September has officially arrived, and with the new month comes the end of summer and the beginning of a busy fall for Apple. In the weeks ahead, there are several key dates to anticipate for Apple fans, even beyond the major iPhone 17 event set for September 9.
Tuesday, September 9: Awe Dropping event
Apple’s annual fall keynote kicks off at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on Tuesday, September 9. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, alongside Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3.
Other announcements will likely include new AirPods Pro 3, TechWoven iPhone cases, Crossbody Strap accessories for iPhone 17 cases, and a redesigned Apple Clear Case. We should also expect new Apple Watch band styles and colors.
Chance Miller and I will be on location at Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park for this year’s iPhone/Apple Watch event. Look out for our hands-on coverage of all the new hardware from Cupertino shortly after the keynote livestream concludes!
Tuesday, September 9: iOS 26 release candidates
Following the event, developers and public beta testers should expect the release candidate builds of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26. This will probably happen around 12:30 pm PT/3:30 pm ET. Xcode RC typically arrives at the same time, and App Store Connect usually opens for iOS 26 submissions that afternoon.
During the keynote, we should also learn when Apple plans to officially release iOS 26 and the other software updates, including new versions of HomePod and AirPods software.
Friday, September 12: iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 preorders
Friday morning at 5 am PT/8 am ET, Apple is expected to open preorders for iPhone 17 models and new Apple Watch hardware. Expect carriers to roll out updated trade-in promotions ahead of time. Customers using the iPhone Upgrade Program can usually complete pre-approvals in the days leading up to preorder morning.
Monday, September 15: Expected software release date
The official shipping versions of iOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and other fall software updates are likely to arrive early the following week. In recent years, Apple has pushed the updates on the first Monday after the iPhone event, and the same cadence is expected this time.
Monday, September 15–17: Likely review embargoes
In the days leading up to launch, the embargo for iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 reviews is expected to lift. Apple has historically timed embargo drops for Monday through Wednesday of launch week, giving the press a chance to publish deep dives into new products before devices actually ship.
In 2024, the review embargo for AirPods 4 lifted on Monday, Apple Watch Series 10 lifted on Tuesday, and iPhone 16 and 16 Plus/16 Pro and 16 Pro Max lifted on Wednesday. Will those dates repeat for AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, and iPhone 17 and 17 Air/ and 17 Pro/17 Pro Max?
Friday, September 19: Launch day
Friday, September 19, is widely expected to be the first day of in-store availability for iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11. Preorders will arrive on customers’ doorsteps, and Apple Stores will host the usual early-morning crowds.
We can also expect iOS 26.0.1 to arrive before the end of September, and developer beta testers could see iOS 26.1 beta 1 before the month concludes.
Beyond September
Looking forward to October, there’s always a chance for a second fall Apple event, although press releases for remaining hardware updates seem just as likely.
Apple could still update the iPad Pro to the unannounced M5 chip, Apple Vision Pro could see an M4 or M5 chip upgrade from M2, and M5 MacBook Pro configurations haven’t been ruled out for a 2025 launch, although they may not be ready until spring 2026. We may learn more about when each of these product will arrive through rumors and reporting in September.
As ever, the launch of one new round of iPhones always opens the door to a new round of iPhone rumors for the following year. The big iPhone news of 2026 is that Apple could release its first foldable iPhone, and the design will likely take great inspiration from the iPhone 17 Air. Stay tuned for that and more as 9to5Mac brings you the latest breaking Apple news throughout September.
What are you most excited to see from Apple this month? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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