diff --git a/cli/command/completion/functions_test.go b/cli/command/completion/functions_test.go
index bb2fa1b62d..87706005c9 100644
--- a/cli/command/completion/functions_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/completion/functions_test.go
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ package completion
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
-	"sort"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/image"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/network"
@@ -177,9 +177,10 @@ func TestCompleteEnvVarNames(t *testing.T) {
 	values, directives := EnvVarNames()(nil, nil, "")
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal(directives&cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp), "Should not perform file completion")
 
-	sort.Strings(values)
 	expected := []string{"ENV_A", "ENV_B"}
-	assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(values, expected))
+	assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(values, expected, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b string) bool {
+		return a < b
+	})))
 }
 
 func TestCompleteFileNames(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/cli/command/container/create_test.go b/cli/command/container/create_test.go
index 1c6ec92649..9c0099904e 100644
--- a/cli/command/container/create_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/container/create_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli/config/configfile"
 	"github.com/docker/cli/internal/test"
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/system"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/client"
@@ -284,12 +284,12 @@ func TestCreateContainerWithProxyConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		"ALL_PROXY=allProxy",
 		"all_proxy=allProxy",
 	}
-	sort.Strings(expected)
 
 	fakeCLI := test.NewFakeCli(&fakeClient{
 		createContainerFunc: func(options client.ContainerCreateOptions) (client.ContainerCreateResult, error) {
-			sort.Strings(options.Config.Env)
-			assert.DeepEqual(t, options.Config.Env, expected)
+			assert.DeepEqual(t, options.Config.Env, expected, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b string) bool {
+				return a < b
+			}))
 			return client.ContainerCreateResult{}, nil
 		},
 	})
diff --git a/cli/command/container/restart_test.go b/cli/command/container/restart_test.go
index 569571b717..4754446866 100644
--- a/cli/command/container/restart_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/container/restart_test.go
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/internal/test"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/client"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 	is "gotest.tools/v3/assert/cmp"
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ func TestRestart(t *testing.T) {
 			} else {
 				assert.Check(t, is.Nil(err))
 			}
-			sort.Strings(restarted)
-			assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(restarted, tc.restarted))
+			assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(restarted, tc.restarted, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b string) bool {
+				return a < b
+			})))
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/container/rm_test.go b/cli/command/container/rm_test.go
index 4ab14407bb..5e31e9abbc 100644
--- a/cli/command/container/rm_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/container/rm_test.go
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/internal/test"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/client"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 )
@@ -53,8 +53,10 @@ func TestRemoveForce(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.NilError(t, err)
 			}
 			assert.Equal(t, cli.ErrBuffer().String(), "")
-			sort.Strings(removed)
-			assert.DeepEqual(t, removed, []string{"mycontainer", "nosuchcontainer"})
+			expected := []string{"mycontainer", "nosuchcontainer"}
+			assert.DeepEqual(t, removed, expected, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b string) bool {
+				return a < b
+			}))
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/container/stop_test.go b/cli/command/container/stop_test.go
index ed7fc335e2..484e7b4f39 100644
--- a/cli/command/container/stop_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/container/stop_test.go
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/internal/test"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/client"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 	is "gotest.tools/v3/assert/cmp"
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@ func TestStop(t *testing.T) {
 			} else {
 				assert.Check(t, is.Nil(err))
 			}
-			sort.Strings(stopped)
-			assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(stopped, tc.stopped))
+			assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(stopped, tc.stopped, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b string) bool {
+				return a < b
+			})))
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/formatter/buildcache.go b/cli/command/formatter/buildcache.go
index 3a3c349988..d63cf05d63 100644
--- a/cli/command/formatter/buildcache.go
+++ b/cli/command/formatter/buildcache.go
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package formatter
 
 import (
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -52,20 +55,20 @@ shared: {{.Shared}}
 }
 
 func buildCacheSort(buildCache []build.CacheRecord) {
-	sort.Slice(buildCache, func(i, j int) bool {
-		lui, luj := buildCache[i].LastUsedAt, buildCache[j].LastUsedAt
+	slices.SortFunc(buildCache, func(a, b build.CacheRecord) int {
 		switch {
-		case lui == nil && luj == nil:
-			return strings.Compare(buildCache[i].ID, buildCache[j].ID) < 0
-		case lui == nil:
-			return true
-		case luj == nil:
-			return false
-		case lui.Equal(*luj):
-			return strings.Compare(buildCache[i].ID, buildCache[j].ID) < 0
-		default:
-			return lui.Before(*luj)
+		case a.LastUsedAt == nil && b.LastUsedAt == nil:
+			return strings.Compare(a.ID, b.ID)
+		case a.LastUsedAt == nil:
+			return -1
+		case b.LastUsedAt == nil:
+			return 1
 		}
+
+		if c := a.LastUsedAt.Compare(*b.LastUsedAt); c != 0 {
+			return c
+		}
+		return strings.Compare(a.ID, b.ID)
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/command/formatter/container.go b/cli/command/formatter/container.go
index b65209c26c..7b77a8a753 100644
--- a/cli/command/formatter/container.go
+++ b/cli/command/formatter/container.go
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 package formatter
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ func (c *ContainerContext) Labels() string {
 	for k, v := range c.c.Labels {
 		joinLabels = append(joinLabels, k+"="+v)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(joinLabels)
+	slices.Sort(joinLabels)
 	return strings.Join(joinLabels, ",")
 }
 
@@ -395,9 +396,7 @@ func DisplayablePorts(ports []container.PortSummary) string {
 	var result []string
 	var hostMappings []string
 	var groupMapKeys []string
-	sort.Slice(ports, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return comparePorts(ports[i], ports[j])
-	})
+	slices.SortFunc(ports, comparePorts)
 
 	for _, port := range ports {
 		current := port.PrivatePort
@@ -452,18 +451,13 @@ func formGroup(key string, start, last uint16) string {
 	return group + "/" + groupType
 }
 
-func comparePorts(i, j container.PortSummary) bool {
-	if i.PrivatePort != j.PrivatePort {
-		return i.PrivatePort < j.PrivatePort
-	}
-
-	if i.IP != j.IP {
-		return i.IP.Less(j.IP)
-	}
-
-	if i.PublicPort != j.PublicPort {
-		return i.PublicPort < j.PublicPort
-	}
-
-	return i.Type < j.Type
+// comparePorts compares ports by private port, IP address, public port,
+// and protocol, in that order.
+func comparePorts(a, b container.PortSummary) int {
+	return cmp.Or(
+		cmp.Compare(a.PrivatePort, b.PrivatePort),
+		a.IP.Compare(b.IP),
+		cmp.Compare(a.PublicPort, b.PublicPort),
+		cmp.Compare(a.Type, b.Type),
+	)
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/image/build/internal/git/gitutils.go b/cli/command/image/build/internal/git/gitutils.go
index e9245cb098..82b7188324 100644
--- a/cli/command/image/build/internal/git/gitutils.go
+++ b/cli/command/image/build/internal/git/gitutils.go
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package git
 
 import (
@@ -7,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/moby/sys/symlink"
@@ -202,7 +206,7 @@ func (repo gitRepo) checkout(root string) (string, error) {
 }
 
 func (repo gitRepo) gitWithinDir(dir string, args ...string) ([]byte, error) {
-	args = append([]string{"-c", "protocol.file.allow=never"}, args...) // Block sneaky repositories from using repos from the filesystem as submodules.
+	args = slices.Concat([]string{"-c", "protocol.file.allow=never"}, args) // Block sneaky repositories from using repos from the filesystem as submodules.
 	cmd := exec.Command("git", args...)
 	cmd.Dir = dir
 	// Disable unsafe remote protocols.
diff --git a/cli/command/image/build_test.go b/cli/command/image/build_test.go
index 88d94d6cde..1d61d05bbe 100644
--- a/cli/command/image/build_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/image/build_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli/streams"
@@ -211,6 +211,6 @@ func (f *fakeBuild) filenames(t *testing.T) []string {
 	for _, header := range h {
 		names = append(names, header.Name)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(names)
+	slices.Sort(names)
 	return names
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/image/push_test.go b/cli/command/image/push_test.go
index e0e0195e6a..3dbca45ca9 100644
--- a/cli/command/image/push_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/image/push_test.go
@@ -102,9 +102,11 @@ func TestRunPushRespectsNoColorForAuxNotes(t *testing.T) {
 				SelectedManifest:             ocispec.Descriptor{Digest: "sha256:2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222"},
 			})
 			assert.NilError(t, err)
-			line := append([]byte(`{"aux":`), aux...)
-			line = append(line, '}', '\n')
-			return fakeStreamResult{ReadCloser: io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(line))}, nil
+			var buf bytes.Buffer
+			buf.WriteString(`{"aux":`)
+			buf.Write(aux)
+			buf.WriteString("}\n")
+			return fakeStreamResult{ReadCloser: io.NopCloser(&buf)}, nil
 		},
 	})
 	cli.Out().SetIsTerminal(true)
diff --git a/cli/command/service/formatter.go b/cli/command/service/formatter.go
index 1ec5263deb..5b77bbb1a5 100644
--- a/cli/command/service/formatter.go
+++ b/cli/command/service/formatter.go
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package service
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -775,17 +780,16 @@ func (c *serviceContext) Ports() string {
 		return ""
 	}
 
-	pr := portRange{}
-	ports := []string{}
-
-	servicePorts := c.service.Endpoint.Ports
-	sort.Slice(servicePorts, func(i, j int) bool {
-		if servicePorts[i].Protocol == servicePorts[j].Protocol {
-			return servicePorts[i].PublishedPort < servicePorts[j].PublishedPort
-		}
-		return servicePorts[i].Protocol < servicePorts[j].Protocol
+	// Sort by protocol first, then by published port.
+	slices.SortFunc(c.service.Endpoint.Ports, func(a, b swarm.PortConfig) int {
+		return cmp.Or(
+			cmp.Compare(a.Protocol, b.Protocol),
+			cmp.Compare(a.PublishedPort, b.PublishedPort),
+		)
 	})
 
+	var pr portRange
+	var ports []string
 	for _, p := range c.service.Endpoint.Ports {
 		if p.PublishMode == swarm.PortConfigPublishModeIngress {
 			prIsRange := pr.tEnd != pr.tStart
diff --git a/cli/command/service/logs.go b/cli/command/service/logs.go
index 3474423325..79908b8657 100644
--- a/cli/command/service/logs.go
+++ b/cli/command/service/logs.go
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package service
 
 import (
@@ -6,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -314,7 +317,7 @@ func (lw *logWriter) Write(buf []byte) (int, error) {
 			d = append(d, k+"="+details[k])
 		}
 		// then sort em
-		sort.Strings(d)
+		slices.Sort(d)
 		// then join and append
 		output = append(output, []byte(strings.Join(d, ","))...)
 		output = append(output, ' ')
diff --git a/cli/command/service/opts.go b/cli/command/service/opts.go
index e04f392e46..e2758e64cd 100644
--- a/cli/command/service/opts.go
+++ b/cli/command/service/opts.go
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 package service
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/netip"
 	"slices"
-	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -737,15 +737,15 @@ func (options *serviceOptions) ToService(ctx context.Context, apiClient client.N
 	}
 
 	networks := convertNetworks(options.networks)
-	for i, net := range networks {
-		nwID, err := resolveNetworkID(ctx, apiClient, net.Target)
+	for i := range networks {
+		nwID, err := resolveNetworkID(ctx, apiClient, networks[i].Target)
 		if err != nil {
 			return service, err
 		}
 		networks[i].Target = nwID
 	}
-	sort.Slice(networks, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return networks[i].Target < networks[j].Target
+	slices.SortFunc(networks, func(a, b swarm.NetworkAttachmentConfig) int {
+		return cmp.Compare(a.Target, b.Target)
 	})
 
 	resources, err := options.resources.ToResourceRequirements(flags)
diff --git a/cli/command/service/update.go b/cli/command/service/update.go
index 7520b08891..f3f7df4314 100644
--- a/cli/command/service/update.go
+++ b/cli/command/service/update.go
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 package service
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"maps"
 	"net/netip"
 	"slices"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ func updatePlacementConstraints(flags *pflag.FlagSet, placement *swarm.Placement
 		}
 	}
 	// Sort so that result is predictable.
-	sort.Strings(newConstraints)
+	slices.Sort(newConstraints)
 
 	placement.Constraints = newConstraints
 }
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ func updateSysCtls(flags *pflag.FlagSet, field *map[string]string) {
 }
 
 func updateUlimits(flags *pflag.FlagSet, ulimits []*container.Ulimit) []*container.Ulimit {
-	newUlimits := make(map[string]*container.Ulimit)
+	newUlimits := make(map[string]*container.Ulimit, len(ulimits))
 
 	for _, ulimit := range ulimits {
 		newUlimits[ulimit.Name] = ulimit
@@ -737,17 +737,9 @@ func updateUlimits(flags *pflag.FlagSet, ulimits []*container.Ulimit) []*contain
 			newUlimits[ulimit.Name] = ulimit
 		}
 	}
-	if len(newUlimits) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	limits := make([]*container.Ulimit, 0, len(newUlimits))
-	for _, ulimit := range newUlimits {
-		limits = append(limits, ulimit)
-	}
-	sort.SliceStable(limits, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return limits[i].Name < limits[j].Name
+	return slices.SortedFunc(maps.Values(newUlimits), func(a, b *container.Ulimit) int {
+		return cmp.Compare(a.Name, b.Name)
 	})
-	return limits
 }
 
 func updateEnvironment(flags *pflag.FlagSet, field *[]string) {
@@ -953,14 +945,12 @@ func updateMounts(flags *pflag.FlagSet, mounts *[]mount.Mount) error {
 			newMounts = append(newMounts, mnt)
 		}
 	}
-	sort.Slice(newMounts, func(i, j int) bool {
-		a, b := newMounts[i], newMounts[j]
-
-		if a.Source == b.Source {
-			return a.Target < b.Target
-		}
-
-		return a.Source < b.Source
+	// Sort mounts by source, then by target.
+	slices.SortFunc(newMounts, func(a, b mount.Mount) int {
+		return cmp.Or(
+			cmp.Compare(a.Source, b.Source),
+			cmp.Compare(a.Target, b.Target),
+		)
 	})
 	*mounts = newMounts
 	return nil
@@ -980,7 +970,7 @@ func updateGroups(flags *pflag.FlagSet, groups *[]string) error {
 		}
 	}
 	// Sort so that result is predictable.
-	sort.Strings(newGroups)
+	slices.Sort(newGroups)
 
 	*groups = newGroups
 	return nil
@@ -1039,7 +1029,7 @@ func updateDNSConfig(flags *pflag.FlagSet, config **swarm.DNSConfig) error {
 		}
 	}
 	// Sort so that result is predictable.
-	sort.Strings(newConfig.Search)
+	slices.Sort(newConfig.Search)
 
 	options := (*config).Options
 	if flags.Changed(flagDNSOptionAdd) {
@@ -1054,7 +1044,7 @@ func updateDNSConfig(flags *pflag.FlagSet, config **swarm.DNSConfig) error {
 		}
 	}
 	// Sort so that result is predictable.
-	sort.Strings(newConfig.Options)
+	slices.Sort(newConfig.Options)
 
 	*config = newConfig
 	return nil
@@ -1107,12 +1097,8 @@ portLoop:
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Sort the PortConfig to avoid unnecessary updates
-	sort.Slice(newPorts, func(i, j int) bool {
-		// We convert PortConfig into `port/protocol`, e.g., `80/tcp`
-		// In updatePorts we already filter out with map so there is duplicate entries
-		return portConfigToString(&newPorts[i]) < portConfigToString(&newPorts[j])
-	})
+	// Sort the PortConfig to avoid unnecessary updates.
+	slices.SortFunc(newPorts, swarm.PortConfig.Compare)
 	*portConfig = newPorts
 	return nil
 }
@@ -1348,8 +1334,8 @@ func updateNetworks(ctx context.Context, apiClient client.NetworkAPIClient, flag
 		}
 	}
 
-	sort.Slice(newNetworks, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return newNetworks[i].Target < newNetworks[j].Target
+	slices.SortFunc(newNetworks, func(a, b swarm.NetworkAttachmentConfig) int {
+		return cmp.Compare(a.Target, b.Target)
 	})
 
 	spec.TaskTemplate.Networks = newNetworks
@@ -1523,10 +1509,6 @@ func capsList(caps map[string]bool) []string {
 	if caps[opts.AllCapabilities] {
 		return []string{opts.AllCapabilities}
 	}
-	out := make([]string, 0, len(caps))
-	for c := range caps {
-		out = append(out, c)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(out)
-	return out
+
+	return slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(caps))
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/service/update_test.go b/cli/command/service/update_test.go
index 6158820951..1211360bcb 100644
--- a/cli/command/service/update_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/service/update_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/netip"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func TestUpdateEnvironment(t *testing.T) {
 	updateEnvironment(flags, &envs)
 	assert.Assert(t, is.Len(envs, 2))
 	// Order has been removed in updateEnvironment (map)
-	sort.Strings(envs)
+	slices.Sort(envs)
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal("toadd=newenv", envs[0]))
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal("tokeep=value", envs[1]))
 }
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func TestUpdatePorts(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, is.Len(portConfigs, 2))
 	// Do a sort to have the order (might have changed by map)
 	targetPorts := []int{int(portConfigs[0].TargetPort), int(portConfigs[1].TargetPort)}
-	sort.Ints(targetPorts)
+	slices.Sort(targetPorts)
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal(555, targetPorts[0]))
 	assert.Check(t, is.Equal(1000, targetPorts[1]))
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/stack/loader.go b/cli/command/stack/loader.go
index 49366e4d50..10579a08d8 100644
--- a/cli/command/stack/loader.go
+++ b/cli/command/stack/loader.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/distribution/reference"
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ func getDictsFrom(configFiles []composetypes.ConfigFile) []map[string]any {
 func propertyWarnings(properties map[string]string) string {
 	msgs := make([]string, 0, len(properties))
 	for name, description := range properties {
-		msgs = append(msgs, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", name, description))
+		msgs = append(msgs, name+": "+description)
 	}
-	sort.Strings(msgs)
+	slices.Sort(msgs)
 	return strings.Join(msgs, "\n\n")
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/command/stack/remove.go b/cli/command/stack/remove.go
index 90ab2df29b..2f6d061b35 100644
--- a/cli/command/stack/remove.go
+++ b/cli/command/stack/remove.go
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package stack
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli"
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli/command"
@@ -96,15 +100,11 @@ func runRemove(ctx context.Context, dockerCli command.Cli, opts removeOptions) e
 	return errors.Join(errs...)
 }
 
-func sortServiceByName(services []swarm.Service) func(i, j int) bool {
-	return func(i, j int) bool {
-		return services[i].Spec.Name < services[j].Spec.Name
-	}
-}
-
 func removeServices(ctx context.Context, dockerCLI command.Cli, services []swarm.Service) bool {
+	slices.SortFunc(services, func(a, b swarm.Service) int {
+		return cmp.Compare(a.Spec.Name, b.Spec.Name)
+	})
 	var hasError bool
-	sort.Slice(services, sortServiceByName(services))
 	for _, service := range services {
 		_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(dockerCLI.Out(), "Removing service", service.Spec.Name)
 		if _, err := dockerCLI.Client().ServiceRemove(ctx, service.ID, client.ServiceRemoveOptions{}); err != nil {
diff --git a/cli/command/system/events.go b/cli/command/system/events.go
index eb77c6c6b2..36264ef010 100644
--- a/cli/command/system/events.go
+++ b/cli/command/system/events.go
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package system
 
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
+	"maps"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 	"time"
@@ -133,18 +137,13 @@ func prettyPrintEvent(out io.Writer, event events.Message) error {
 	_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(out, "%s %s %s", event.Type, event.Action, event.Actor.ID)
 
 	if len(event.Actor.Attributes) > 0 {
-		keys := make([]string, 0, len(event.Actor.Attributes))
-		for k := range event.Actor.Attributes {
-			keys = append(keys, k)
-		}
-		sort.Strings(keys)
+		keys := slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(event.Actor.Attributes))
 		attrs := make([]string, 0, len(keys))
 		for _, k := range keys {
-			v := event.Actor.Attributes[k]
-			attrs = append(attrs, k+"="+v)
+			attrs = append(attrs, k+"="+event.Actor.Attributes[k])
 		}
 		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(out, " (%s)", strings.Join(attrs, ", "))
 	}
-	_, _ = fmt.Fprint(out, "\n")
+	_, _ = fmt.Fprintln(out)
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/system/info.go b/cli/command/system/info.go
index 80a21629ec..fcc533c426 100644
--- a/cli/command/system/info.go
+++ b/cli/command/system/info.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli"
@@ -468,11 +468,11 @@ func printSwarmInfo(output io.Writer, info system.Info) {
 	}
 	fprintln(output, "  Node Address:", info.Swarm.NodeAddr)
 	if len(info.Swarm.RemoteManagers) > 0 {
-		managers := []string{}
+		managers := make([]string, 0, len(info.Swarm.RemoteManagers))
 		for _, entry := range info.Swarm.RemoteManagers {
 			managers = append(managers, entry.Addr)
 		}
-		sort.Strings(managers)
+		slices.Sort(managers)
 		fprintln(output, "  Manager Addresses:")
 		for _, entry := range managers {
 			fprintf(output, "   %s\n", entry)
diff --git a/cli/command/system/version.go b/cli/command/system/version.go
index b385ef7181..41b7de87c9 100644
--- a/cli/command/system/version.go
+++ b/cli/command/system/version.go
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
+// FIXME(thaJeztah): remove once we are a module; the go:build directive prevents go from downgrading language version to go1.16:
+//go:build go1.26
+
 package system
 
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"maps"
 	"runtime"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"text/template"
 	"time"
@@ -252,10 +256,5 @@ func newVersionTemplate(templateFormat string) (*template.Template, error) {
 }
 
 func getDetailsOrder(v system.ComponentVersion) []string {
-	out := make([]string, 0, len(v.Details))
-	for k := range v.Details {
-		out = append(out, k)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(out)
-	return out
+	return slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(v.Details))
 }
diff --git a/cli/command/volume/create_test.go b/cli/command/volume/create_test.go
index 7f8a2c387c..3f9e43cdc0 100644
--- a/cli/command/volume/create_test.go
+++ b/cli/command/volume/create_test.go
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"maps"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/docker/cli/internal/test"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/api/types/volume"
 	"github.com/moby/moby/client"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
@@ -230,10 +230,9 @@ func TestVolumeCreateClusterOpts(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cli := test.NewFakeCli(&fakeClient{
 		volumeCreateFunc: func(options client.VolumeCreateOptions) (client.VolumeCreateResult, error) {
-			sort.SliceStable(options.ClusterVolumeSpec.Secrets, func(i, j int) bool {
-				return options.ClusterVolumeSpec.Secrets[i].Key < options.ClusterVolumeSpec.Secrets[j].Key
-			})
-			assert.DeepEqual(t, options, expectedOptions)
+			assert.Check(t, is.DeepEqual(options, expectedOptions, cmpopts.SortSlices(func(a, b volume.Secret) bool {
+				return a.Key < b.Key
+			})))
 			return client.VolumeCreateResult{}, nil
 		},
 	})