When is Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer?

[MacRumors]

It is now July and we are still waiting for Apple to begin its annual Back to School offer in countries like the U.S. and Canada — if it is still coming.

In the U.S., Apple launched its Back to School offer in June from 2020 through 2025, but it has waited until July in the more distant past:

• 2025: June 17
• 2024: June 20
• 2023: June 5
• 2022: June 24
• 2021: June 17
• 2020: June 15
• 2019: July 9
• 2018: July 12
• 2017: July 12

Last year, college students and educational staff could receive a free accessory like AirPods 4 or an Apple Pencil Pro with the purchase of a qualifying Mac or iPad model. It is unclear what Apple plans to offer this year, but given the company recently raised prices on all Macs and iPads, this year's promotion would be rather bittersweet.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple planned to launch its 2026 Back to School offer by last week, but that did not end up happening. Apple may have decided to hold off until July this year in order to give customers more time to digest the price increases that it implemented last month, but we are merely speculating.

Given the offer launched between July 9 and July 12 in 2017 through 2019, hopefully the 2026 offer arrives over the next few days.

UNiDAYS verification is now required on Apple's education store in the U.S. and Canada.

Article Link: When is Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer?

 

[Leobreaker]

Let’s all remember that Apple is a small start-up business. They can’t possibly offer free headphones and earbuds in these trying times…

 

[Plutonius]

Is Apple waiting to increase more pricing first 🙁 ?

 

[Brookzy]

Why does anyone think this is happening? The offer was all about throwing in some free AirPods to encourage new college students to get an $899 MacBook rather than a PC, and be hooked for life.

They have a better way of doing that now: a $499 $599 MacBook.

 

[Royksöpp]

Why does anyone think this is happening? The offer was all about throwing in some free AirPods to encourage new college students to get an $899 MacBook rather than a PC, and be hooked for life.

They have a better way of doing that now: a $499 $599 MacBook.

Last year you got them for free, this year you're actually paying for them! I would not recommend anyone buy direct from Apple until the prices go down, even with the back to school promos.

 

[JPack]

The promo already came on June 17 when Cook pre-announced the price increases and ended on June 25 when those were implemented.

MacBook Air has a 2-3 week lead time while Neo is down to one week. Apple should be content without having to do anything additional to push sales.

 

[Populus]

UNiDAYS verification is now required on Apple's education store in the U.S. and Canada

Let me report that here in Europe the UNiDAYS verification is also mandatory as of past month or so.

Until now, here you could buy through the website or through the phone, and tell the Specialist you are from the education sector, and they applied to you the discount. Afterwards they required you to email them your Student ID or any other proof. Now it’s UNiDAYS verification only.

 

[19callum93]

I don’t believe they are going to offer anything this year. They already have great discounts for students via UNiDAYS.

 

[Astuces iOS]

The discount will be : free AirPods or Apple Pencil at the normal price HAHAHA HELL the discount will be scammy because it will be the same as the current one

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

maybe they are waiting to release the new Beats Studio Pros?

 

[JPack]

The discount will be : free AirPods or Apple Pencil at the normal price HAHAHA HELL the discount will be scammy because it will be the same as the current one

Far too generous. AirTags at most.

 

[svish]

Will be good if there is an offer this year. With rising prices, Apple could very well decide not to have the usual sale/offer.

 

[ricketysquire]

They'll give you one season of Ted Lasso, a pack of stickers from WWDC 2023 and one AirPod bud. And everyone will be satisfied #courage

 

[Astuces iOS]

Far too generous. AirTags at most.

It looks more like Apple Pencil tips

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple planned to launch its 2026 Back to School offer by last week, but that did not end up happening. Apple may have decided to hold off until July this year in order to give customers more time to digest the price increases that it implemented last month, but we are merely speculating

I’m hearing from industrial chatter and also from few friends who works at Apple Store say the promotion has been CANCELLED for this year due to RAM price increases.