Nano Banana 2.1 is released on October 6, 2026, and gemini-3.1-flash-image is deprecated

What you get

The Gemini API changelog entry for October 6, 2026 announces Nano Banana 2.1, model ID gemini-nano-banana-2.1. The model page lists it as the stable version.

The changelog says it updates Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image) in visual quality, following the prompt, character consistency, text in images, and wide and panoramic aspect ratios at 1K, 2K and 4K. The model page gives 1K as the default output size.

The same entry says gemini-3.1-flash-image is deprecated, with no shutdown date announced, and tells you to move to gemini-nano-banana-2.1. The image generation guide recommends Nano Banana 2.1 for all new projects.

Prerequisites

A Gemini API key in GEMINI_API_KEY
An app that makes images with the Gemini API

Steps

Search your code and settings for gemini-3.1-flash-image.
Replace it with gemini-nano-banana-2.1. Change only the model name.
Run a few of your usual image prompts and compare the results with your old ones, including any wide or panoramic sizes you use.
Check the deprecations page from time to time for a shutdown date for gemini-3.1-flash-image.

Test it

Request one image with the model set to gemini-nano-banana-2.1 and confirm an image comes back with no error.

Not confirmed