Apple announced iOS 26 at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the tech giant has since released multiple beta versions of the software. Those versions bring new features, like a Liquid Glass design and call screening to block spam callers, to the iPhones of developers and beta testers. You can expect many of those capabilities to land on your iPhone soon.
Apple said it will release the update to the general public this fall, which is good but not the most helpful timeframe. But if we look at past Apple events in September and earlier iOS releases, a pattern emerges. Apple usually releases iOS versions a few days after the company's September event and we should expect that to hold this year.
Apple is historically tight-lipped about new products and releases but I was right about iOS 18's release in 2024 and iOS 17's release in 2023, so let's see if I can keep this streak going. Here's when I think the tech company will release iOS 26 -- I don't think we don't have much longer to wait.
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When is Apple's September event?
iOS 26 will introduce a new Liquid Glass design to your iPhone. Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash
Apple will hold 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.
Why will Apple release iOS 26 shortly after the event?
Apple doesn't usually announce the release of iOS versions, but it does stick close to a script from year to year.
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