Apple is opening a lottery for U.S. retail employees to staff its next major product event, bringing store workers into preparations for the company's biggest launch of the year.
An internal memo viewed by Bloomberg invited U.S. retail employees to enter a lottery to help staff the in-person event. Selected workers will greet and check in guests, organize lines, provide directions and support security teams.
Applications close August 8, and Apple will notify selected employees by August 17. Workers who participated in WWDC 2026 or the 2025 iPhone launch aren't eligible.
Retail employees have supported major Apple Events for years, so the staffing program itself isn't new. The memo is notable because Apple gave workers a launch window before publicly announcing the event.
Although the document didn't include a specific date, Bloomberg considers Wednesday, September 9, slightly more likely. Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, which would leave invited guests a full workday to travel.
Apple has often scheduled its iPhone presentations for the second Tuesday or Wednesday of September, but the company doesn't always follow that pattern. September 9 is still only an estimate until Apple sends invitations — but it is likely.
A foldable iPhone raises the stakes
Bloomberg expects Apple to introduce its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. New Apple Watch models and other hardware are also expected, although Apple hasn't announced any of those products.
A folding model would make the event more consequential than a routine annual refresh. Samsung, Google and other manufacturers have spent years building the foldable-phone category, while Apple has continued refining the conventional iPhone design.
The announcement also may not coincide with immediate availability. Previous reporting has suggested that Apple could unveil the device in September while delaying sales until later, following a strategy similar to the iPhone X launch in 2017.
Apple's fall lineup is already expected to differ from its usual release pattern. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected in September, while reports have placed the standard iPhone 18 in early 2027.
