February 10, 2026, 1:56 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
In 2026, Apple will celebrate its 50th anniversary. No joke: The company was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on April 1, 1976. For Tim Cook, this is a reason to celebrate. At an internal employee meeting, the CEO hinted that something is planned for the birthday. But what could it be?
Tim Cook Announces Celebration
As Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman writes in his newsletter “Power On,” Cook called all employees to an all-hands meeting last week. During the meeting, the CEO discussed artificial intelligence, Apple’s growth, and the tense situation in the U.S. due to Trump’s immigration policy. The upcoming 50th anniversary of the company was also mentioned. Initially, only brief excerpts from Cook’s speech to the large assembly were leaked. However, Bloomberg has now published additional passages that go into more detail.
Apparently, Cook has delved deeply into the company’s history, going through old archives, photos, products, and services. These achievements are now to be celebrated. Although Cook did not want to communicate the details of the celebration yet, he emphasized that Apple always looks to the future. Those responsible for the festivities have, however, engaged with the past to do justice to the 50 years of history.
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What’s Coming for the 50th Birthday?
Cook’s speech does not reveal what specific plans the company has for the 50th birthday. It should also be noted that the CEO primarily addressed his own employees in his speech. So far, there is no information on how Apple plans to publicly celebrate the anniversary.
Apple has big plans for 2026. With iOS 26.4, the new Siri is expected to appear, which, based on Google’s Gemini, will finally be able to operate apps and understand context-based commands. In the second half of the year, Apple might introduce its first foldable smartphone. The device is expected to bring back Touch ID and feature a completely crease-free, 7.8-inch display on the inside.
However, there is currently no indication that Apple will link these innovations with its own anniversary. A true anniversary device is planned for 2027, which will celebrate 20 years of the iPhone. It is expected to have a completely new casing with rounded glass on the front and back. Face ID sensors and the selfie camera are to disappear under the display, giving the device a completely seamless front.
From Near Bankruptcy to Mega Corporation
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. The breakthrough came with the Macintosh, which established the graphical user interface for the mass market in 1984. The modern Apple era was ushered in by the iPod in 2001. Based on its success, the iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone market in 2007 with features that continue to define smartphones today.
In the 1990s, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy due to too many poorly positioned products and high losses. When Steve Jobs returned in 1997, he streamlined the portfolio, reoriented the company, and stabilized finances with an investment from Microsoft.
In 2018, Apple became the first company to reach a market value of one trillion U.S. dollars. While the iPhone remains the most important economic pillar, under Cook’s leadership, Apple is increasingly becoming a service-focused company–thanks to the App Store, subscriptions like iCloud and Apple TV, and payment services like Apple Pay.