Apple announced iOS 26 at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it said at the time it would release the update to the general public this fall. So I looked at past Apple events in September and earlier iOS releases to predict when the company would release iOS 26.
And I was right. Apple announced online that iOS 26 will be released as a free update on Monday, Sept. 15. That means everyone has less than a week until iPhones can get new features like a Liquid Glass design, call screening and new ringtones. The comapny announced the software update's release the same day it held its "awe dropping" event on Tuesday where it showcased the new iPhone 17, 17 Pro and the thin iPhone Air.
Here's how I predicted iOS 26's release date before Apple even announced it.
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iOS 26 will introduce a new Liquid Glass design to your iPhone. Daniel Romero/Unsplash
Apple held its "awe dropping" event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the same day I predicted the company would. In the past 10 years, Apple has only held its September event between Sept. 7 and 14, usually on Tuesday (six times), with a few Wednesdays (thrice) and one Monday.
We don't usually have to wait long after Apple's September event for iOS updates to be released.
How did I correctly predict the iOS 26 release?
Apple doesn't usually announce the release of iOS versions, but it does stick close to a script from year to year. That means you, too, can perform acts of Apple divination, if you understand the history of its fall events and iOS releases.
Apple ran its "awe dropping" event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the same day I predicted the company would. After most of Apple's September events, the company releases the next iOS within a week. In 2024, for example, Apple's event was held on Sept. 9 and iOS 18 was released seven days later on Sept. 16. And in 2023 Apple's event was held on Sept. 12 and it released iOS 17 six days later on Sept. 18.
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