Apple Music Gets a Major Redesign and AI-Powered Playlists in iOS 26.4 Beta
Apple’s iOS 26.4 beta, released to developers on February 16, 2026, brings substantial updates to Apple Music, including a redesigned interface, AI-powered playlist generation with a feature called Playlist Playground, and a new concert discovery tool. These changes represent the most significant overhaul to Apple Music in years, aiming to enhance both the visual experience and music discovery capabilities.
Fullscreen Artwork and Interface Redesign
The most immediately noticeable change is the introduction of fullscreen artwork for albums and playlists [Gadget Hacks]. Instead of the traditional layout, album and playlist views now feature edge-to-edge artwork, creating a more immersive experience. Apple has also repositioned the play, shuffle, and download buttons for improved one-handed usability [Gadget Hacks]. The player backgrounds dynamically adapt to the dominant colors in the album artwork, enhancing visual cohesion.
Playlist Playground: AI-Powered Playlist Creation
Apple Music introduces Playlist Playground, an AI-driven tool that allows users to generate playlists based on simple text prompts [MacObserver]. Accessible through a new playlist icon in the Library tab, the feature offers pre-set suggestions like “morning coffee music” or “hip-hop party songs,” but users can input any idea, mood, or feeling [MacRumors]. The system generates a 25-song playlist with a custom title, which can then be refined with additional prompts or manually adjusted. The feature is currently in beta and the AI models may download in the background through the Apple Intelligence and Siri settings [MacObserver].
Concerts Near You: Discovering Live Music
Apple Music now includes a “Concerts Near You” feature, surfacing upcoming shows in the user’s area and tour dates for artists in their library [MacRumors]. This integration brings concert planning directly into the Apple Music app, offering a convenient way to discover live music events. The feature is integrated within the Music app itself [MacRumors].
Profile Section Redesign
The Profile section within Apple Music, along with the App Store, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV, has been redesigned for improved accessibility and usability [9to5Mac]. Quick actions, such as adding funds or redeeming gift cards, are now more prominent, and access to Apple Account settings is streamlined.
Availability
The iOS 26.4 beta is currently available to developers, with a public beta expected in the coming weeks [MacRumors]. The full iOS 26.4 update is anticipated to launch this spring.
These updates position Apple Music as a competitive force in the streaming market, offering a blend of visual enhancements, AI-powered features, and improved usability.