Will Huawei announce new hardware at HDC 2026?

As with most software conferences, we're not expecting much in the way of product reveals. If anything is lurking, Huawei is keeping it a surprise for attendees.

Will HarmonyOS 7 reach users outside China?

Currently, international users remain on EMUI built on Android 12. The fully Android-independent HarmonyOS is only available in China. The conference may hint at global expansion plans but no confirmations exist yet.

What's the expected difference between HarmonyOS 6 and 7?

HarmonyOS 6 focused on deeper AI integration and a unified device ecosystem. HarmonyOS 7 is expected to bring more advanced AI capabilities and potentially broader ecosystem expansion in apps and developer reach.

Is the event available to stream online?

The event is worth keeping an eye on even if you don't plan to attend in person. Huawei typically streams its keynotes — follow Huawei's official YouTube channels and apps for live coverage.

Why does HarmonyOS matter even for Android users?

HarmonyOS represents the most credible real-world challenge to Android/iOS dominance to date. Its success in China — the world's largest smartphone market — proves a third platform is viable. Competition ultimately benefits consumers everywhere.

Huawei Developer Conference HDC 2026 — June 12-14 with Tickets on Sale Now: HarmonyOS 7 and Advanced AI in the Spotlight

HDC 2026 — Huawei Developer Conference Returns with New HarmonyOS

Huawei's Developer Conference is usually in June — this year the exact dates are June 12-14. Early bird tickets for the event were sold on April 29, but there is a batch of tickets that will be available from May 13 and another one from May 20.

Ticket Prices and Types

Tickets start from as little as CNY 88 (~$13) for students and CNY 198 (~$29) for developers for a single day (June 14). A two-day pass is CNY 498 (~$73) and a pass for the full three-day event (June 12-14) starts from CNY 698 (~$102) — with pricier tickets available offering better seating for the keynote, fancier catering, and nicer equipment packs.

Huawei is offering six types of tickets: VIP, expert, all-access, two-day, single-day, and student tickets.

What's Expected to Be Announced?

HarmonyOS 7 — The Main Star: The event is worth keeping an eye on even if you don't plan to attend in person — Huawei will reveal the next version of its HarmonyOS. This should be version 7, though it's likely that Huawei will just label it "HarmonyOS Next" during the event.

The invitation letter mentions that "this year, the HarmonyOS community has undergone a complete evolution, and innovative AI developments have taken the spotlight."

Artificial Intelligence: The highlights are a new version of HarmonyOS, likely HarmonyOS 7, as well as HarmonyOS AI developments. There are a few other announcements, but they're probably more interesting to actual developers than everyday device users.

Intriguing Timing — Overlapping with WWDC 2026

There is a slight overlap with Apple's WWDC 2026, but Huawei, being on the other side of the world, can probably pull it off. WWDC Apple starts June 9 and HDC Huawei begins June 12 — a packed week for the tech world.

Context — HarmonyOS Journey So Far

HarmonyOS launched in 2019 as a unified multi-device ecosystem. HarmonyOS NEXT in 2024 was the first fully Android-independent release for the Chinese market. International users remain on EMUI built on Android.