Apple has announced watchOS 26 at WWDC 2025, bringing a new name and design refresh to the Apple Watch software. Here’s everything we know so far, including release dates, new features.
This is looking like a big year for Apple’s software. Not only have we got a new design headlines with the Liquid Glass look, but there’s a new naming convention too.
All the new pieces of software Apple announced at WWDC follow the same ’26’ naming convention, including iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
watchOS 26 Release Date
No specific release date has been confirmed for watchOS 26, but this isn’t unusual, and Apple typically launches its full software updates to everyone in the autumn. We’d expect to see watchOS 26 arrive around the same time as the Apple Watch Series 11, likely in September.
watchOS 26 Beta
We would expect to see the watchOS 26 beta arrive today (June 9) for registered developers, with Public Beta arriving in July.
watchOS 26 Features
Workout Buddy is the new big headline feature in watchOS 26, and it brings some of Apple Intelligence skills to the wearable.
This feature works inside the Workout app, and almost feels like a personal trainer on your wrist, giving you guidance as you run, alerts to milestones hit and so on. There are multiple voice options available, and everything is personalised to your workout data.
When you begin a run, Workout Buddy will give you a quick pep talk, remind you of your mileage for the week and let you know of activity goals. It’ll also bring in previous knowledge, saying stuff like, “Hey, check this out. Your total running distance for the year just crossed the 200-mile mark! That’s a lot of running!”
Once a workout is complete, you’ll get an overview – which again can bring in knowledge from previous workouts.
The Workout app is getting a refresh too, with the ability to start playing music and podcasts without jumping elsewhere.
There are updates to the Smart Stack, which now has a Liquid Glass look with more transparency effects and Apple says it has updated and improved the prediction algorithms by “by incorporating more contextual data, sensor data, and data from a user’s routine”.
For instance, the Backtrack feature could appear if the watch notices you’re in a remote location with no connectivity.
The Notes app is now available on the Apple Watch, so you can quickly see your notes without opening up your phone. New notes can be added from your wrist, with Siri on hand to help.
Apple announced some new Messages features coming to iOS 26, and many of these are arriving on the Watch too. There’s Live Translation for incoming texts,
