on annual plans, who will retain an Opus offering.
The published migration choices are Claude Opus 5.5 for either retiring Claude model, and GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Luna for GPT-5.6 Terra. GitHub says supported replacements are automatically enabled for Copilot Enterprise and Business customers under default model enablement, unless an administrator has disabled the global default or that specific model.
Search scripts, prompts, CI configuration, and model policies for the retiring names before the date. Enable and test the replacement in the Copilot model selector where policy requires it. This is a Copilot availability change, not evidence that the original model providers have retired the same models.
Related tools
Compare similar tools: GitHub Copilot alternatives
Fact check
Coverage timeline
- Primary sourceGitHubUpcoming deprecation of selected GitHub Copilot models in mid-November