Drupal at 25: Stability, Innovation, and What Comes Next

After nearly 20 years of working with Drupal across organizations of all shapes and sizes, it is hard not to feel a sense of appreciation for where the platform and its community stand today. Attending recent Acquia Engage and Drupal events reinforced something that is easy to overlook in a remote-first world: the power of being in the room with the people who build, shape, and move this ecosystem forward.

There is a shared sense of momentum right now. The Drupal and Acquia roadmaps are filled with meaningful innovation, but what stands out even more is the consistency of the community behind them. Many of the same faces are still here, alongside new contributors and organizations bringing fresh perspectives. That continuity matters. It speaks to a culture that is willing to evolve, adapt, and continuously improve.

It was great to see so many people in person, an opportunity I value at each of these conferences. We’re so “online” these days that it can be easy to forget the power of in-person connections. Looking around at familiar faces, agencies old and new, I thought about just how far we’ve all come, myself included. It’s humbling. What we have in common is our willingness to evolve, adapt, and keep Drupal current with the times, which impacts us personally and professionally alike.

A Milestone Worth Recognizing

Drupal turns 25 this year. So do Sitecore and Adobe Experience Manager. Velir specializes in all three, and for good reason.

In an industry where many platforms and tools fade within a few years, Drupal has continued to grow, modernize, and remain relevant. Its longevity is not accidental. It is the result of a global community that has invested deeply in open source, collaboration, and long-term thinking.

At the conference, a colleague shared a comment they heard from a prospective lead: “25? That’s still around?”

It is an understandable reaction on the surface. In technology, new is often equated with better. But that perspective misses an important point.

Many of the tools we rely on every day are built on foundations that are far older. The iOS that powers modern iPhones is derived from macOS, whose roots trace back to the 1980s. Linux, first released in 1991, underpins much of today’s global server infrastructure. And C, introduced nearly 50 years ago, remains foundational to countless systems still in use today. Television is almost 100 years old, and pretty much everyone loves Netflix.

These technologies are not relevant in spite of their age. They are relevant because they have continued to evolve and provide value.

At Velir, we see this as a key differentiator when advising clients. Stability and longevity are not just technical considerations. They are business decisions. Drupal’s track record gives organizations confidence that they are building on a platform designed to last.

Innovation That Matters

What is especially compelling today is not just that Drupal has endured, but how it continues to evolve.

We are seeing meaningful advancements across the platform, including:

• Deeper AI integration that enhances content workflows, search, personalization, and observability
• ECA (Event-Condition-Action) capabilities that allow site builders to create new functionality by creating diagrams in the admin
• New page-building approaches, like Drupal Canvas, that improve the content authoring experience with a modern interface
• Continued investment in performance, composability, and modern development practices

These are not incremental improvements. They reflect a platform that is actively responding to how digital experiences are being built today.

For organizations that may not have revisited Drupal recently, the difference is significant. The platform has matured into a flexible, modern foundation capable of supporting complex digital ecosystems.

The Value of Community

Beyond the technology, the Drupal community remains one of its greatest strengths.

There is a level of collaboration and shared ownership that is difficult to replicate. Whether it is contributors improving core, agencies sharing approaches, or partners aligning around common goals, there is a collective effort to move the platform forward.

That spirit is especially visible at in-person events. Conversations that start casually often lead to new ideas, partnerships, and solutions that benefit the broader ecosystem. It is a reminder that Drupal’s success is not just about code. It is about the people, too.

Where Velir Fits In

At Velir, we have spent decades helping organizations navigate their digital evolution using these platforms as a foundation. That experience allows us to bring both technical expertise and strategic perspective to every engagement.

We understand how to translate Drupal’s capabilities into real business outcomes, whether that means building scalable platforms, integrating with complex systems, implementing AI, or enabling teams to work more efficiently.

As Drupal continues to evolve, so do we. Our focus is on helping clients take advantage of what the platform offers today while positioning them for what comes next.

Looking Ahead

If you have not explored Drupal in a while, or if you are evaluating platforms for your next digital initiative, this is an ideal time to take a fresh look.

I have personally dedicated 20 years to Drupal, released several dozen modules and themes, co-wrote a book, and continue to push the envelope to serve the needs of our community and our customers. I plan on seeing this through for another 20 years.

For Drupal’s 25th birthday, I am working on a few surprises this summer. You’ll definitely hear about that later.

At 25 years in, Drupal is not slowing down. It is accelerating, shaped by a community that continues to show up, innovate, and push the platform forward.