Here's What to Expect at WWDC 2026

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference returns Monday, June 8, and this year's keynote is expected to be a software only affair built around a long delayed overhaul of Siri.

WWDC 2026 runs from June 8 to June 12. The keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, after which Apple is expected to release the first developer betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27.

Those builds will arrive on a separate track from the current generation 26 updates, which are now focused on bug fixes rather than new features.

No new hardware is expected at the show. More on that below. The story this year is the software, and one feature in particular.

Siri is the main event

After being announced and then never fully released two years ago, the revamped Siri is finally expected to ship, though reports suggest it will launch in beta rather than as a finished feature.

The new Siri is said to bring the personal context and on screen awareness Apple first promised in 2024. That means an assistant that can draw on details from a user's own apps, understand what is on the display, and act across apps. Reports also indicate Siri will be able to handle multiple requests in a single spoken sentence.

Much of the underlying intelligence is reportedly built on a custom version of Google Gemini, which Apple is said to be distilling into smaller models for on device processing.

Separate reporting indicates that the cloud side of the new Siri will run on Nvidia hardware to keep responses fast while maintaining Apple's privacy approach.

ChatGPT integration is expected to continue, and Apple is reportedly preparing to let users choose other third party assistants as well. Rumors point to support for additional AI tools beyond ChatGPT.

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A new look and a new app

A recent leak suggests Siri will take up residence at the top of the iPhone screen, expanding the Dynamic Island to show a text entry prompt rather than wrapping the entire display in a glowing border as it does today.

Users may also be able to summon it by swiping down from the center of the screen, since the left and right swipes are already tied to Notifications and Control Center.

Apple is also said to be building a dedicated Siri app that organizes conversations into separate threads, similar to other chatbots on the market. It would let users type, talk, or attach files, with conversations syncing across devices through iCloud.

Apple's marketing for the event leans into all of this. The promotional materials use the tagline "All systems glow" alongside a glowing Apple logo, a hint at the new Siri animation.

iOS 27 and iPadOS 27

Beyond Siri, iOS 27 is expected to follow the naming convention Apple adopted last year, and it is shaping up to be a smaller release than iOS 26.

Rumors dating back to November 2025 have likened iOS 27 to macOS Snow Leopard, the 2009 Mac release that focused on stability and performance rather than headline features.

Reports suggest the update could improve battery life, including on older iPhones. Apple last pulled off this kind of optimization pass with iOS 12, which it positioned as faster on aging hardware.

On the visible side, Apple is expected to refine Liquid Glass, the translucent design language it introduced last year. There have been claims of a system wide slider that would let users adjust how frosted or transparent the effect appears, similar to the lock screen clock controls.

Here is a rundown of the other changes rumored across iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.

Camera and Photos

The Camera app is expected to get a more accessible Visual Intelligence button, possibly branded as "Siri Mode", that lets users point the phone at an object to learn more about it.

Reports also describe a customizable widgets tray, giving the Camera app the kind of toggle level personalization that has long been the territory of third party camera software.

The Photos app is set to gain more Apple Intelligence editing tools. Among the rumored additions are the ability to extend a shot beyond its original frame, reframe an image to a slightly different angle using spatial data, and clean up unwanted elements. Reports also point to natural language editing, where a user describes a change and the software carries it out.

Wallet, Safari, and more

The Wallet app may receive one of the larger updates. Users are expected to be able to photograph a receipt, assign items to different people, and have Wallet calculate each share including tax and tip, then send Apple Cash requests to those contacts. Apple is also said to be adding the ability to create digital passes from physical tickets and cards that lack a digital version.

Safari is expected to gain automated tab grouping, using Apple Intelligence to sort and name open tabs.

The Weather app is rumored to see minor interface changes and a new central conditions view.

AirPods controls are said to be streamlined within Control Center rather than getting a dedicated app.

The Shortcuts app may become easier to use, with Apple reportedly adding the ability to describe a desired shortcut in plain language and have the system assemble the steps automatically.

Satellite and the keyboard

Apple is rumored to be expanding satellite connectivity in iOS 27, including Apple Maps navigation by satellite, the ability to send photos over satellite in Messages, and possible access for third party apps for the first time.

The keyboard is also said to be getting a system wide grammar and spelling checker, along with possible autocorrect improvements and a new animation.

Accessibility and the iPhone Fold

Apple has already confirmed a set of accessibility features for the OS 27 generation, revealed on May 19 for Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Those include updates to VoiceOver and Magnifier, natural language Voice Control, and expanded subtitle support.

iOS 27 will also need to support Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected later this year. So far, hints point to a Split View style multitasking feature that would take advantage of the larger screen, borrowing from iPadOS.

There have also been regulatory rumblings. Under the European Union's Digital Markets Act, Apple is reportedly preparing to let users send content to alternatives such as Google Cast in addition to AirPlay.

macOS 27

Apple has not announced a name for macOS 27, though a filename buried in the company's WWDC promotional graphics referenced "Project Big Bear," leading to speculation that the release could be called Big Bear, after Big Bear Lake in California. Although my money's on macOS Tiburon.

Emerald has been floated as another candidate. Apple has used California place names for macOS since Mavericks in 2013.

Most macOS 27 changes are expected to mirror iOS, including the Siri overhaul and the Apple Intelligence additions.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, macOS 27 will feature a slight redesign aimed at improving the readability of Liquid Glass, addressing complaints about transparency and shadows in macOS Tahoe.

There are two notable cutoffs. Because macOS 26 Tahoe was the last release to support Intel Macs, macOS 27 will run only on Apple silicon. It will retain Rosetta 2, the translation layer for older Intel apps, but reports indicate macOS 28 will drop that support entirely.

watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27

Rumors about watchOS 27 are thin. The Modular face from the Apple Watch Ultra is reportedly being simplified for smaller, lower resolution models, and Apple is said to be improving heart rate tracking as part of a broader refinement rather than a feature heavy release. The new Siri and other Apple Intelligence features are expected to come to the watch as well.

There is little concrete rumor activity around tvOS 27 and visionOS 27. Both are expected to receive the Liquid Glass refinements, Apple Intelligence updates, and maintenance work seen elsewhere in the generation. Apple did confirm a new Wheelchair Control feature for visionOS that uses eye tracking to operate a powered wheelchair.

Don't expect new hardware

WWDC has occasionally been a launchpad for new Macs, but reports suggest that is unlikely in 2026.

The component industry is in the middle of a memory and chip shortage that has pushed prices up. Comments from CEO Tim Cook have strongly suggested there will be no new Macs or iPads before September. Apple could preview future hardware or announce something smaller, such as an Apple TV or HomePod refresh or its rumored Home Hub display, but those remain doubtful for a software focused keynote.

There is one milestone worth noting. With John Ternus set to become Apple's CEO on September 1, this will be Tim Cook's last WWDC keynote leading the company. Cook will move to the role of executive chairman.

Apple will reveal the full slate during the keynote on Monday, June 8.