Apple’s Photos app is getting another round of updates with iOS 26, following its major overhaul last year. While iOS 18 brought sweeping changes to how Photos looked and functioned, this year’s update focuses on refinements, usability improvements, and subtle but powerful design polish.

Here’s a full breakdown of everything new coming to the Photos app in iOS 26.

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1. The New Liquid Glass Design

The most noticeable change across all of Apple’s apps this year is the introduction of the Liquid Glass design language — and the Photos app is no exception.

You’ll now see Liquid Glass-inspired UI elements throughout Photos, including:

• Transparent button layers
• Light-reflective tabs and menus
• Softer gradients and fluid transitions

While Apple has kept the visual refresh light and balanced, ensuring your photos remain the main visual focus, the overall look feels more dynamic and modern.

The new design brings Photos in line with the rest of iOS 26’s aesthetic overhaul, giving it that signature Apple “depth and fluidity” that the company’s designers describe as “alive yet effortless.”

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2. Tab Bar Navigation Returns

After experimenting with a single-screen layout in iOS 18 — a move that wasn’t exactly loved by long-time users — Apple has officially brought back tab bar navigation in the Photos app.

It’s not identical to the pre-iOS 18 version, but it’s close. The updated app now has three main tabs:

1. Library – Your familiar chronological feed of photos and albums.
2. Collections – A dedicated space for curated and customizable sections introduced in iOS 18.
3. Search – The same intuitive AI-powered search, now easier to access.

This change restores the sense of structure and familiarity that users missed, while keeping the flexibility of iOS 18’s new organization features.

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3. Spatialize Photos: Bringing Depth to Your Memories

Building on last year’s introduction of Spatial Photos for Apple Vision Pro, Apple is now extending the same capability to the iPhone Photos app.

When viewing a picture, you’ll notice a new button in the top-right corner labeled Spatial Scene.

Tapping it transforms the image into a spatialized version — adding subtle depth that lets you pan around the photo as though you’re viewing it through a 3D lens.

The most exciting use? You can set these Spatial Scenes as dynamic Lock Screen wallpapers, turning everyday shots into immersive, living memories.

It’s part playful experiment, part technical showcase — and it hints at how Apple is increasingly integrating spatial computing into everyday experiences.

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4. New Customization Options for Collections

Apple’s Collections tab — introduced in iOS 18 to group photos by themes, memories, and AI-curated categories — now gets a boost in flexibility and personalization.

In iOS 26, you can:

• Adjust view settings for your collections
• Collapse or expand specific sections for a cleaner view
• Choose between three layout options using the “…” menu at the top of the screen:
  • Uniform Small Grid
  • Uniform Large Grid
  • Dynamic Layout (default, with varied sizes for emphasis)

This makes managing your photo library feel more tailored — whether you prefer a minimal look or a visually rich gallery view.

The ability to collapse sections also helps declutter your screen — a welcome quality-of-life improvement for users with large photo libraries.

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5. Event Details Screen: Context for Your Memories

One of the smartest additions in iOS 26’s Photos app is the new Event Details feature.

When you’re viewing photos from concerts, sports games, or major events, swiping up reveals contextual information about what you attended — almost like having your own personal event journal embedded in Photos.

Depending on the event type:

• Sports events show final scores, venues, and upcoming games.
• Concerts display the setlist, top songs from the artist, and even tour details.

It’s not yet clear how Apple determines which events qualify, but early testers say it’s fairly broad, covering major entertainment and sports events recognized by Apple’s data sources.

This feature turns Photos from a simple gallery into a rich timeline of your life experiences — combining media, context, and emotion in one place.

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6. Subtle Performance and AI Enhancements

Though Apple didn’t headline it, iOS 26 also brings quiet under-the-hood improvements:

• Faster on-device AI categorization for faces, places, and pets.
• Improved search accuracy, with better natural language understanding.
• More intelligent memory curation, especially for shared albums and event clusters.

Photos also integrates more deeply with iCloud Shared Library, syncing edits, captions, and metadata across users in real time.

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Photos in iOS 26: The Bigger Picture

Apple’s approach this year is clearly about balance and refinement.

After the bold redesign in iOS 18, users needed stability and polish — and iOS 26 delivers exactly that. By bringing back the tab bar, refreshing the interface, and expanding customization and spatial features, Photos feels both fresh and familiar again.

It’s a thoughtful update — not overloaded with gimmicks, but subtly enhancing how you relive and organize your memories.

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Quick Recap — What’s New in Photos for iOS 26

Feature	What’s New	Why It Matters
Liquid Glass Design	Transparent, fluid UI inspired by glass-like surfaces	A modern, dynamic refresh across Apple apps
Tab Bar Navigation	Returns after user demand, now with Library, Collections, Search	Easier, more intuitive navigation
Spatialize Photos	Creates 3D-style “Spatial Scenes” from normal images	Adds immersive depth and lock screen options
Customizable Collections	Collapse sections, new layout and view options	Streamlined library management
Event Details Screen	Displays contextual info for concerts, sports, etc.	Adds memory-rich experiences to photos
Performance Upgrades	Faster AI categorization, improved search	Smoother and smarter overall experience

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Wrap-Up: Familiar, Focused, and Future-Ready

The Photos app in iOS 26 shows Apple striking a smart balance between innovation and intuition.

With the return of familiar navigation, visually immersive features like Spatial Scenes, and subtle yet meaningful design improvements, Photos now feels more personal, responsive, and visually alive than ever.

While iOS 18 was about redefining what Photos could be, iOS 26 is about perfecting it — bringing calm after the storm of change and laying the groundwork for an even smarter, more immersive photo experience.

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Best Accessories to Complement iOS 26 and Your iPhone

• AirPods Pro 3 – Immersive sound to relive memories in 3D audio
• AirTag (4-pack) – Keep track of your photo gear and travel bags
• MagSafe Car Mount – Perfect for hands-free photo browsing and navigation
• 10-Year AirTag Battery Case (2-Pack) – Long-lasting, travel-ready protection
• 100W USB-C Fast Charging Adapter – Power up your iPhone and iPad quickly

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What do you think of Apple’s iOS 26 Photos update? Are you excited about the return of the tab bar or the new Spatial Scene mode?

Share your thoughts — and stay tuned as Apple continues to blend AI, design, and human emotion into the heart of its Photos experience.