We’re just weeks away from the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold, and preparations inside Apple are well underway. A new report from Bloomberg says that Apple is opening a lottery for its US retail employees to head to California and help assist at the forthcoming iPhone event in September.
iPhone event set for September
The report explains that retail employees from Apple Stores can apply to work the iPhone event, where they will “help organize lines, check in guests, greet attendees, offer directions and support the security teams.”
Apple announced the lottery in an employee memo, saying the event will take place during the first half of September.
In the memo, Apple said it was “excited to offer US store team members the opportunity to participate in the Event Support Experience Program.”
Apple has relied on retail employees to help staff major product launches for years. Workers who participated in either this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference or last year’s iPhone launch aren’t eligible for the upcoming program. Interested employees must apply by Aug. 8, and Apple will notify those selected by Aug. 17, according to the memo.
Apple typically holds its annual iPhone event during the second week of September. This year, Labor Day in the US is September 7. Because of that, Bloomberg says a “Wednesday event appears slightly more likely, as it would preserve the workday travel window Apple has historically provided for attendees.”
If that pans out, the iPhone event would be held on Wednesday, September 9. Pre-orders would then presumably open on Friday, with a release one week later.