It’s official: the wait is almost over. Following its recent “Awe Dropping” event, Apple has announced that watchOS 26, the next major software update for the Apple Watch, will be available to the public on Monday, September 15th. This update, which was first showcased at WWDC earlier this year, brings a host of new features and improvements to compatible Apple Watch models.
One of the most noticeable changes in watchOS 26 is the new “Liquid Glass” design aesthetic. This fluid, translucent design language gives the Apple Watch a more modern and polished feel. You’ll see it in various parts of the interface, including the Smart Stack, Control Center, and even on watch faces, where the time display takes on a sleek, glassy appearance.
For fitness enthusiasts, the new Workout Buddy feature is a game-changer. Powered by Apple Intelligence, this feature provides personalized, real-time feedback during your workouts. It uses voice data from Apple Fitness+ trainers to deliver motivational pep talks, track your progress against your goals, and summarize your performance at the end of each session.
watchOS 26 introduces several new watch faces, including the “Exactograph” for precise timekeeping and the “Flow” face, which refracts a fluid orb of color. Apple Watch Ultra users will also get an exclusive new watch face with dynamic points of interest. The update also brings new ways to customize your watch faces with configurable widgets.
Building on its health-focused foundation, watchOS 26 introduces a new Sleep Score feature. This provides a more comprehensive analysis of your sleep quality, duration, and stages, helping you understand how to make your sleep more restorative. Additionally, the new Apple Watch Series 11 will offer hypertension (blood pressure) alerts.
To install watchOS 26, you will need a compatible iPhone running iOS 26. The watchOS 26 update is available for a wide range of devices, including:
- Apple Watch Series 6 and later
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
- All Apple Watch Ultra models
