Esri Story Maps Retirement | Transition to ArcGIS StoryMaps

Continue storytelling in ArcGIS StoryMaps

The retirement of Esri Story Maps in ArcGIS Online has been moved to early 2026. When it retires, you won’t be able to view, edit, or create content and URLs to existing stories won’t work. Published stories will still be available in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 and earlier and in ArcGIS Online until the retirement.

It’s time to switch to ArcGIS StoryMaps. Use the resources on this page to get started.  Note that the Esri Story Maps retirement is different from the StoryMaps.com retirement. ArcGIS StoryMaps is not retiring.

Discover ArcGIS StoryMaps

It’s time to move to ArcGIS StoryMaps

Fast, flexible storytelling

Create professional-looking stories and presentations called briefings, with a single storytelling system.
Interactive digital content

Encourage readers to explore maps, videos, and more to bring context to your content with integrated, interactive blocks.
Any device, anywhere

Create content on tablets, laptops, and desktops then engage readers everywhere with stories that automatically adjust to any screen size.

2026: Esri Story Maps will be retired in ArcGIS Online

Classic Esri Story Maps will be retired in Q1 2026. At that time, you won’t be able to view or edit any stories created with Esri Story Maps.

To preserve the relevant content you created, learn how to migrate it to ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Explore the retirement roadmap

The sun setting over the ocean overlaid with a teal transparency

2023: No new features or enhancements will be added to Esri Story Maps

From 2023 to Q1 2026, no new features or enhancements will be made to Esri Story Maps. However, any critical security vulnerabilities will be thoroughly evaluated and patched as necessary.

In contrast, ArcGIS StoryMaps routinely receives new features and enhancements. These features evolve with readers’ and content creators’ changing needs. They also ensure that you can continue to create immersive stories with maps.

2021: ArcGIS StoryMaps grows

Thanks to continual product development, the most familiar classic storytelling patterns are made available in ArcGIS StoryMaps, and organizations of all sizes successfully transition to it. With thousands of stories published daily, storytellers worldwide embrace ArcGIS StoryMaps.

It is also the end of an era, as the classic Esri Story Maps templates are removed from the ArcGIS Online Configurable Apps Gallery. Esri Story Maps enters extended support, meaning stories can be created but only critical maintenance updates are made to the product.

Learn about the transition

2019: Transition to ArcGIS StoryMaps begins

ArcGIS StoryMaps made its debut at the Esri User Conference in July. Jennifer Bell, the product manager for ArcGIS StoryMaps, transported attendees to Nepal and Tibet as she rebuilt the Mapping Mount Everest story by Alex Tait, a geographer for the National Geographic Society, live.

Immediately after, customers around the world began creating immersive stories and collections with the new product. Their feedback helped transform ArcGIS StoryMaps into a powerful storytelling app for GIS professionals to share their work with the world. The initial retirement timeline for Esri Story Maps and the classic templates was provided at this time.

Play the launch video

2011: Esri’s storytelling journey begins

It started with a question: In the digital age, how could maps and multimedia content be woven together to create rich, interactive experiences?

Then, it grew into a mission: to enable anyone to create visual stories, powered by place, regardless of their technical expertise. The lessons learned—and the feedback received—over the eight years that followed built a critical foundation for the creation of ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Read the full history

Recreate your popular classic stories with ArcGIS StoryMaps

Evaluate the existing classic stories you created using Esri Story Maps and determine which ones are still widely used. The following resources provide tips to help you recreate them with ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Use the story conversion helper

Instead of rebuilding existing Esri Story Maps stories, try the classic story conversion helper—a tool that helps copy text and media to ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Rebuild your stories

Get started with ArcGIS StoryMaps

Make your first story, briefing, or collection with ArcGIS StoryMaps by following these tutorials.

Go to the tutorials

What's new

Discover the latest updates to ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Read the blog

ArcGIS StoryMaps videos

Explore our video collection for content from new and experienced digital storytellers.

Go to the video channel

Get inspired by ArcGIS StoryMaps examples

Discover StoryScape magazine

Get help with ArcGIS StoryMaps

Help documentation

Pricing information

Esri Story Maps