diff --git a/.docker-compose.env b/.docker-compose.env
index 9cb7a59e274..449c9747adf 100644
--- a/.docker-compose.env
+++ b/.docker-compose.env
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ INTERNAL_DOMAIN=http://192.168.168.167:5000/
 API_DOMAIN=http://localhost:8000/
 ELASTIC_URI=192.168.168.167:9200
 ELASTIC6_URI=192.168.168.167:9201
+ELASTIC8_URI=http://192.168.168.167:9202
 OSF_DB_HOST=192.168.168.167
 DB_HOST=192.168.168.167
 REDIS_HOST=redis://192.168.168.167:6379
diff --git a/addons/base/views.py b/addons/base/views.py
index 5ff3d6e7093..ebcd662966b 100644
--- a/addons/base/views.py
+++ b/addons/base/views.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 import waffle
 from django.db import transaction
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
-from elasticsearch import exceptions as es_exceptions
+from elasticsearch6 import exceptions as es_exceptions
 from rest_framework import status as http_status
 
 from api.caching.tasks import update_storage_usage_with_size
diff --git a/api/base/elasticsearch_dsl_views.py b/api/base/elasticsearch_dsl_views.py
index 6199fd82d0e..ecf2825d4e8 100644
--- a/api/base/elasticsearch_dsl_views.py
+++ b/api/base/elasticsearch_dsl_views.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import datetime
 import typing
 
-import elasticsearch_dsl as edsl
+import elasticsearch6_dsl as edsl
 from rest_framework import generics, exceptions as drf_exceptions
 from rest_framework.settings import api_settings as drf_settings
 from api.base.settings.defaults import REPORT_FILENAME_FORMAT
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 
 class ElasticsearchListView(FilterMixin, JSONAPIBaseView, generics.ListAPIView, abc.ABC):
-    '''abstract view class using `elasticsearch_dsl.Search` as a queryset-analogue
+    '''abstract view class using `elasticsearch6_dsl.Search` as a queryset-analogue
 
     builds a `Search` based on `self.get_default_search()` and the request's
     query parameters for filtering, sorting, and pagination -- fetches only
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class ElasticsearchListView(FilterMixin, JSONAPIBaseView, generics.ListAPIView,
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def get_default_search(self) -> edsl.Search | None:
-        '''the base `elasticsearch_dsl.Search` for this list, based on url path
+        '''the base `elasticsearch6_dsl.Search` for this list, based on url path
 
         (common jsonapi query parameters will be considered automatically)
         '''
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def finalize_response(self, request, response, *args, **kwargs):
     # (filtering handled in-view to reuse logic from FilterMixin)
     filter_backends = ()
 
-    # note: because elasticsearch_dsl.Search supports slicing and gives results when iterated on,
+    # note: because elasticsearch6_dsl.Search supports slicing and gives results when iterated on,
     #       it works fine with default pagination
 
     # override rest_framework.generics.GenericAPIView
diff --git a/api/base/settings/defaults.py b/api/base/settings/defaults.py
index efddf2484b8..816586ffcfb 100644
--- a/api/base/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/api/base/settings/defaults.py
@@ -316,10 +316,18 @@
 HASHIDS_SALT = 'pinkhimalayan'
 
 # django-elasticsearch-metrics
-ELASTICSEARCH_DSL = {
-    'default': {
-        'hosts': osf_settings.ELASTIC6_URI,
-        'retry_on_timeout': True,
+DJELME_AUTOSETUP = True
+DJELME_BACKENDS = {
+    'osfmetrics_es6': {
+        'elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6': {
+            'hosts': osf_settings.ELASTIC6_URI,
+            'retry_on_timeout': True,
+        },
+    },
+    'osfmetrics_es8': {
+        'elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic8': {
+            'hosts': osf_settings.ELASTIC8_URI,
+        },
     },
 }
 # Store yearly indices for time-series metrics
diff --git a/api/metrics/views.py b/api/metrics/views.py
index daaa684d13a..c6e4d56c9b9 100644
--- a/api/metrics/views.py
+++ b/api/metrics/views.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 from django.http import JsonResponse, HttpResponse, Http404
 from django.utils import timezone
 
-from elasticsearch.exceptions import NotFoundError, RequestError
-from elasticsearch_dsl.connections import get_connection
+from elasticsearch6.exceptions import NotFoundError, RequestError
+from elasticsearch6_dsl.connections import get_connection
 
 from framework.auth.oauth_scopes import CoreScopes
 
diff --git a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_department_list.py b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_department_list.py
index c2a5c0fcf99..8b785504756 100644
--- a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_department_list.py
+++ b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_department_list.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def populate_counts(self, user, user2, user3, user4, admin, institution):
             department_name='Old Department',
             public_project_count=1,
             private_project_count=1,
-        ).save(refresh=True)
+        ).save()
 
         _this_month = YearMonth.from_date(datetime.date.today())
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def populate_counts(self, user, user2, user3, user4, admin, institution):
             department_name='New Department',
             public_project_count=1,
             private_project_count=1,
-        ).save(refresh=True)
+        ).save()
 
         # A second user entered the department
         InstitutionalUserReport(
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def populate_counts(self, user, user2, user3, user4, admin, institution):
             department_name='New Department',
             public_project_count=1,
             private_project_count=1,
-        ).save(refresh=True)
+        ).save()
 
         # A new department with a single user to test sorting
         InstitutionalUserReport(
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def populate_counts(self, user, user2, user3, user4, admin, institution):
             department_name='Smaller Department',
             public_project_count=1,
             private_project_count=1,
-        ).save(refresh=True)
+        ).save()
 
         # A user with no department
         InstitutionalUserReport(
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def populate_counts(self, user, user2, user3, user4, admin, institution):
             institution_id=institution._id,
             public_project_count=1,
             private_project_count=1,
-        ).save(refresh=True)
+        ).save()
 
     @pytest.fixture()
     def admin(self, institution):
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ def test_auth(self, app, url, user, admin):
         assert resp.json['data'] == []
 
     def test_get(self, app, url, admin, institution, populate_counts):
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
         resp = app.get(url, auth=admin.auth)
 
         assert resp.json['data'] == [{
diff --git a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_summary_metrics.py b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_summary_metrics.py
index 41983458d2e..6dd6c5bbda3 100644
--- a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_summary_metrics.py
+++ b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_summary_metrics.py
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ def test_get_empty(self, app, url, institutional_admin):
         assert resp.json['meta'] == {'version': '2.0'}
 
     def test_get_report(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports, unshown_reports):
+        InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._template_pattern)
         resp = app.get(url, auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
 
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ def test_get_report_with_multiple_months_and_institutions(
             monthly_logged_in_user_count=270,
             monthly_active_user_count=260,
         )
+        InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.get(url, auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
@@ -189,6 +191,7 @@ def test_get_with_valid_report_dates(self, app, url, institution, institutional_
             institution,
             user_count=4133,
         )
+        InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.get(f'{url}?report_yearmonth=2024-08', auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
@@ -213,6 +216,7 @@ def test_get_with_invalid_report_date(self, app, url, institution, institutional
             institution,
             user_count=999,
         )
+        InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._template_pattern)
 
         # Request with an invalid report_date format
         resp = app.get(f'{url}?report_yearmonth=invalid-date', auth=institutional_admin.auth)
@@ -233,6 +237,7 @@ def test_get_without_report_date_uses_most_recent(self, app, url, institution, i
             institution,
             user_count=999,
         )
+        InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionMonthlySummaryReport._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.get(url, auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
@@ -247,5 +252,5 @@ def _summary_report_factory(yearmonth, institution, **kwargs):
         institution_id=institution._id,
         **kwargs,
     )
-    report.save(refresh=True)
+    report.save()
     return report
diff --git a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_user_metric_list.py b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_user_metric_list.py
index 0826dcd0161..d2b99da435f 100644
--- a/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_user_metric_list.py
+++ b/api_tests/institutions/views/test_institution_user_metric_list.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ def test_get_empty(self, app, url, institutional_admin):
         assert _resp.json['data'] == []
 
     def test_get_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports, unshown_reports):
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
         _resp = app.get(url, auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert _resp.status_code == 200
         assert len(_resp.json['data']) == len(reports)
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ def test_get_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports,
             assert len(response_object['attributes']['contacts']) == 0
 
     def test_filter_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports, unshown_reports):
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
         for _query, _expected_user_ids in (
             ({'filter[department]': 'nunavum'}, set()),
             ({'filter[department]': 'incidentally'}, set()),
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ def test_filter_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, report
             assert set(_user_ids(_resp)) == _expected_user_ids
 
     def test_sort_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports, unshown_reports):
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
         for _query, _expected_user_id_list in (
             ({'sort': 'storage_byte_count'}, ['u_sparse', 'u_orc', 'u_blargl', 'u_orcomma']),
             ({'sort': '-storage_byte_count'}, ['u_orcomma', 'u_blargl', 'u_orc', 'u_sparse']),
@@ -144,6 +147,7 @@ def test_sort_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports,
             assert list(_user_ids(_resp)) == _expected_user_id_list
 
     def test_paginate_reports(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institution, reports, unshown_reports):
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
         for _query, _expected_user_id_list in (
             ({'sort': 'storage_byte_count', 'page[size]': 2}, ['u_sparse', 'u_orc']),
             ({'sort': 'storage_byte_count', 'page[size]': 2, 'page': 2}, ['u_blargl', 'u_orcomma']),
@@ -178,6 +182,7 @@ def test_get_report_formats_csv_tsv(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institu
             month_last_active='2018-02',
             month_last_login='2018-02',
         )
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.get(f'{url}?format={format_type}', auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
@@ -281,6 +286,7 @@ def test_csv_tsv_ignores_pagination(self, app, url, institutional_admin, institu
                 str(736662999298 + i),
                 f'Jalen Hurts #{i}',
             ])
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
 
         # Make request for CSV format with page[size]=10
         resp = app.get(f'{url}?format={format_type}', auth=institutional_admin.auth)
@@ -346,6 +352,7 @@ def test_get_report_format_table_json(self, app, url, institutional_admin, insti
             month_last_active='2018-02',
             month_last_login='2018-02',
         )
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.get(f'{url}?format=json_report', auth=institutional_admin.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
@@ -411,6 +418,7 @@ def test_correct_number_of_contact_messages(self, app, url, institutional_admin,
             department_name='a department, or so, that happens, incidentally, to have commas',
             storage_byte_count=736662999298,
         )
+        InstitutionalUserReport._get_connection().indices.refresh(InstitutionalUserReport._template_pattern)
 
         receiver = user1
         with capture_notifications():
@@ -477,5 +485,5 @@ def _report_factory(yearmonth, institution, **kwargs):
         institution_id=institution._id,
         **kwargs,
     )
-    _report.save(refresh=True)
+    _report.save()
     return _report
diff --git a/api_tests/metrics/test_composite_query.py b/api_tests/metrics/test_composite_query.py
index 0cd0b3bb180..016677c3a11 100644
--- a/api_tests/metrics/test_composite_query.py
+++ b/api_tests/metrics/test_composite_query.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import time
 import pytest
 from datetime import datetime
 from osf_tests.factories import (
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ def test_elasticsearch_agg_query(self, app, user, base_url, preprint):
             path=preprint.primary_file.path,
             timestamp=datetime(year=2020, month=2, day=1)
         )
-        time.sleep(1)  # gives ES some time to update
+        PreprintDownload._get_connection().indices.refresh(PreprintDownload._template_pattern)
 
         resp = app.post_json_api(post_url, payload, auth=user.auth)
         assert resp.status_code == 200
diff --git a/api_tests/metrics/test_preprint_metrics.py b/api_tests/metrics/test_preprint_metrics.py
index 1bde8719b75..cd9b8041c2d 100644
--- a/api_tests/metrics/test_preprint_metrics.py
+++ b/api_tests/metrics/test_preprint_metrics.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from django.utils import timezone
 from waffle.testutils import override_switch
-from elasticsearch.exceptions import RequestError
+from elasticsearch6.exceptions import RequestError
 
 from osf import features
 from api.base.settings import API_PRIVATE_BASE as API_BASE
diff --git a/api_tests/metrics/test_registries_moderation_metrics.py b/api_tests/metrics/test_registries_moderation_metrics.py
index 93469b1b3b5..0f3dddb79b6 100644
--- a/api_tests/metrics/test_registries_moderation_metrics.py
+++ b/api_tests/metrics/test_registries_moderation_metrics.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 from waffle.testutils import override_switch
 
-import time
 from osf import features
 from osf_tests.factories import RegistrationFactory, AuthUserFactory
 from osf.utils.workflows import RegistrationModerationStates, RegistrationModerationTriggers
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ def test_record_transitions(self, registration):
                 registration.creator,
                 'Metrics is easy'
             )
-        time.sleep(1)
+        RegistriesModerationMetrics._get_connection().indices.refresh(RegistriesModerationMetrics._template_pattern)
 
         assert RegistriesModerationMetrics.search().count() == 1
         data = RegistriesModerationMetrics.search().execute()['hits']['hits'][0]['_source']
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ def test_registries_moderation_view(self, app, user, base_url, registration):
                 registration.creator,
                 'Metrics is easy'
             )
-        time.sleep(1)
+        RegistriesModerationMetrics._get_connection().indices.refresh(RegistriesModerationMetrics._template_pattern)
 
         res = app.get(base_url, auth=user.auth, expect_errors=True)
         data = res.json
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 9494e3d296e..232b788c0fb 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
-import contextlib
 from unittest import mock
 import logging
 import os
 import re
 
-from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.db import transaction
-from elasticsearch import exceptions as es_exceptions
-from elasticsearch_dsl.connections import connections
-from elasticsearch_metrics.registry import registry as es_metrics_registry
+from elasticsearch6_dsl.connections import connections
+from website import settings as osf_settings
+from elasticsearch_metrics.tests._test_util import RealElasticTestCase
 from faker import Factory
 import pytest
 import responses
@@ -138,47 +136,29 @@ def es6_client(setup_connections):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function', autouse=True)
-def _es_metrics_marker(request, worker_id):
+def _es_metrics_marker(request):
     """Clear out all indices and index templates before and after
     tests marked with `es_metrics`.
     """
     marker = request.node.get_closest_marker('es_metrics')
-    if marker:
-        es6_client = request.getfixturevalue('es6_client')
-        _temp_prefix = 'temp_metrics_'
-        _temp_wildcard = f'{_temp_prefix}-{worker_id}*'
-
-        def _teardown_es_temps():
-            es6_client.indices.delete(index=_temp_wildcard)
-            try:
-                es6_client.indices.delete_template(_temp_wildcard)
-            except es_exceptions.NotFoundError:
-                pass
-
-        @contextlib.contextmanager
-        def _mock_metric_names():
-            with contextlib.ExitStack() as _exit:
-                for _metric_class in es_metrics_registry.get_metrics():
-                    _exit.enter_context(mock.patch.object(
-                        _metric_class,
-                        '_template_name',  # also used to construct index names
-                        f'{_temp_prefix}-{worker_id}{_metric_class._template_name}',
-                    ))
-                    _exit.enter_context(mock.patch.object(
-                        _metric_class,
-                        '_template',  # a wildcard string for indexes and templates
-                        f'{_temp_prefix}-{worker_id}{_metric_class._template}',
-                    ))
-                yield
-
-        _teardown_es_temps()
-        with _mock_metric_names():
-            call_command('sync_metrics')
-            yield
-        _teardown_es_temps()
-    else:
+
+    if not marker:
         yield
+        return
 
+    connections.create_connection(
+        alias='osfmetrics_es6',
+        hosts=osf_settings.ELASTIC6_URI,
+    )
+
+    class _Es6TestCase(RealElasticTestCase, autosetup_djelme_backends=True):
+        ...
+    es6_test_case = _Es6TestCase()
+    es6_test_case.setUp()
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        es6_test_case.tearDown()
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def mock_share_responses():
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index f00b589f7e0..f26c3617b67 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ volumes:
     external: false
   elasticsearch6_data_vol:
     external: false
+  elasticsearch8_data_vol:
+    external: false
   rabbitmq_vol:
     external: false
   ember_osf_web_dist_vol:
@@ -76,6 +78,18 @@ services:
       - elasticsearch6_data_vol:/usr/share/elasticsearch/data
     stdin_open: true
 
+  elasticsearch8:
+    image: docker.elastic.co/elasticsearch/elasticsearch:8.19.11
+    platform: linux/arm64
+    environment:
+      - xpack.security.enabled=false
+      - discovery.type=single-node
+    ports:
+      - 9202:9200
+    volumes:
+      - elasticsearch8_data_vol:/usr/share/elasticsearch/data
+    stdin_open: true
+
   postgres:
     image: postgres:15.4
     command:
diff --git a/osf/management/commands/monthly_reporters_go.py b/osf/management/commands/monthly_reporters_go.py
index 83ed5f6d985..218b45da1df 100644
--- a/osf/management/commands/monthly_reporters_go.py
+++ b/osf/management/commands/monthly_reporters_go.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
 from django.db import OperationalError as DjangoOperationalError
-from elasticsearch.exceptions import ConnectionError as ElasticConnectionError
+from elasticsearch6.exceptions import ConnectionError as ElasticConnectionError
 from psycopg2 import OperationalError as PostgresOperationalError
 
 from framework.celery_tasks import app as celery_app
diff --git a/osf/management/commands/reindex_es6.py b/osf/management/commands/reindex_es6.py
index c37d0e34f2c..8961ea6fff1 100644
--- a/osf/management/commands/reindex_es6.py
+++ b/osf/management/commands/reindex_es6.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import logging
 
 from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
-from elasticsearch_dsl import connections
+from elasticsearch6_dsl import connections
 from elasticsearch_metrics.registry import registry
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/osf/metrics/counted_usage.py b/osf/metrics/counted_usage.py
index 39b3b74129b..41ea012fda5 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/counted_usage.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/counted_usage.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from urllib.parse import urlsplit
 
 from elasticsearch6_dsl import InnerDoc, analyzer, tokenizer
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 from elasticsearch_metrics.signals import pre_save
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 import pytz
diff --git a/osf/metrics/metric_mixin.py b/osf/metrics/metric_mixin.py
index 724ab1958da..df87d5123b1 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/metric_mixin.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/metric_mixin.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import timezone
-from elasticsearch.exceptions import NotFoundError
+from elasticsearch6.exceptions import NotFoundError
 import pytz
 
 
diff --git a/osf/metrics/preprint_metrics.py b/osf/metrics/preprint_metrics.py
index 9d02ec191a2..d284d80827e 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/preprint_metrics.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/preprint_metrics.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from elasticsearch.exceptions import NotFoundError
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+from elasticsearch6.exceptions import NotFoundError
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 
 from .metric_mixin import MetricMixin
 
diff --git a/osf/metrics/registry_metrics.py b/osf/metrics/registry_metrics.py
index 475dca28673..9c779fe8c0b 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/registry_metrics.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/registry_metrics.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 
 from osf.utils.workflows import RegistrationModerationTriggers, RegistrationModerationStates
 from .metric_mixin import MetricMixin
diff --git a/osf/metrics/reporters/public_item_usage.py b/osf/metrics/reporters/public_item_usage.py
index cc401d50bd7..7df405d385f 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/reporters/public_item_usage.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/reporters/public_item_usage.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import waffle
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
-    import elasticsearch_dsl as edsl
+    import elasticsearch6_dsl as edsl
 
 import osf.features
 from osf.metadata.osf_gathering import OsfmapPartition
diff --git a/osf/metrics/reports.py b/osf/metrics/reports.py
index ffbcfb4c9b8..9d71ea7e8c2 100644
--- a/osf/metrics/reports.py
+++ b/osf/metrics/reports.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 from elasticsearch6_dsl import InnerDoc
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 from elasticsearch_metrics.signals import pre_save as metrics_pre_save
 
 from osf.metrics.utils import stable_key, YearMonth
diff --git a/osf_tests/management_commands/test_reindex_es6.py b/osf_tests/management_commands/test_reindex_es6.py
index 5e01be656a8..36158c18da6 100644
--- a/osf_tests/management_commands/test_reindex_es6.py
+++ b/osf_tests/management_commands/test_reindex_es6.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     AuthUserFactory
 )
 
-from elasticsearch_metrics.field import Keyword
+from elasticsearch6_dsl import Keyword
 
 from tests.json_api_test_app import JSONAPITestApp
 
diff --git a/osf_tests/metrics/test_daily_report.py b/osf_tests/metrics/test_daily_report.py
index 46375184f95..9301cdb114f 100644
--- a/osf_tests/metrics/test_daily_report.py
+++ b/osf_tests/metrics/test_daily_report.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 
 from osf.metrics.reports import DailyReport, ReportInvalid
 
diff --git a/osf_tests/metrics/test_metric_mixin.py b/osf_tests/metrics/test_metric_mixin.py
index 4a2c32f7e71..ec9b2d302de 100644
--- a/osf_tests/metrics/test_metric_mixin.py
+++ b/osf_tests/metrics/test_metric_mixin.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from unittest import mock
 import pytest
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 
 from osf.metrics.metric_mixin import MetricMixin
 from osf.models import OSFUser
diff --git a/osf_tests/metrics/test_monthly_report.py b/osf_tests/metrics/test_monthly_report.py
index 3c841e6555c..cc8c4137cb2 100644
--- a/osf_tests/metrics/test_monthly_report.py
+++ b/osf_tests/metrics/test_monthly_report.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
-from elasticsearch_metrics import metrics
+import elasticsearch_metrics.imps.elastic6 as metrics
 
 from osf.metrics.reports import MonthlyReport, ReportInvalid, PublicItemUsageReport
 from osf.metrics.utils import YearMonth
diff --git a/poetry.lock b/poetry.lock
index 83ca13f7a00..f0dca07d95c 100644
--- a/poetry.lock
+++ b/poetry.lock
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# This file is automatically @generated by Poetry 2.2.1 and should not be changed by hand.
+# This file is automatically @generated by Poetry 2.3.2 and should not be changed by hand.
 
 [[package]]
 name = "amqp"
@@ -1085,27 +1085,24 @@ Django = ">=2.0"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "django-elasticsearch-metrics"
-version = "2022.0.6"
+version = "2026.0.3"
 description = "Django app for storing time-series metrics in Elasticsearch."
 optional = false
-python-versions = "*"
+python-versions = ">=3.10,<4"
 groups = ["main"]
 files = []
 develop = false
 
-[package.dependencies]
-elasticsearch6-dsl = ">=6.3.0,<7.0.0"
-
 [package.extras]
-dev = ["factory-boy (==2.11.1)", "flake8 (==5.0.4)", "flake8-bugbear (==18.8.0)", "konch (>=3.0.0)", "mock", "pre-commit (==2.17.0)", "pytest", "pytest-django (==3.10.0)", "tox"]
-lint = ["flake8 (==5.0.4)", "flake8-bugbear (==18.8.0)", "pre-commit (==2.17.0)"]
-tests = ["factory-boy (==2.11.1)", "mock", "pytest", "pytest-django (==3.10.0)"]
+anydjango = ["django"]
+elastic6 = ["elasticsearch6-dsl (>=6.3.0,<7.0.0)"]
+elastic8 = ["elasticsearch8 (>=8.0.0,<9.0.0)"]
 
 [package.source]
 type = "git"
 url = "https://github.com/CenterForOpenScience/django-elasticsearch-metrics.git"
-reference = "f5b9312914154e213aa01731e934c593e3434269"
-resolved_reference = "f5b9312914154e213aa01731e934c593e3434269"
+reference = "bb1c84c148ac1d2b1079b2b113e52a01a861c8a6"
+resolved_reference = "bb1c84c148ac1d2b1079b2b113e52a01a861c8a6"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "django-extensions"
@@ -1189,7 +1186,7 @@ files = [
 [package.dependencies]
 autopep8 = "*"
 Django = ">=3.2"
-gprof2dot = ">=2017.09.19"
+gprof2dot = ">=2017.9.19"
 sqlparse = "*"
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1361,14 +1358,14 @@ stone = ">=2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "elastic-transport"
-version = "8.13.0"
+version = "8.17.1"
 description = "Transport classes and utilities shared among Python Elastic client libraries"
 optional = false
-python-versions = ">=3.7"
+python-versions = ">=3.8"
 groups = ["main"]
 files = [
-    {file = "elastic-transport-8.13.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:2410ec1ff51221e8b3a01c0afa9f0d0498e1386a269283801f5c12f98e42dc45"},
-    {file = "elastic_transport-8.13.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:aec890afdddd057762b27ff3553b0be8fa4673ec1a4fd922dfbd00325874bb3d"},
+    {file = "elastic_transport-8.17.1-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:192718f498f1d10c5e9aa8b9cf32aed405e469a7f0e9d6a8923431dbb2c59fb8"},
+    {file = "elastic_transport-8.17.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:5edef32ac864dca8e2f0a613ef63491ee8d6b8cfb52881fa7313ba9290cac6d2"},
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
@@ -1376,46 +1373,7 @@ certifi = "*"
 urllib3 = ">=1.26.2,<3"
 
 [package.extras]
-develop = ["aiohttp", "furo", "httpx", "mock", "opentelemetry-api", "opentelemetry-sdk", "orjson", "pytest", "pytest-asyncio", "pytest-cov", "pytest-httpserver", "pytest-mock", "requests", "respx", "sphinx (>2)", "sphinx-autodoc-typehints", "trustme"]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "elasticsearch"
-version = "6.8.2"
-description = "Python client for Elasticsearch"
-optional = false
-python-versions = ">=2.6, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, <4"
-groups = ["main"]
-files = [
-    {file = "elasticsearch-6.8.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:1aedf00b73f5d1e77cb4df70fec58f2efb664be4ce2686374239aa6c0373c65c"},
-    {file = "elasticsearch-6.8.2.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:c3a560bb83e4981b5a5c82080d2ceb99686d33692ef53365656129478aa5ddb2"},
-]
-
-[package.dependencies]
-urllib3 = ">=1.21.1"
-
-[package.extras]
-develop = ["coverage", "mock", "nose", "nosexcover", "numpy", "pandas", "pyyaml", "requests (>=2.0.0,<3.0.0)", "sphinx (<1.7)", "sphinx-rtd-theme"]
-requests = ["requests (>=2.4.0,<3.0.0)"]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "elasticsearch-dsl"
-version = "6.4.0"
-description = "Python client for Elasticsearch"
-optional = false
-python-versions = "*"
-groups = ["main"]
-files = [
-    {file = "elasticsearch-dsl-6.4.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:26416f4dd46ceca43d62ef74970d9de4bdd6f4b0f163316f0b432c9e61a08bec"},
-    {file = "elasticsearch_dsl-6.4.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:f60aea7fd756ac1fbe7ce114bbf4949aefbf495dfe8896640e787c67344f12f6"},
-]
-
-[package.dependencies]
-elasticsearch = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"
-python-dateutil = "*"
-six = "*"
-
-[package.extras]
-develop = ["coverage (<5.0.0)", "mock", "pytest (>=3.0.0)", "pytest-cov", "pytz", "sphinx", "sphinx-rtd-theme"]
+develop = ["aiohttp", "furo", "httpx", "opentelemetry-api", "opentelemetry-sdk", "orjson", "pytest", "pytest-asyncio", "pytest-cov", "pytest-httpserver", "pytest-mock", "requests", "respx", "sphinx (>2)", "sphinx-autodoc-typehints", "trustme"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "elasticsearch2"
@@ -1471,6 +1429,32 @@ six = "*"
 [package.extras]
 develop = ["coverage (<5.0.0)", "mock", "pytest (>=3.0.0)", "pytest-cov", "pytz", "sphinx", "sphinx-rtd-theme"]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "elasticsearch8"
+version = "8.19.3"
+description = "Python client for Elasticsearch"
+optional = false
+python-versions = ">=3.8"
+groups = ["main"]
+files = [
+    {file = "elasticsearch8-8.19.3-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:4b52e59e68aea6f59bf37c28f6f4512333302dd8a52e26c17d0f10c076d833a1"},
+    {file = "elasticsearch8-8.19.3.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:7effe95b360241b6d56ef68219037a90ad0f56723614db54bbe57d33058402f4"},
+]
+
+[package.dependencies]
+elastic-transport = ">=8.15.1,<9"
+python-dateutil = "*"
+typing-extensions = "*"
+
+[package.extras]
+async = ["aiohttp (>=3,<4)"]
+dev = ["aiohttp", "black", "build", "coverage", "isort", "jinja2", "mapbox-vector-tile", "mypy", "nox", "numpy", "orjson", "pandas", "pyarrow ; python_version < \"3.14\"", "pyright", "pytest", "pytest-asyncio", "pytest-cov", "pytest-mock", "python-dateutil", "pyyaml (>=5.4)", "requests (>=2,<3)", "simsimd", "tqdm", "twine", "types-python-dateutil", "types-tqdm", "unasync"]
+docs = ["sphinx", "sphinx-autodoc-typehints", "sphinx-rtd-theme (>=2.0)"]
+orjson = ["orjson (>=3)"]
+pyarrow = ["pyarrow (>=1)"]
+requests = ["requests (>=2.4.0,!=2.32.2,<3.0.0)"]
+vectorstore-mmr = ["numpy (>=1)", "simsimd (>=3)"]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "email-validator"
 version = "2.1.1"
@@ -1755,12 +1739,12 @@ files = [
 [package.dependencies]
 google-auth = ">=2.14.1,<3.0.dev0"
 googleapis-common-protos = ">=1.56.2,<2.0.dev0"
-proto-plus = ">=1.22.3,<2.0.0dev"
+proto-plus = ">=1.22.3,<2.0.0.dev0"
 protobuf = ">=3.19.5,<3.20.0 || >3.20.0,<3.20.1 || >3.20.1,<4.21.0 || >4.21.0,<4.21.1 || >4.21.1,<4.21.2 || >4.21.2,<4.21.3 || >4.21.3,<4.21.4 || >4.21.4,<4.21.5 || >4.21.5,<6.0.0.dev0"
 requests = ">=2.18.0,<3.0.0.dev0"
 
 [package.extras]
-grpc = ["grpcio (>=1.33.2,<2.0dev)", "grpcio (>=1.49.1,<2.0dev) ; python_version >= \"3.11\"", "grpcio-status (>=1.33.2,<2.0.dev0)", "grpcio-status (>=1.49.1,<2.0.dev0) ; python_version >= \"3.11\""]
+grpc = ["grpcio (>=1.33.2,<2.0.dev0)", "grpcio (>=1.49.1,<2.0.dev0) ; python_version >= \"3.11\"", "grpcio-status (>=1.33.2,<2.0.dev0)", "grpcio-status (>=1.49.1,<2.0.dev0) ; python_version >= \"3.11\""]
 grpcgcp = ["grpcio-gcp (>=0.2.2,<1.0.dev0)"]
 grpcio-gcp = ["grpcio-gcp (>=0.2.2,<1.0.dev0)"]
 
@@ -1836,11 +1820,11 @@ files = [
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-google-api-core = ">=1.31.6,<2.0.dev0 || >2.3.0,<3.0.0dev"
-google-auth = ">=1.25.0,<3.0dev"
+google-api-core = ">=1.31.6,<2.0.dev0 || >2.3.0,<3.0.0.dev0"
+google-auth = ">=1.25.0,<3.0.dev0"
 
 [package.extras]
-grpc = ["grpcio (>=1.38.0,<2.0dev)", "grpcio-status (>=1.38.0,<2.0.dev0)"]
+grpc = ["grpcio (>=1.38.0,<2.0.dev0)", "grpcio-status (>=1.38.0,<2.0.dev0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "google-cloud-storage"
@@ -1855,15 +1839,15 @@ files = [
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-google-api-core = ">=2.15.0,<3.0.0dev"
-google-auth = ">=2.26.1,<3.0dev"
-google-cloud-core = ">=2.3.0,<3.0dev"
-google-crc32c = ">=1.0,<2.0dev"
+google-api-core = ">=2.15.0,<3.0.0.dev0"
+google-auth = ">=2.26.1,<3.0.dev0"
+google-cloud-core = ">=2.3.0,<3.0.dev0"
+google-crc32c = ">=1.0,<2.0.dev0"
 google-resumable-media = ">=2.6.0"
-requests = ">=2.18.0,<3.0.0dev"
+requests = ">=2.18.0,<3.0.0.dev0"
 
 [package.extras]
-protobuf = ["protobuf (<5.0.0dev)"]
+protobuf = ["protobuf (<5.0.0.dev0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "google-crc32c"
@@ -1918,11 +1902,11 @@ files = [
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-google-crc32c = ">=1.0,<2.0dev"
+google-crc32c = ">=1.0,<2.0.dev0"
 
 [package.extras]
-aiohttp = ["aiohttp (>=3.6.2,<4.0.0dev)", "google-auth (>=1.22.0,<2.0dev)"]
-requests = ["requests (>=2.18.0,<3.0.0dev)"]
+aiohttp = ["aiohttp (>=3.6.2,<4.0.0.dev0)", "google-auth (>=1.22.0,<2.0.dev0)"]
+requests = ["requests (>=2.18.0,<3.0.0.dev0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "googleapis-common-protos"
@@ -2301,7 +2285,7 @@ files = [
 
 [package.dependencies]
 attrs = ">=22.2.0"
-jsonschema-specifications = ">=2023.03.6"
+jsonschema-specifications = ">=2023.3.6"
 referencing = ">=0.28.4"
 rpds-py = ">=0.7.1"
 
@@ -3058,7 +3042,7 @@ files = [
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-protobuf = ">=3.19.0,<6.0.0dev"
+protobuf = ">=3.19.0,<6.0.0.dev0"
 
 [package.extras]
 testing = ["google-api-core (>=1.31.5)"]
@@ -4088,10 +4072,10 @@ files = [
 ]
 
 [package.dependencies]
-botocore = ">=1.33.2,<2.0a.0"
+botocore = ">=1.33.2,<2.0a0"
 
 [package.extras]
-crt = ["botocore[crt] (>=1.33.2,<2.0a.0)"]
+crt = ["botocore[crt] (>=1.33.2,<2.0a0)"]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "schema"
@@ -4412,6 +4396,18 @@ files = [
     {file = "types_python_dateutil-2.9.0.20240906-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:27c8cc2d058ccb14946eebcaaa503088f4f6dbc4fb6093d3d456a49aef2753f6"},
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "typing-extensions"
+version = "4.15.0"
+description = "Backported and Experimental Type Hints for Python 3.9+"
+optional = false
+python-versions = ">=3.9"
+groups = ["main"]
+files = [
+    {file = "typing_extensions-4.15.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:f0fa19c6845758ab08074a0cfa8b7aecb71c999ca73d62883bc25cc018c4e548"},
+    {file = "typing_extensions-4.15.0.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:0cea48d173cc12fa28ecabc3b837ea3cf6f38c6d1136f85cbaaf598984861466"},
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tzdata"
 version = "2024.1"
@@ -4715,4 +4711,4 @@ testing = ["coverage (>=5.0.3)", "zope.event", "zope.testing"]
 [metadata]
 lock-version = "2.1"
 python-versions = "^3.12"
-content-hash = "2bc7e95f03d05e8b3335514e887b590acdab5cb2a44fc47bde870bdf8e465bf2"
+content-hash = "c3108a036ae092e35f7696ffe230e271b774bb12e546db77bb8b12b5fb6eca7d"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b1646584209..b40cdc704ab 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ Markupsafe = "2.1.5"
 blinker = "1.7.0"
 furl = "2.1.3"
 elasticsearch2 = "2.5.1"
-elasticsearch = "6.8.2" # max version to support elasticsearch6
-elasticsearch-dsl = "6.4.0" # max version to support elasticsearch6
-elastic-transport = "8.13.0"
+elasticsearch6= "6.8.2"
+elasticsearch6-dsl = "6.4.0"
+elasticsearch8 = "8.19.3"
+elastic-transport = "8.17.1"
 google-api-python-client = "2.123.0"
 google-auth = "2.29.0"
 Babel = "2.14.0"
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ datacite = "1.1.3"
 rdflib = "7.0.0"
 colorlog = "6.8.2"
 # Metrics
-django-elasticsearch-metrics = {git ="https://github.com/CenterForOpenScience/django-elasticsearch-metrics.git", rev = "f5b9312914154e213aa01731e934c593e3434269"} # branch is feature/pin-esdsl
+django-elasticsearch-metrics = {git ="https://github.com/CenterForOpenScience/django-elasticsearch-metrics.git", rev = "bb1c84c148ac1d2b1079b2b113e52a01a861c8a6"}
 # Impact Metrics CSV Export
 djangorestframework-csv = "3.0.2"
 gevent = "24.2.1"
diff --git a/website/settings/defaults.py b/website/settings/defaults.py
index 2d3dcecba3b..d0ae58dc863 100644
--- a/website/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/website/settings/defaults.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ def parent_dir(path):
 SEARCH_ENGINE = 'elastic'  # Can be 'elastic', or None
 ELASTIC_URI = '127.0.0.1:9200'
 ELASTIC6_URI = os.environ.get('ELASTIC6_URI', '127.0.0.1:9201')
+ELASTIC8_URI = os.environ.get('ELASTIC8_URI', '127.0.0.1:9202')
 ELASTIC_TIMEOUT = 10
 ELASTIC_INDEX = 'website'
 ELASTIC_KWARGS = {