ST-2026-168 · Runtimes & developer platforms
GitHub Actions adds Xcode 27 runner image in public preview
GitHub Actions added an Xcode 27 runner image in public preview on 16 July 2026 with `xcode-27` and `xcode-27-xlarge` labels for arm64 macOS runners.
Previous state
GitHub-hosted macOS runner labels did not provide the Xcode 27 major-version image.
Current state
GitHub-hosted arm64 macOS runners can target the Xcode 27 image using `xcode-27` or `xcode-27-xlarge` during public preview.
Affected users
Who needs to care
GitHub Actions workflows that need to build or test Apple applications against Xcode 27 and current Apple SDKs.
Required response
What to do
Opt into an Xcode 27 runner label only where public-preview and arm64-only constraints are acceptable, and validate tool-version differences from earlier images.
Evidence boundary
What the source does not prove
The image is public preview and arm64 macOS only; GitHub explicitly states that Intel runners are not supported.
Lifecycle history
Dated event sequence
- Xcode 27 runner image entered public preview
GitHub published the new Xcode-major-version runner labels for arm64 macOS.
Evidence ledger
First-party sources
- 01GitHub — Xcode 27 runner image now in public preview
Official GitHub Changelog · 2026-07-16
Open official source ↗