Apple Again Rumored to Announce iOS 26 Next Month

[MacRumors]

It looks like Apple really will be jumping to iOS 26 this year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that Apple was planning to start tying the version numbers of its software platforms to release years. For example, Gurman expects Apple to announce iOS 26 at WWDC next month, instead of iOS 19.

The rumor has since been corroborated by AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic.

"I can independently confirm that Apple's '26' version branding is real," he said, in a post shared on X on Wednesday.

Yes, iOS 26, not iOS 25. Even though iOS 26 is likely to be released in September 2025, it would be the current version for the majority of 2026. Gurman said Apple will be using a year-ahead naming convention, similar to car makers. For example, the 2025 Honda Civic began arriving to dealerships in late 2024, even though it has 2025 branding.

This naming convention is expected to extend to all of Apple's major operating systems, including macOS. Zivkovic said that internal versions of macOS tested this week were still labeled macOS 16 in some places, but macOS 26 in others.

The names of Apple's next operating systems, according to Gurman:

• iOS 26
• iPadOS 26
• macOS 26
• watchOS 26
• tvOS 26
• visionOS 26

The names that were expected before this rumor:

• iOS 19
• iPadOS 19
• macOS 16
• watchOS 12
• tvOS 19
• visionOS 3

Apple should announce all of the software updates during its WWDC 2025 keynote, which begins Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

Article Link: Apple Again Rumored to Announce iOS 26 Next Month

 

[MacUserFella]

Does this also mean we’ll get homeOS 26? (OS for Apple’s Smart Home Hub)

 

[iModFrenzy]

Can’t wait to see what they do in 2099

 

[Scottiep94]

is it bad that the first thing that comes to mind for me is Windows '95?

 

[sw1tcher]

Yes, iOS 26, not iOS 25. Even though iOS 26 is likely to be released in September 2025, it would be the current version for the majority of 2026.

Yes, iOS 26 because 2026 will be when most bugs will be ironed out and it'll be safe to install. 2026 also will be when all the delayed features get released because of their staggered release schedule.

 

[diego.caraballo]

People are upset posting comments everywhere on how dare Apple to name 26 and not 25 (as the current year).
They seem to ignore the fact that 90% of the features that will be announced in the next WWDC will NOT ready until mid-2026 if recent history serves as a guide 🤷‍♂️

 

[Wyvernspirit]

Can’t wait to see what they do in 2099

That's a Y2.1K problem

 

[RightMACatU]

Sounds clear and consistent to me.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Does this also mean we’ll get homeOS 26? (OS for Apple’s Smart Home Hub)

Doubtful. Rumors are that is has been pushed back to middle/late 2026.

Does anyone really want the thing? It sounds useless to me... 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[YourBoss]

Who cares?

 

[Criss P.]

It is also possible that they change the naming convention to unify all OSs under a single name. Think of “Apple OS 26” for all their platforms…

 

[roland.g]

Oh Timmy unnecessary unneeded

But we are going to call it the iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 26?!?!? The hardware would make more sense. And even that doesn’t.

 

[xiJulian_]

It’s probably another iPhone OS situation

 

[Bytor65]

Moving to the year number for all their OS's makes some sense. And year ahead does make sense, since they often release late in the year.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Why not just name it "The new iOS" like they did with iPad 3 "the new iPad" 😁

 

[TheOldChevy]

Can’t wait to see what they do in 2099

MacOS 100.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

Who cares?

Probably many people reading macrumors.

I wonder if we will still get California location names for macOS… has there been any word on this?

 

[Rodney Williams]

Makes sense to me. Just waiting to see what Apple is going to show us, comes WDCC.

 

[eqquito]

It makes sense for this naming convention but all the memes and jokes also makes perfect sense and its all on apple by ignoring customers. Steve died too early :/

 

[mattopotamus]

MacOS 100.

MacOS C

 

[stocklen]

Oh Timmy unnecessary unneeded

But we are going to call it the iPhone 17 instead of iPhone 26?!?!? The hardware would make more sense. And even that doesn’t.
View attachment 2514699

Why?

Its come as a surprise sure, but it makes sense.

Look at all the version numbers of the various OSes....Whereas most people could probably tell you what the *current* iOS version is....I guarantee they would have far more trouble telling you what the current watchOS or TVOS version is.

The new way, at a glance, tells you if its the latest (current) version by name only which surely is easier.


... some people will never be happy and moan about literally anything.

 

[roland.g]

Coming in 2026, iOS 27 (which is really iOS 26 with 35 new AI based emoji and improved pencil support).

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

It makes sense for this naming convention but all the memes and jokes also makes perfect sense and its all on apple by ignoring customers. Steve died too early :/

I think Steve’s vision was far more broad than Apple. Just something to keep in mind

 

[lancastor]

It is also possible that they change the naming convention to unify all OSs under a single name. Think of “Apple OS 26” for all their platforms…

I thought exactly the same.

 

[RightMACatU]

And what about iPhone26?