iOS 26.3 release date: Here’s when the next iPhone update will arrive - 9to5Mac

Apple is on track to deliver iOS 26.3 in late January, with Monday, Jan 26 the most likely release date based on past x.3 schedules. A smaller iOS 26.2.1 bug-fix update may arrive first.

Release timing

• Apple has consistently shipped x.3 updates one week after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• Previous dates: iOS 18.3 on Jan 27, iOS 17.3 on Jan 22, iOS 16.3 on Jan 23.
• For 2026, that pattern points to Monday, Jan 26, though it could slip later in the week or into the following week.

How to try iOS 26.3 early

• Enroll in Apple's public beta program to get early access on supported iPhones.

New features and changes in the beta

• Wallpaper updates: Weather now has its own section, separate from Astronomy, plus new Weather options in the gallery.
• Android transfer option: A setting from Apple and Google that makes moving from iPhone to Android easier. Google is also launching a similar tool for switchers to iPhone.
• EU notification forwarding: In the EU, you can forward iPhone notifications to third-party smartwatches and wearables, not just Apple Watch.
• More EU compliance-related changes.

What else to expect at public release

• Potential additions include a new Black Unity wallpaper and possible end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging.

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/15/ios-26-3-release-date-heres-when-the-next-iphone-update-will-arrive/