As we approach Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) each year, Mac enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the new macOS release name. While we can usually predict the version number, macOS stands out with its unique tradition of being given a distinctive name. Unlike Apple’s iPhone operating system, which has been simply known as “iOS” since version 4, the Mac operating system receives more creative and imaginative monikers for each major release.
Initially known as “Mac OS X,” the first nine releases were cat-themed, including Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion. In 2013, Apple transitioned to California landmark names with Mavericks, and later continued with Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia.
In 2020, Apple introduced macOS 11 with Big Sur, coinciding with the launch of the M1 chip. Reports suggest that this year, Apple may surprise us by jumping from macOS 15 to macOS 26, aligning with a “model year” concept while retaining California landmark inspiration.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this year’s macOS version will be macOS 26 Tahoe, drawing inspiration from Lake Tahoe. The naming convention often hints at the significance of the software updates, with this year’s release expected to bring a significant design overhaul in line with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
[Lake Tahoe is] a famous resort area and a vacation destination (and second-home site) for many Apple employees. The deep blue lake is also known to show the reflection of the sky and surrounding mountains — something that flicks at the striking visuals of the new user interface.
Mark Gurman
Apple is rumored to be unveiling a significant design overhaul for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26, inspired by visionOS for a unified user interface across all devices, promising a fresh and cohesive user experience.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
