At WWDC 2025, Apple officially lifted the curtain on tvOS 26, the next evolution of its Apple TV operating system. Designed to enhance visual aesthetics, social interactivity, and intelligent integrations, tvOS 26 delivers a bold redesign and new entertainment capabilities that push the home theater experience forward.

A New Look: Liquid Glass UI Brings Cinematic Elegance

The most striking update in tvOS 26 is the Liquid Glass interface, offering a modern, translucent visual overhaul. Now, cinematic poster art is infused with fluid reflections and layered effects, giving your Apple TV home screen a more dynamic, immersive appearance. The layout has been reimagined to showcase more content at once, making it easier to browse trending titles or resume shows across profiles.

Switching between profiles is now smarter too—Apple TV automatically detects the user and loads personalized Watchlists, Apple Music preferences, and app settings for a seamless experience from the moment it powers on.

Karaoke Comes Alive: Apple Music Sing with iPhone Mic Support

Apple is turning up the fun with major improvements to Apple Music Sing. With tvOS 26, users can now transform their iPhones into wireless microphones, allowing them to sing directly into their devices while lyrics light up on the Apple TV screen. Real-time vocal feedback, on-screen visual effects, and multi-device syncing mean karaoke parties are more interactive than ever.

Additionally, Apple has added Lyric Translation and Pronunciation Assist, helping users sing along to international tracks—even if they don’t speak the language. Friends can join in by sending live emoji reactions and queuing up songs using their own iPhones.

FaceTime on the Big Screen Gets Smarter

tvOS 26 brings deeper FaceTime enhancements, making conversations more engaging and inclusive. Contact Posters now appear on-screen during calls, mirroring iOS visuals and offering a consistent, personalized experience.

With Live Captions now available in six new languages—French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish—Apple is further expanding accessibility. All captioning runs on-device, ensuring privacy and speed. Audio and call notifications are now profile-aware, appearing only when the active user is engaged, and calls can be answered using connected iPhones or HomePods.

Immersive Visuals with Customizable Aerial Screen Savers

tvOS 26 introduces stunning new Aerial screen savers from India, highlighting scenic landscapes from Goa and Kerala. These cinematic loops continue Apple’s tradition of showcasing breathtaking imagery, now with the option to choose specific screen saver categories, allowing users to tailor their ambient visuals to their mood or preference.

Smarter Audio Control and Home Integration

The new OS gives users greater flexibility in managing their home theater environment. Any AirPlay-compatible speaker can now be set as the default audio output, ideal for setups with third-party sound systems or multi-room playback.

App login processes have also been streamlined—fewer steps and faster authentication make setting up new Apple TVs or installing apps significantly easier.

Key Features of tvOS 26

Liquid Glass UI: A major design upgrade with enhanced poster art and layout.

Apple Music Sing with iPhone Mic: Karaoke with real-time vocals, effects, and emoji reactions.

FaceTime Enhancements: Contact Posters, expanded Live Captions, and smarter notifications.

Aerial Screen Savers from India: Now customizable based on scenery preference.

Audio Control: Set AirPlay speakers as default output for a consistent listening experience.

Simplified Logins: Easier app access and device setup.

Availability

tvOS 26 is now available in developer beta through the Apple Developer Program, with a public beta launching next month. The final version will begin rolling out to users later this year, compatible with Apple TV 4K (all generations) and Apple TV HD. Some features may require additional hardware or language support, depending on the region.