Apple event 2026 is set for Wednesday, September 9 at 1PM ET — 9PM in the UAE. Invites went out on Wednesday under the tagline “Surprise and shine”, per The Verge.
The potential surprise is the long-rumoured foldable iPhone. A photo of a dummy unit suggests a wide, book-style design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the device is expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, reports MacRumors. First-run supply is tipped to be very limited.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max should join it, as iterative upgrades rather than a redesign. Tipsters suggest the A20 Pro chip will run up to 18% faster and 30% more power-efficient than the A19 Pro. The base iPhone 18 will not appear; that has slipped to next year. Rumours also point to an Apple Watch Series 12 with a ceramic case and two AirPods 5 models.
It is also the first keynote under John Ternus, who becomes Apple’s CEO on September 1, with Tim Cook moving to executive chairman, per Apple’s announcement. Ternus spent the past decade running hardware engineering, and this is his first major launch event in charge. Cook’s 15 years as CEO added $3.6 trillion to Apple’s market value, per Reuters.
Apple event 2026: what it means for the UAE
The event streams live at 9PM Dubai time on September 9 on Apple’s website and YouTube. The iPhone 18 Pro has a UAE release window tipped for September 18–19, and the foldable’s reportedly thin first run suggests UAE buyers should expect a wait — the iPhone Ultra launch was always going to be a limited one.
When is Apple’s September 2026 event?
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1PM ET — 9PM Dubai time. It streams live on Apple’s website and YouTube.
What will Apple announce at the September event?
The foldable iPhone (reportedly the iPhone Ultra), plus the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The base iPhone 18 is not expected — it has moved to 2027.
Will this be John Ternus’s first event as Apple CEO?
Yes. Ternus takes over from Tim Cook as CEO on September 1, 2026, with Cook staying on as executive chairman.
