This years WWDC is going to be a big one for software changes, with iOS 19, macOS 16, and more expected to get major design overhauls. While a lot of focus is on the iPhones changes, theres a very important reason why macOS 16 could prove just as significant: it may be the best evidence yet that touchscreen Macs are finally coming.The first touchscreen Mac might arrive next year, and WWDC will be tellingApple shipped the iPhone with multitouch in 2007. It followed up with the iPad in 2010. And all throughout the many years since then, bringing touch to the Mac has been a constant question.Executives at Apple have regularly shot down the idea. But as history has proven, Apple can deny something vehemently only to be secretly working on it behind the scenes.Yet so much time has passed. Touch has long become the norm on PCs, but there are still no touchscreen Macs.Leaving aside macOS 16 for a moment though, the 2026 MacBook Pro sounds like the best chance yet for that to change.Thats because its expected to boast a major hardware redesign thats thinner, lighter, uses OLED, the M6 chip line, and possibly even a C1 or C2 modem.The history of rumors around this model indicate that touch support could be a key feature too.Were 18+ months away from that new MacBook Pros launch though. But thanks to Apples upcoming software revamps, we shouldnt have to wait nearly that long to discover whether the touchscreen Mac smoke truly means fire.macOS 16 will either strongly hint at touchscreen Macs, or put an end to our hopeI remember when macOS Big Surs redesign stirred up a wave of excitement that Macs with touch could be coming.At the time, executives like Craig Federighi suggested users were reading too much into some small design tweaks.But when macOS 16 is introduced this Junein just three monthsI expect a different scenario.Big Sur made macOS slightly more touch-friendly, but if Apple is truly planning to launch its first touchscreen Macs soon, macOS 16 will almost certainly make that clear.One of two things will happen. Either:macOS 16 will have big changes that make touchscreen Macs seem obviousor it wont, and we can give up hope of a touchscreen MacBook Pro next year or any time soonIn the second scenario, normally I might say that theres always macOS 17. But if macOS 16 is getting a big redesign, is it really plausible that Apple will make major changes again with macOS 17?If touchscreen Macs are truly coming, the clues should be evident in June. And if theyre not, we should know that after WWDC too.Either way, I expect macOS 16 to provide much needed clarity on Apples current plans for touchscreen Macs.Do you think macOS 16 will reveal optimizations for touchscreen Macs? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel