<p>Land ecological security has a significant influence on regional sustainable development. In this study, we construct a system of indices based on the drivers–pressures–state–impact–response model of intervention to evaluate the spatio-temporal status of the land ecological security of eight cities along the Yangtze River in Hubei Province of China. The weights of the indices were calculated by using the entropy weight method, while the current and future levels of land ecological security were evaluated by using a comprehensive assessment method in conjunction with the grey prediction model. The results showed that the indices of the GDP per capita, economic density, water resources per capita, and total outputs of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery per unit area had a significant influence on regional land ecological security. The ecological security of all cities improved, with large values for cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and small values for those in its upstream and downstream reaches. The comprehensive score of the Yangtze River Basin in Hubei Province changed from critical to relatively safe from 2008 to 2022. Moreover, the values of land ecological security of all cities were projected to improve according to the grey predictive model, with only Enshi and Wuhan failing to reach values reflecting safe levels in 2027. These findings can guide the formulation and implementation of measures to create a regionally sustainable environment in the Yangtze River Basin.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>