Apple to celebrate its 50th anniversary: Tim Cook promises a big event

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told employees at a company-wide meeting that plans are underway to celebrate Apple’s 50th anniversary. Founded on April 1, 1976, Apple will hit the half-century mark in 2026.

Key points:

• Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, and its 50th anniversary falls in 2026.
• Tim Cook confirmed preparations for the celebration during an all-hands meeting.
• The exact format of the anniversary events has not yet been revealed.

Tim Cook on Apple’s 50th anniversary: “It makes my heart sing”

Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman shared details from last week’s company-wide gathering where Cook spoke about the upcoming milestone. The Apple boss admitted he’s recently found himself reflecting more than usual on the company’s history.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking about Apple in an unusually deep way, because we’ve been working on how to mark this moment – 50 years. It’s a remarkable achievement. We’ve been digging through old archives and photos. We revisited our products, services, and people, and I’m struck by how much Apple has changed the world – how much Apple has given to the world,” Cook said.

Celebration confirmed, but details still under wraps

Cook openly confirmed there will be a celebration, though the exact format remains undecided. He urged everyone to stay tuned for updates.

“Will we celebrate? Absolutely. We’re not ready to share how just yet, so keep an eye out. We’re not a company that usually looks back. So the team working on this has had to develop a new skill for us – reflection – because our focus has always been looking forward. It’s taken some effort to get into this headspace, but when you pause and think about the last 50 years, it really makes your heart sing. I promise – there will be a celebration,” Cook added.

According to Cook, the team tasked with the anniversary had to overhaul their usual mindset. Apple is traditionally future-focused rather than backward-looking. Preparing for the 50th meant diving into archives, old photos, and the history of products and services-something quite new for the company.

Apple rarely marks anniversaries publicly

Apple doesn’t often celebrate company milestones openly. The last big public anniversary was the 2014 campaign for 30 years of the Mac. Back then, Apple ran interviews with execs, launched a dedicated page on its main website, and released a series of special content honoring the milestone.

It’s still unclear whether the 50th anniversary celebrations will be limited to internal company events or if Apple will mark the occasion more publicly.