Can I upgrade my iPad Air to iPadOS 26?

Apple has changed its OS numbering - now using the Calendar year to identify the major version for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS etc.

For iPhone and iPad, the major version number has jumped from iOS/iPadOS 18 to iOS/iPadOS 26 - completely skipping 19 through 25.

Your iPas Pro M3 supports the latest version. For information, as of 15 September 2025, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older and current models of iPad:

32-bit devices (obsolete)

iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1

iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi+Cellular)

iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi+Cellular)

64-bit devices

iPad Air1*, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3* - iOS 12.5.7

iPad Air2, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.8.5

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" 1st generation)* - iPadOS 16.7.12

iPad6, iPad Pro (10.5"/12.9" 2nd generation) - iPadOS 17.7.10

iPad7 - iPadOS 18.7

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version iPadOS 26 (or optionally, if running iPadOS 18.x, to iPadOS 18.7)

• iPad Pro 13" (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later + M4)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later + M2/M3)
• iPad (8th generation and later + A16)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later + A17 Pro)

Go to settings…general…. And look there to if you can. If it’s there you can, if not nope.

You're very welcome.