iOS 26 was released on September 15, 2025.

Release Timeline

Apple announced iOS 26 on June 9, 2025, at WWDC, with developer beta 1 launching that day and beta 2 expected around June 23. The public beta followed in July, aligning with Apple's typical schedule leading to the full stable release alongside new iPhones.

Latest Updates

As of December 8, 2025, the most recent version is iOS 26.2 RC 2 (build 23C54), available to developers. This successor to iOS 18 introduced a major "Liquid Glass" UI redesign and features like call screening.

Historical Context

For reference, the original iPhone OS 2 (later retroactively called iOS 2) released on July 11, 2008, with the iPhone 3G and App Store debut, but no "iOS 2" exists in modern numbering. iOS versions now align with annual iPhone cycles, with iOS 26 as the current major release.