Apple TV: What’s new in tvOS 26
Apple’s tvOS 26 brings a visual and usability refresh to Apple TV, centered on the new “Liquid Glass” design and a set of small but meaningful features that refine the living-room experience.
Key features
- Liquid Glass redesign — A real-time rendered, glass-like UI that enhances visuals and poster art without distracting from content.
- Cinematic poster art — The Apple TV app highlights movies and shows with high-impact, cinema-style posters.
- Improved profiles — Personalized Profile Cards on wake, easier profile switching and tailored recommendations.
- Streamlined sign-in — New developer APIs for smoother single sign-on via Apple ID.
- Apple Music Sing — Use your iPhone as a karaoke mic; supports multi‑iPhone group sing‑alongs with lyrics and visual effects.
- Smart home & AirPlay — Thread 1.4 support for better smart-home connectivity and a default AirPlay speaker option.
Compatibility & availability
tvOS 26 is available for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD devices. To update, go to Settings > System > Software Updates on your Apple TV, or check the Apple TV app on your linked devices.
Notes & omissions
While tvOS 26 improves polish and core features, it still lacks some highly requested additions like home widgets, a full Home app on Apple TV, and deeper Apple Intelligence integration.
More info
- Apple Newsroom: What’s new in tvOS 26
- Apple Developer: tvOS: What’s New
- Further coverage: Tom’s Guide summary
Which of these changes matters most to you? Leave a comment below — we’ll update the post with feedback and tips.