Source: Apple
Apple overhauled its operating systems and one of the newest changes is the naming convention for them. Instead of sticking with using the version number, the numbers will reflect the year when the OS was released. The change will be coming to all of its software, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
So, iOS will be iOS 26, iPad will be iPad 26, watchOS will be watchOS 26, and so on. You can think of how Samsung rebranded its flagship slab phone in 2020 to Galaxy S20 after the Galaxy S10 launched the year before. However, Apple isn't changing the model numbers on iPhones just yet.
Also, macOS is retaining its California nature-themed names. That means this year's OS will be macOS Tahoe 26. Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president for software engineering, reasoned that the "macOS demands more" than just using two-digit year names.