Apple today unveiled tvOS 26, bringing a new design with Liquid Glass.
The Apple TV app also now showcases cinematic poster art that makes it fun and easy to discover what to play next.
Enhancements to profile-switching and a streamlined way to log in to apps make it easier than ever to access entertainment, while updates to Apple Music Sing bring users new ways to enjoy singing along with friends using iPhone.
Liquid Glass
The new design introduces a new material called Liquid Glass. It brings a vibrant look to Apple TV, delivering a fresh and expressive design that beautifully reflects and refracts its surroundings using real-time rendering.
Interactions with the Apple TV app are also enhanced to create a more delightful and engaging experience while watching shows and movies.
The new design keeps the content central to the viewing experience while fast-forwarding or rewinding, starting a sleep timer, adjusting audio, or setting a “Movie night” scene in Control Centre.
Easily Access Entertainment
The Apple TV app is redesigned with new poster art that incorporates Liquid Glass, and allows more shows and movies to be displayed, enhancing how users discover entertainment.
To quickly find personalized viewing recommendations, users will now have the choice to automatically display profiles when Apple TV wakes, allowing them to quickly get back to their recommendations and Watchlist in the TV app and playlists in Apple Music.
Additionally, tvOS 26 introduces a new API for developers that links app logins to an Apple Account, making it effortless for users to sign in to their favorite apps, shows, and movies when setting up a new device.
Sing in Apple Music
Sing-along sessions reach a new level of fun with tvOS 26, allowing users to transform iPhone into a handheld microphone for Apple TV and have their voices amplified as they belt out their favorite songs.
Get the party started with friends, as everyone can jump in using their own iPhone to queue up songs or react with onscreen emoji.
Accompanied by real-time lyrics and visual effects that light up the big screen, Sing in Apple Music is more engaging than ever, and with Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation, users can follow and sing along to an even wider variety of songs, even if they don’t know the language.
FaceTime
With tvOS 26, users can enjoy a more personalized FaceTime experience that’s consistent with iOS. Contact Posters on Apple TV make it easier and more personal by displaying a contact’s customized photo and name when starting a FaceTime call on Apple TV.
Live Captions expand to include French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish, enabling Apple TV to use on-device intelligence to display Live Captions for FaceTime conversations, so users can follow what’s being said in even more languages.
Additionally, FaceTime audio and phone call notifications will appear onscreen for the active profile, allowing users to answer on connected HomePod speakers or their iPhone, and ensuring that communication with loved ones remains at the forefront.
Enjoy breathtaking landscapes with new Aerial screen savers captured across India, including in Goa and Kerala.
Personalize the screen saver experience by choosing specific Cityscape, Earth, Landscape, or Underwater Aerials to display — or hide.
Designate any AirPlay-enabled speaker as the permanent speaker for Apple TV.
Availability
All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month.
New software features will be available this fall as a free software update.
