iOS 26 beta release date: When you can install the new iPhone upgrade

Rumors about iOS 26 have been circulating for months, but the major software upgrade is about to be unveiled. And beta testers will get to install it on their iPhones soon. Here’s when to expect the iOS 26 beta to arrive.

iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and more are set to be unveiled in just a few days. Major redesigns are on the way, plus a variety of new features including Apple Intelligence upgrades and more.

Full details on Apple’s new software will be unveiled during the WWDC keynote this Monday.

But what about the first beta releases?

Fortunately, Apple follows a very well-established pattern with its beta launches.

For years, the company has shipped developer beta 1 of its brand new updates the same day as WWDC kicks off. There’s no reason to expect that pattern to be broken this year.

As a result, the first iOS 26 beta should become available this Monday, June 9—some time after the presentation wraps.

Day one betas for iOS 26 and more will be limited to people who opt into developer updates.

Public beta people will need to wait a bit longer—usually the first public betas release some time in late June or else July.

Apple’s first iOS 26 beta may not include all of the features presented at WWDC, as it’s typical for some features to be held until later betas or even future x.1 or x.2 software updates.

The upgrade will also likely introduce plenty of bugs and performance issues, so Apple cautions against installing it on any device that’s not solely dedicated to testing.

These caveats aside, those who are willing to accept the risks of beta software should be able to install iOS 26 on their iPhone the same day Apple unveils it to the world.

Do you plan to install iOS 26 developer beta 1? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.

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Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.