We now know everything about watchOS 26, the next version of the Apple Watch operating system unveiled at WWDC. Here are the new features coming to your wrist.
iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch… During WWDC, its conference dedicated to software, Apple unveiled the next versions of all its operating systems. The company also took the opportunity to standardize their numbering: 26 for everyone (so 27 next year, etc.). Here, we'll take a look at the announcements surrounding watchOS 26, which will soon be available on compatible Apple Watches.
“With a beautiful new design, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence, personalized music suggestions in the Workout app, and even more intelligence for Smart Scrolling and Messages, we're excited about the many ways watchOS 26 helps everyone stay active, healthy, connected, and safe throughout the day,” says David Clark, director of watchOS engineering. Let's see how that translates for you.
Here are the main new features in watchOS 26
A new design that puts Liquid Glass front and center
The most obvious change is the design. watchOS 26 adopts the Liquid Glass interface found in iOS 26, among others. Its goal is to highlight the displayed elements by playing on the transparency of several of them. Example: the Photos dial which now displays the time “Liquid Glass style”, which integrates it better into the whole. The same goes for the control buttons for multimedia content, as you can see on the right of the image below.
Easier to manage notifications
Wearing a smartwatch means accepting notifications directly on your wrist. To avoid using both hands every time you want to make one disappear and deal with it later, watchOS 26 adds the “wrist flick“. After viewing the notification received, simply turn your wrist quickly in one direction or the other to delete it. The same gesture also allows you to ignore incoming calls or mute alarms and return to the main screen.
Workout Buddy, the coach who encourages you during your workouts
If you use your Apple Watch during your workouts, you will feel less alone. The Workout Buddy uses Apple Intelligence to analyze your results (speed, distance, records, etc.) and generate personalized messages designed to motivate you. For example, it can congratulate you for having run longer than before, or tell you that you have exceeded your goal ahead of schedule, etc. A small downside: the Workout Buddy can speak into your headphones if you want, but only in English.
Athletes who subscribe to Apple Music will also benefit from a nice new feature in the Exercise app. The platform will be able to automatically choose the playlist best suited to your workout, based on your workout and your musical tastes.
More suggestions for relevant actions depending on the situation
With watchOS 26, Apple is improving Smart Scrolling. As a reminder, this is the feature that displays useful information in the moment, no matter what you're doing on the watch at that moment. Imagine that while hiking, you find yourself in a remote location without a network. Thanks to various data from your Apple Watch, Smart Scroll understands this and displays a kind of popup offering to guide you back to your starting point.
Instant translation in Messages for smoother conversations
The latest notable new feature is automatic translation in the Messages app. As soon as you receive a text message in a language other than your own, the text will be translated live. The same applies when you reply; your recipient doesn't need to do anything. Live translation currently supports English (US, UK), Chinese (Simplified), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish (Spain), and Portuguese (Brazil). Note that this requires an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence.
Which Apple Watches will receive watchOS 26?
In summary, watchOS 26 will arrive on all Apple smartwatches released since 2020, starting with the Apple Watch Series 6. On the other hand, the 2020 Apple Watch SE will not be eligible. The list of compatible models is therefore as follows:
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
The list should not surprise you since it is identical to the one a leaker gave on June 7, 2025, two days before Apple's WWDC. There is, however, one subtlety, and not the least: certain features of watchOS 26 are reserved for the most recent Apple Watches. Dismissing a notification using the new wrist gesture will only be possible on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2 for example. The same goes for real-time translation in Messages.
A limitation that will disappoint many, but which is understandable from a technical point of view. The Series 9 processor was indeed the first to integrate cores dedicated to artificial intelligence.
watchOS 26 will arrive on compatible Apple Watches in the fall of 2025, with no more precise date yet. Those who can't wait will be able to install a public beta as early as July. For a complete list of all the new features brought by watchOS 26, we invite you to consult the dedicated page on the Apple website.
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