WWDC 2026 Live: Apple’s new Siri, iOS 27, Tim Cook and more

June 8, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. PT

We can be quite confident about what will be announced: new versions of iOS, iPadOS, MacOS and WatchOS will arrive later this year, likely with beta versions that developers can download right after the show ends. Apple historically releases beta versions of its future software to the public in July.

Apple is expected to share updates on other projects, like integrating Google’s Gemini AI models into its Siri assistant and other Apple Intelligence upgrades.

Over the past few years, just before WWDC, the Apple Park Visitor Center and Welcome Center have added new clothing. And WWDC 2026 appears to be no different.

Apple is not a sentimental company; it often under-celebrates its history in favor of focusing on the future. But we can’t help but wonder if the company will take a moment to say “goodbye” to Cook at WWDC, while saying “hello” to an AI-powered Siri redesign.

Learn more: WWDC will be Tim Cook’s swan song. I’m expecting something serious

THE iPhone is only as good as its software. WWDC is historically where we get a preview of the next version of iOS coming to our Apple phones in the fall. The new software, probably called iOS27will be presented to us in a few hours. And while AI will undoubtedly be a part of it, CNET writer Nelson Aguilar would prefer that Apple forgo adding more AI and instead use iOS 27 as an opportunity to address the everyday annoyances that persist on the iPhone.

“I want to find buried places without going on an archaeological dig. I want a clipboard history so an accidental copy doesn’t erase what I needed. And I want notification controls that don’t make me choose between missing something important and letting every app annoy me,” Nelson writes.

Learn more: I Don’t Care About iOS 27’s AI Tricks, Give Me These 3 Useful iPhone Features Instead

Last month, Google unveiled its new mobile AI capabilities, Gemini Intelligence, that can handle menial tasks like filling out forms and scheduling appointments. And yes, the name Gemini Intelligence sounds a lot like Apple Intelligence (which itself is just a pun on artificial intelligence). The two companies will share more than similar-sounding names for their AI suites, as Apple also integrates the base Gemini models into its smarter Siri.

It’s clear that Apple held off on releasing the long-promised improved version of Siri until it was in the right place. This delay has understandably caused some frustration among consumers, as evidenced by a $250 million lawsuit. But it also makes sense, given the widespread concern about AI being dumped on virtually every new device.

Apple seems less concerned with being praised for its AI efforts than with ensuring that those AI features are fully capable. Leveraging Google’s well-established AI expertise is therefore probably a smart move, although it surely requires swallowing some pride. Ultimately, this should give iPhone owners the best Siri experience possible.

While Siri should dominate the WWDC2026 opening speech, any WatchOS 27 updates are likely to take a back seat. And that might not be a big loss, considering what the Apple Watch might be aiming for. While competitors like Google, Oura And Cry use AI coaches and dashboards to provide insights after the fact, Apple is in a unique position to make real-time coaching a reality.

The pieces are already in place for Apple with years of biometric data, a privacy-first approach to health, a coaching platform through Fitness Plus and a first look at AI-driven advice with Workout Buddy — a feature trained on real Fitness Plus trainers that delivers data-driven motivation in your ear during workouts.

Real advice, when it matters most, backed by supporting data, could be the competitive advantage that puts Apple ahead of the game in the personal health race.

It’s unlikely that Apple will unveil this type of coach at this year’s developer conference, but we’ll be watching the breadcrumbs closely. Read my full overview of WatchOS 27 and AI Health Coach to learn more.

The next iteration of Mac software, likely called MacOS 27, is expected to be showcased at WWDC. Although there are rumors that the new operating system will benefit from a Siri revamped and have MacOS 26 Liquid Display The aesthetics have taken a bit of a backseat, for people still using Intel-based Macs and MacBooks, MacOS 27 won’t support their machines.

Or as CNET editor-in-chief Matt Elliott said in his pre-WWDC rumor: “Basically, if you have a pre-pandemic Mac, it won’t make the jump to macOS 27 and will have to stay on macOS 26 Tahoe.” »

Does this mean you need to buy a new computer? No.

“This isn’t bad news if you want to get another year or two out of your Intel Mac,” notes Matt. “Apple will continue to release security updates for Intel-based Macs for three more years.”

Read Matt’s full overview of MacOS 27 to learn more about what to expect at WWDC for Mac.

Apple hasn’t said a word about the long-rumored foldable iPhone, and we’re unlikely to. We’ll hear about it at WWDC 2026, given the focus on software. But some of the operating system updates we’ll see on Monday might hint at what’s to come. How could Apple modify iOS to work seamlessly on a larger, tablet-like screen and on two different displays?

Companies like Samsung, which has been in the foldable book space for years, have come up with features like split-screen functionality for up to three apps (with significant help from Google and its Android team). Meanwhile, newcomers like Motorola’s Razr Fold only support up to two apps simultaneously, with no flexible resizing option. Apple will probably want to iron out all these minute details before shipping a new iPhone design. But there’s hope: The iPad’s split-screen feature supports up to four active windows.

Apple tends to prioritize perfection over speed when it comes to new releases. But maybe we’ll see little nuggets of features that work well on, say, both the iPhone And the iPad. This could provide some insight into how this hybrid device works.

Apple’s keynote at WWDC 2026 will take place at Apple Park, the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Those of us who aren’t there in person can watch the event from home on Apple’s website, the Apple TV app, or the company’s YouTube channel.

The WWDC 2026 keynote will begin at 10 a.m. PT on June 8, and we expect current CEO Tim Cook to host the event for the final time. After that, there will be a State of the Union Platforms for software developers at 1 p.m. PT, followed by the conference divided into various developer-focused discussions and presentations.

WatchOS 27 should bring more accurate heart rate tracking, new watch faces, and modest battery improvements to the Apple Watch. But even the most effective software update won’t close the gap that’s costing Apple ground in the health tracking race.

The Apple Watch is one of the the most accurate smartwatches on the market – as proven by our 30-mile heart rate test. A growing number of people are choosing Oura Rings And Whoop bandswhich can be worn for days or weeks, respectively. When it comes to recovery metrics and long-term health trends, which Oura and Whoop excel at, wearing it consistently matters just as much as accuracy.

If Apple wants to create a holistic health platform and AI coach, it will need to find a way to get that data consistently, especially overnight, when most recovery data is collected.

The Apple Watch handles the day-to-day, notifications, and workouts, but if it wants the full picture and long-term reviews, it may need a screen-less companion like a ring or bracelet to handle the night. Read my full analysis on why Apple needs a full AI health coach on the Apple Watch to learn more.

Ahead of WWDC 2026, CNET Group launched the Big Guessing Game competition on its websites: CNET, Lifehacker, Mashable, PCMag and ZDNet. In three rounds, readers can predict what Apple could release in 2026. Each answer counts as an entry into a drawing to win the latest Apple Watch expected this fall.

The first round of the Big Guessing Game is over and it was all about Apple software and WWDC. Among the few questions answered by readers, one stood out with its almost unanimous result.

“It remains unclear whether Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, will speak at the event,” writes Dashia Milden, editor-in-chief of CNET, in her article sharing our readers’ responses. “The vast majority of CNET readers (96%) think Ternus will speak during Monday’s keynote speech, while 4% think he will not.”

Apple launched the VisionProa $3,499 VR headset, in 2024. It’s a strange device in the company’s lineup, both incredibly avant-garde and having a very niche appeal. Rumors about future releases are mixed, suggesting Apple will likely pursue AR smart glasses, competing with those from Meta and Google, rather than another headset.

But the company still sells the Vision Pro, and for those who own one, Apple can do a lot to improve it. One such Vision Pro user is CNET senior editor Scott Stein, who thinks VisionOS 27 could be the key to unlocking the headset’s full potential and solving some of its current limitations.

“While AirPods connect to them and Macs can extend monitors or even stream Mac apps to the headset, iPhones, iPads, and Watches are strangely left out, with the exception of streaming iPhone/iPad screens via AirPlay,” Scott writes in his VisionOS 27 preview.

He also thinks the device with the smallest screen in the company’s lineup could be the biggest to be supported by VisionOS 27.

“The Apple Watch is perhaps the most egregious piece left out: it’s literally a wrist-worn control panel with motion tracking, and it could be a great interface with the Vision Pro if Apple would allow it,” he exclaims.

Read Scott’s full story on VisionOS 27 for everything he thinks Apple should do.

Since Tim Cook announced in April that he would step down as CEO, the countdown to his planned departure in September has begun, ahead of the expected launch of the iPhone 18. What became Cook’s last year coincided with Apple’s 50th anniversary (which, in hindsight, doesn’t seem like a coincidence), complete with celebrations like a private concert with Paul McCartney.

Given this celebration, we can expect a WWDC farewell praising Cook’s 15 years at the helm of the ship. Apple’s mid-year developer show is always about anticipating the next big software updates, but we’re expecting some throwback to Cook’s legacy. It’s easy to forget the uncertainty surrounding Cook’s rise, which coincided with the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, but the logistics master leaves the company a multibillion-dollar success story, with limited but steady adoption of AI in its software and new products like the iPhone Fold on the horizon.

With this legacy of stability, we don’t expect much to change in the future. Cook’s last WWDC: more software focused on the progressive and continuous improvement of the company’s operating systems. For the modest Cook, one last wave as the Apple juggernaut moves forward seems appropriate.