SUSE Linux Base Container Images latest tag moving to SUSE Linux 16

As we approach the New Year, we are announcing a significant update to the Base Images of the SUSE Linux Base Container Images  (BCI).

Effective 15 January 2026, expect the latest tag for our core‑infrastructure images to point to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server  16 (SLES 16).

SUSE is continuing to maintain SLE BCI 15 SP7 base containers until the end of SLES 15 SP7 general support (31 July 2031). If you prefer to stay on SLES 15, start using explicit version tags today (e.g., 16.0 or 15.7) so that you remain on your chosen baseline until you decide otherwise.

We believe that SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 is an upgrade. If you do find an issue that prevents you from moving to the latest version, please file a support ticket. 

Scope of this change

Please note that this change applies exclusively to the base images:

• bci-base

• bci-minimal

• bci-micro

• bci-busybox

• bci-init

• All corresponding FIPS variants

Why SUSE Linux 16? Available now, ready for tomorrow

We are thrilled to bring our base container images in line with our latest major operating system release.

Moving the latest tag to SLE 16 ensures that your container foundations are synchronized with the newest lifecycle capabilities and security standards of the SUSE ecosystem. It provides a fresh, modern entry point for your workloads, fully backed by the stability you expect from SUSE.

For a deeper dive into what the new OS platform brings to the table, refer to the official SUSE Linux 16 announcement blog.

Pin your Version

With the switch to SUSE Linux 16, the latest tag may introduce breaking changes for workloads that expect the SLE 15 environment (e.g., older glibc, legacy init scripts, or specific file paths). For those, you can switch to using the tag 15.7, which always refers to the latest supported and updated SLES 15 SP7 image.

• To explicitly adopt the new SUSE Linux 16 base, use the tag: 16.0
  • Example: registry.suse.com/bci/bci-base:16.0

Continued support for SLE 15 SP7

We understand that stability is key, and not every project is ready to jump to a new major OS version immediately.

If you prefer to stay on the current baseline, we will continue to fully maintain and support SLE 15 SP7 images. You can remain on this track by simply updating your Dockerfiles/Containerfiles to use the explicit tag:

• Tag: 15.7

  • Example: registry.suse.com/bci/bci-base:15.7

For a full list of available tags and image details, please verify on registry.suse.com.