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.
Beta Timeline So Far
- 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 2026 — Expected public release.
Thinking about trying the beta? Don't install it on a Mac you rely on — and if you do and regret it, here's how to downgrade macOS.
Should You Wait or Update Now?
Stay on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 — the current stable release — unless you have a spare Mac for beta testing. September's release will land with day-one coverage here, including compatibility lists and upgrade guides.