What’s new in watchOS 26
Dive into the latest key technologies and capabilities.
New design
Take advantage of the latest SwiftUI APIs to adopt the new design materials in watchOS 26.
Smart Stack Relevance APIs
Suggest widgets for the Smart Stack with new signals like Points of Interest, which can share applicable data from your app when people are near a specific location (for example, presenting a shopping list when someone is near a grocery store).
Control Widget API
Create custom controls for the Control Center, Action Button, or Smart Stack. Controls on iOS are automatically shared with watchOS 26.
MapKit updates
Integrate new Maps features, such as additional overlays and annotations, local search, and routing. MapKit also now enables search for nearby points of interest, provides directions, and displays route maps.
Resources
Take advantage of the latest advancements in watchOS by building your apps and games with Xcode 26 beta. Browse updated documentation and try out the sample code for the new technologies introduced at WWDC25.