Midjourney V8.2 Becomes the Default - and There Is No V9

Midjourney made V8.2 the default version on 24 July 2026. The update targets aesthetics, image quality and personalisation, which Midjourney characterises as more creative, bold, sophisticated and edgy output.

The 2026 version history, per Midjourney's own documentation:

• V8.0 - early access alpha from 17 March 2026, available on the Midjourney Alpha site until 24 July 2026, now retired.
• V8.1 - released 14 April 2026; the default from 10 June to 23 July. Midjourney's fastest model, with standard jobs rendering roughly 4-5 times faster than earlier versions.
• V8.2 - default since 24 July 2026.

On V9: it has not been announced or released. V9 appears in earlier Midjourney communications, which is where the recurring "V9 is out" claims come from, but it is absent from the V8.1 and V8.2 announcements and from current documentation. Our roster entry for Midjourney V8.2 is the current model.