Apple has just unveiled its latest version of iOS at its annual WWDC event, but it’s not iOS 19.
Instead, Apple is set to release iOS 26 – to reflect the year that the software will be available – later this year, and it offers the biggest change to iOS since the iOS 7 redesign.
Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 26, from key new features and changes to release date plans and how you can get access early via Apple’s beta program.
When will iOS 26 be released?
While Apple didn’t announce a specific release for iOS 26 at WWDC, it’s expected to make an appearance alongside the iPhone 17 collection later this year – almost certainly in September, as has been the case for most iOS releases in years gone by.
Is there an iOS 26 beta?
Apple might not have announced a hard release date for iOS 26, but you don’t need to wait that long to try out the software for yourself. As with previous releases, it’s expected that Apple will release an iOS 26 beta for developers immediately following the reveal of the software – though this will likely be buggy at first.
What comes later down the road is likely to be of more interest. Following the release of the iOS 26 developer beta, Apple is set to make the beta software available to dedicated iPhone users around the world via its Public Beta Program.
Although timings are yet to be confirmed, we expect the iOS 26 public beta to appear sometime in late June or early July once Apple has ironed out some of the initial kinks and bugs, and it’ll run throughout the summer until the public release of iOS 26 later this year.
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