Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote omitted any mention of tvOS 27, raising questions about the future of Apple TV software and hardware, with rumors of a new Apple TV model expected later this year.
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<img alt="An Apple TV from 2021 and its Siri Remote sit on top of a wooden entertainment center." data-caption="For a new tvOS, we really need a new Apple TV. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22541100/DSCF3875_2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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For a new tvOS, we really need a new Apple TV. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge </figcaption>
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<p class="has-text-align-none">Every year, Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference gives us a first look at what's coming next to the company's many operating systems. But missing from today's keynote, apart from a single graphic listing all current Apple OSes next to a big "27," was any mention of tvOS.</p>
<p class="has-text-align-none">The whole structure of this year's WWDC was different, with features delineating the presentation structure instead of sections for each OS update. But there were still major mentions for <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/943695/apple-wwdc-2026-macos-27-macbook-mac-announcement-features">macOS 27</a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/941202/apple-ios-27-wwdc-2026">iOS 27</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/942546/apple-ipados-27-wwdc-2026">iPadOS 27</a>. They're getting Siri AI, customizable transparency options for Liquid Glass, and some new child safety features. Even visionOS was included with new Sir …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/946329/tvos-27-absent-wwdc">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Where was tvOS 27 at WWDC?
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/946329/tvos-27-absent-wwdc](https://www.theverge.com/tech/946329/tvos-27-absent-wwdc)
Every year, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference gives us a first look at what’s coming next to the company’s many operating systems\. But missing from today’s keynote, apart from a single graphic listing all current Apple OSes next to a big “27,” was any mention of tvOS\.
The whole structure of this year’s WWDC was different, with features delineating the presentation structure instead of sections for each OS update\. But there were still major mentions for[macOS 27](https://www.theverge.com/tech/943695/apple-wwdc-2026-macos-27-macbook-mac-announcement-features),[iOS 27](https://www.theverge.com/tech/941202/apple-ios-27-wwdc-2026), and[iPadOS 27](https://www.theverge.com/tech/942546/apple-ipados-27-wwdc-2026)\. They’re getting Siri AI, customizable transparency options for Liquid Glass, and some new child safety features\. Even visionOS was included with new Siri AI features\. tvOS was conspicuously absent, including from[Apple’s website](https://www.apple.com/os/)\.
In a[recent announcement of upcoming accessibility features](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/05/apple-unveils-new-accessibility-features-and-updates-with-apple-intelligence/), Apple mentioned larger text support is coming to tvOS, allowing those with low vision to increase onscreen text size \(Amazon announced its version of this for the[Fire TV Stick HD](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/fire-tv-stick-hd-slimmest-streaming-device)in April\)\. But I was expecting that to be a precursor to more reveals during WWDC as opposed to an utter absence\.
[](https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/wwdc-2026-the-verge-50.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100)
*The only mention of tvOS during WWDC\.*
My hope was a more integrated Apple Home experience with the Apple TV 4K, where it could act as the hub for your entire smart home\. Right now it’s possible to view camera feeds or activate different scenes that are set up, but it’s more limited than the interaction you can get on an iPad or iPhone\. And it’s far behind the TV integration from Amazon Alexa or Google Home\.
The main limitation is the hardware\. A new[Apple TV has been rumored](https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/12/24319970/new-apple-homepod-mini-tv-proxima-wifi-bluetooth-chip)for a couple of years, since the most recent[Apple TV 4K](https://www.theverge.com/23435393/apple-tv-4k-2022-third-gen-review-price-details)came out in 2022\. And according to Mark Gurman, the new Apple TV is[basically ready to go](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-05-31/apple-glasses-late-2027-release-watch-comparison-ios-28-apple-tv-homepod), which could be good news\. To support Siri AI, or even Apple Intelligence, the Apple TV needs to be more powerful \(the A15 Bionic chip in the Apple TV originally came out nearly five years ago\)\. The effect is being felt across Apple’s lineup, with older Watches, iPads, and even some Macs being aged out\. So a new device that can run the features highlighted during WWDC and bring Apple TV up to the same level as Amazon and Google is sorely needed\.
There’s a chance something interesting will show up when a tvOS 27 public beta update becomes available\. As I write this, other OS 27 public betas are becoming available, including iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 \(and a waitlist for Siri AI\)\. So far, though, my Apple TV 4K’s software updates page sits dormant\. And without a current Apple TV that is actually capable of running the new Siri, we’ll likely be waiting until the end of the year for anything significant to come for tvOS\.
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- John Higgins
Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote, likely Tim Cook's last as CEO, is expected to unveil iOS 27, macOS 27, AI features, and a major Siri update powered by Google Gemini.
A live blog covering Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote, expected to unveil updates to iOS 27, macOS 27, and other operating systems with a focus on Apple Intelligence and AI Siri.
Apple announced iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, featuring a new Siri AI with conversational capabilities, Apple Intelligence improvements, a Liquid Glass opacity slider, and upgraded apps like Safari and Passwords.
Apple announced iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 at WWDC 2026, focusing on stability improvements and a major Siri AI upgrade, with broad device compatibility extending to iPhones from 2019 and newer.