Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld covers Apple’s upcoming “Special Apple Experience” which will take place on March 4, 2026 in London, New York and Shanghai, coinciding with Mobile World Congress.
- Expected product launches include the iPhone 17e, new MacBook Air and Pro models with M5 chips, improved iPads and the rumored HomePad smart home hub.
- Apple events usually start at 10am PT and can be watched via Apple’s website, YouTube or the TV app. Detailed instructions are provided below.
Expectations are high that Apple is planning a slew of new products in spring 2026, including the iPhone 17e and new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, but will the company hold a spring event, and if so, when will Apple’s spring event take place?
With Apple sending out invites to select journalists on March 4th, it certainly looks like something will launch soon, but it’s unclear if it will be at a live event, as the invites are more of an “experience” than an event.
In this article, we explain what you need to know about Apple’s rumored spring event, including the expected timing, how to watch it, and what Apple might be launching.
Will Apple hold a spring event in 2026?
Apple
- Apple is holding ‘Special Experiences’ in London, New York and Shanghai on March 4.
- The experiences of March 4 may not translate into Apple’s event, but it is assumed that a number of new products will arrive in the spring, and we could see them together.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Apple issued invitations to a “Special Apple Experience” in at least three locations (US, UK and China).
While Apple often unveils new products at live-streamed events, it has done so less frequently in recent years, with Spring 2025, for example, seeing a series of non-event Apple launches: the iPhone 16e debuted on February 19, followed by updated iPad and iPad Air models announced via press release on March 4. A day later, Apple introduced the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio in a separate announcement.
Even if Apple chooses to keep these “experiences” behind the door — rather than hold a live event — it looks like hands-on sessions will be taking place, suggesting there will be new products.
For more details on Apple’s event calendar, see When is the next Apple event?
When is Apple’s 2026 Spring Event?
- Wednesday March 4, 2026: “Apple Special Experience” confirmed.
Apple invited some journalists to a “Special Apple Experience” on March 4.
The timing of this March 4 “experience” coincides with Mobile World Congress – which takes place from March 2-5, 2026. Various flagship phones were launched at MWC 2025, including the Samsung Galaxy A series (A26, A36, A56) with Galaxy AI. Even before Apple announced “experiences” on March 4th, we suggested that if Apple wanted to steal the show with the iPhone 17e launch, it could do so later that week.
What time does Apple’s spring event start?
The March 4th “experience” is scheduled to start at the same time in three locations where Apple is hosting it:
- New York: 9 am
- London: 2:00 p.m
- Shanghai: 10 p.m
What will Apple release in spring 2026?
There are plenty of rumors that suggest new Apple products are in the works.
iPhone update
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
The iPhone 17e, an update to the iPhone 16e and a value-oriented alternative to the iPhone 17, is rumored to arrive this spring.
Read more here: iPhone 17e: Everything you need to know.
iPad update
The updated iPad Air with the M4 chip is expected to launch early this year.
A new entry-level iPad equipped with the A19 chip is also expected for the spring lineup.
MacBook update
Updates for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro will be available soon.
Foundry
While the entry-level MacBook Pro M5 was launched in late 2025, the more powerful MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations are expected to arrive in spring 2026. Read more here: MacBook Pro M5 Pro and Max release date – Where are the MacBook Pros?
A new MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip is also slated to launch this spring. Read more here: M5 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know before the launch.
There are also rumors that Apple will launch a low-cost MacBook.
Home and AI
Apple is reportedly developing a smart home hub with a built-in screen, often referred to as the “HomePad”.
Spring 2026 is expected to be a watershed year for Apple’s software ecosystem, specifically for its voice assistant, but the AI update to Siri is said to be delayed (again).
How to watch Apple’s spring event
Apple
The best way to watch an Apple event – if there is one – would be to get an invite to attend in person, but most of us won’t be so lucky. Fortunately, Apple will also live stream the presentation, so everyone can watch.
The first place to try is right at the top of this article, where we’ll have Apple’s YouTube stream embedded. You can also watch on Apple’s event page, which will be live streaming on the night. In fact, the main Apple.com home page usually shows the presentation while it’s in progress.
If you have an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac – provided the device has the latest software – you can watch the stream in the TV app. PC owners can also watch, but will need to visit Apple’s site as above.
It will also be available to watch in the Podcasts and TV apps and on Apple’s website after the event.
Finally, Apple has held broadcast events at Apple Stores for certain events in the past, so it might be worth checking with your nearest location to see if they have anything planned.
Learn more about watching an event here: How to watch an Apple event.
When were Apple’s last spring events?
Apple previously held a spring event on the following dates:
- 2025: no action
- 2024: Tuesday, May 7🙁Release“): 11 and 14-inch iPad Pro M4, 11 and 14-inch iPad Air M2, Apple Pencil Pro
- 2023: no action
- 2022, Tuesday, March 8🙁Peek Performance,” virtual): New iPhone SE, new iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display, and new iPhone color options
- 2021, Tuesday, April 20🙁Spring loaded,” virtual): New iPad Pro and iMac, Apple TV 4K, AirTags, new color options for iPhone and iOS 14.7
- 2020: no events
- 2019, Monday, March 25🙁It’s show time”): Apple Card and News+, TV+ and Arcade subscriptions
- 2018, Tuesday, March 27🙁Let’s take a field trip”): New iPad and education announcements
- 2017: no action
- 2016, Monday, March 21🙁Let us get involved”): iPad Pro, iPhone SE and software updates
- 2015, Monday, March 9🙁Spring forward“): Apple Watch, new MacBook and iOS 8.2
- 2014: no action
- 2013: no action
- 2012, Wednesday, March 7🙁We have something you really need to see. And touch”): Apple TV 3rd generation and iPad 3rd generation
Does Apple always have a spring event?
Spring 2025 saw a series of uneventful Apple introductions: the iPhone 16e debuted on February 19, followed by updated iPad and iPad Air models announced via press release on March 4. A day later, Apple introduced the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio in a separate announcement.
Apple executives traditionally take the stage to unveil new products. Apple has held six spring events in the past ten years, with notable gaps in 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2025; Apple may have held the event in 2020 if not for the pandemic).
Apple doesn’t always hold a spring event, but when it does, it’s usually in March or April — except for 2024, when Apple surprised us all by issuing invitations to the event on May 7th.
Will Apple once again launch its spring products without an event, or will it return to a keynote-style presentation to maximize attention for new announcements? As we’ve asked before, is the era of Apple events over? We hope not.
Apple’s spring event is one of three or four big events in Apple’s annual announcement cycle. There are big iPhone/Mac software announcements at WWDC in the summer, iPhone launches in September, sometimes we see Apple announce Macs and iPads in October or November, and (some years) we get some hardware reveals at the spring event in March or April. At these events, Apple executives take the stage—both real and virtual—to show off some recent successes before revealing what new products they’re about to launch.
In recent years, Apple has stepped back from holding events and launching new products. It continued to hold a keynote to kick off WWDC in June and an event to celebrate the launch of the new iPhone in September, but events in the spring and late fall became less certain, but not for lack of product announcements.
What did Apple launch in past spring events?
What happens at an Apple event?
What time do Apple events usually start?
Apple events usually start at 10:00 a.m. local (California PT) time, but in May 2024 the event started at 7:00 a.m. PT.
Here is what was translated at the time in various places around the world:
- UK: 15:00 (BST)
- Central Europe: 16:00 (CEST)
- US: 7:00 a.m. (PT), 8:00 a.m. (MT), 9:00 a.m. (CT), 10:00 a.m. (ET)
- Canada: 7:00 a.m. (PT), 8:00 a.m. (MT), 9:00 a.m. (CT), 10:00 a.m. (ET)
- India: 7:30 PM (IST)
- Singapore and China: 11:00 p.m
- Japan: Next day at 2:00 AM (JST)
- Australia: 11pm (AWST), 11.30pm (ACST), midnight (AEST)
- New Zealand: Second day at 2:00 AM (NZST)
If Apple is holding the event at its usual time of 10am PT, the timing will be as follows (allowing for daylight saving time changes that occur at different times around the world).
- US: 10:00 AM (PST/PDT), 11:00 AM (MST/MDT), Noon (CST/CDT), 1:00 PM (EST/EDT)
- Canada: as above and 2:00 PM (AST/ADT)
- UK: 6pm (GMT/BST)
- Europe: at 19:00 (CET/CEST), 20:00 (EET/EEST)
- India: at 10.30 pm (IST)
- Australia: Next day at 1:00 AM (AWST/AWDT), 2:30 AM (ACST/ACDT), 3:00 AM (AEST/AEDT)
- New Zealand: Next day at 5:00 AM (NZST/NZDT)
Apple events usually last one to two hours.