diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index df379e7918b..41e8f9d503b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -10525,6 +10525,44 @@ def main():
     )
     fallback_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_fallback)
 
+    # =========================================================================
+    # migrate command
+    # =========================================================================
+    from hermes_cli.migrate import cmd_migrate, cmd_migrate_xai
+
+    migrate_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "migrate",
+        help="Migrate configuration for retired models or deprecated settings",
+        description=(
+            "Diagnose and (optionally) rewrite the active config.yaml to "
+            "replace references to retired models or deprecated settings."
+        ),
+    )
+    migrate_subparsers = migrate_parser.add_subparsers(dest="migrate_type")
+
+    migrate_xai = migrate_subparsers.add_parser(
+        "xai",
+        help="Migrate xAI models scheduled for retirement on May 15, 2026",
+        description=(
+            "Scan config.yaml for references to xAI models retiring on "
+            "May 15, 2026 and, with --apply, rewrite them in-place to the "
+            "official replacements per the xAI migration guide. The original "
+            "config.yaml is backed up before any rewrite."
+        ),
+    )
+    migrate_xai.add_argument(
+        "--apply",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Rewrite config.yaml in-place (default: dry-run, no writes)",
+    )
+    migrate_xai.add_argument(
+        "--no-backup",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Skip the timestamped backup of config.yaml when applying",
+    )
+    migrate_xai.set_defaults(func=cmd_migrate_xai)
+    migrate_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_migrate)
+
     # =========================================================================
     # gateway command
     # =========================================================================
diff --git a/hermes_cli/migrate.py b/hermes_cli/migrate.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0c947f632e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hermes_cli/migrate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+"""CLI handlers for ``hermes migrate ...``.
+
+Currently exposes only ``hermes migrate xai`` — diagnoses and (with --apply)
+rewrites references to xAI models retired on May 15, 2026.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+from hermes_cli.colors import Colors, color
+from hermes_cli.config import load_config
+
+
+def cmd_migrate(args: Any) -> int:
+    """Dispatcher for ``hermes migrate <subtype>``."""
+    sub = getattr(args, "migrate_type", None)
+    if sub == "xai":
+        return cmd_migrate_xai(args)
+
+    print("usage: hermes migrate xai [--apply] [--no-backup]", file=sys.stderr)
+    return 2
+
+
+def cmd_migrate_xai(args: Any) -> int:
+    """Run xAI May-15 model migration in dry-run or apply mode."""
+    from hermes_cli.xai_retirement import (
+        MIGRATION_GUIDE_URL,
+        RETIREMENT_DATE,
+        apply_migration,
+        find_retired_xai_refs,
+        format_issue,
+    )
+
+    apply = bool(getattr(args, "apply", False))
+    no_backup = bool(getattr(args, "no_backup", False))
+
+    config = load_config()
+    issues = find_retired_xai_refs(config)
+
+    print()
+    print(color(
+        f"◆ xAI Model Retirement Migration ({RETIREMENT_DATE})",
+        Colors.CYAN, Colors.BOLD,
+    ))
+    print()
+
+    if not issues:
+        print(f"  {color('✓', Colors.GREEN)} No retired xAI models in config — nothing to migrate.")
+        return 0
+
+    print(f"  Found {len(issues)} retired xAI model reference(s):")
+    print()
+    for issue in issues:
+        print(f"    {color('⚠', Colors.YELLOW)} {format_issue(issue)}")
+    print()
+    print(f"    {color('→', Colors.CYAN)} Migration guide: {MIGRATION_GUIDE_URL}")
+    print()
+
+    config_path = _resolve_config_path()
+
+    if not apply:
+        print(color("Dry-run mode — no changes written.", Colors.DIM))
+        print(color(
+            "Re-run with `hermes migrate xai --apply` to rewrite "
+            f"{config_path} in-place (backup created automatically).",
+            Colors.DIM,
+        ))
+        return 0
+
+    if not config_path or not config_path.exists():
+        print(
+            f"  {color('✗', Colors.RED)} Could not locate config.yaml "
+            f"(looked at: {config_path})",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        return 1
+
+    try:
+        result = apply_migration(
+            config_path=config_path,
+            issues=issues,
+            backup=not no_backup,
+        )
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(
+            f"  {color('✗', Colors.RED)} Migration failed: {exc}",
+            file=sys.stderr,
+        )
+        return 1
+
+    if not result.config_changed:
+        print(f"  {color('⚠', Colors.YELLOW)} No changes written.")
+        return 0
+
+    if result.backup_path is not None:
+        print(f"  {color('✓', Colors.GREEN)} Backup: {result.backup_path}")
+    print(
+        f"  {color('✓', Colors.GREEN)} Updated {len(result.issues_resolved)} "
+        f"slot(s) in {result.file_path}"
+    )
+    print()
+    print(color(
+        "Run `hermes doctor` to confirm no retired xAI models remain.",
+        Colors.DIM,
+    ))
+    return 0
+
+
+def _resolve_config_path() -> Path:
+    """Best-effort: locate the active config.yaml on disk."""
+    from hermes_cli.config import get_hermes_home
+
+    return get_hermes_home() / "config.yaml"