Update, September 14, 2026: macOS 27 Golden Gate is out. Apple released it to all Apple Silicon Macs on Monday, September 14 (build 26A428). See the full release notes and our release coverage. Intel Macs get macOS Tahoe 26.7 instead.
At WWDC 2026, Apple officially unveiled macOS 27 Golden Gate, the next major version of macOS. This year's release centers on performance improvements and deeper AI integration, headlined by a new conversational Siri on the Mac. The public beta is available now — the first arrived July 13 and public beta 2 followed on July 22 — with the full release expected in September.
The Headline Feature: A Conversational Siri
Golden Gate brings Apple's overhauled, conversational Siri assistant to the Mac. Rather than the one-shot commands of old, the new Siri can hold context across a conversation and take actions inside apps, building on the Apple Intelligence foundation laid in the Tahoe cycle.
Performance and Refinements
Apple described Golden Gate as a refinement year — "tons" of small improvements rather than a visual reinvention. After Tahoe's Liquid Glass redesign, macOS 27 focuses on speed, stability, and battery efficiency across the system.
Compatibility: Apple Silicon Only
As Apple signaled last year, macOS 27 drops Intel Mac support entirely. Golden Gate runs only on Macs with M-series chips — plus the A18 Pro-powered MacBook Neo. If you're on an Intel Mac, macOS Tahoe 26 is your final major version; Apple typically ships security updates for it for roughly two more years.
macOS 27 Release Timeline
- June 8, 2026 — Announced at WWDC; developer beta 1 released the same day.
- Late June 2026 — Developer beta 2.
- July 6, 2026 — Developer beta 3 released.
- July 13, 2026 — First public beta released.
- July 20, 2026 — Developer beta 4 (build 26A5388g), adding a Liquid Glass opacity slider and standardized window corners.
- July 22, 2026 — Public beta 2.
- September 9, 2026 — Apple confirms the September 14 release date.
- September 14, 2026 — macOS 27 Golden Gate released (build 26A428), alongside Tahoe 26.7 and Sequoia 15.8.
Upgraded and regret it? Here's how to downgrade macOS.
Should You Upgrade Now?
If you have an Apple Silicon Mac and your key apps are compatible, yes. Back up first. If you depend on specialist drivers or plug-ins, install macOS Tahoe 26.7 for now and wait for macOS 27.1. Full details are in the macOS 27 release notes.