Safari 26 continues to catch up with modern CSS features with progress on media queries, implementation of the latest specs and rendering performance.
Key CSS Updates in Safari 26
- Media queries: Better granularity and compatibility with the latest CSS specifications
- Interoperability: Progressive alignment with Chrome/Firefox on key APIs, reducing cross-browser inconsistencies
- Debugging: Web Inspector tooling refined for complex layouts, making it easier to troubleshoot CSS issues
Why This Matters for Developers
Safari's improvements mean fewer browser-specific workarounds and better compatibility across the web platform. For teams building design systems and component libraries, these updates reduce technical debt and improve the consistency of your interfaces across all Apple devices.
Testing Recommendations
For robust design systems, test your components on Safari 26 now to anticipate rendering differences and necessary optimizations:
- Validate media query behavior across different viewport sizes
- Check CSS Grid and Flexbox layouts for consistency
- Test custom properties (CSS variables) cascading
- Verify modern CSS features like container queries and :has() selector
Performance Improvements
Safari 26 also brings under-the-hood performance improvements for CSS parsing and rendering. Complex stylesheets load faster, and reflow/repaint operations are more efficient, resulting in smoother animations and better overall user experience.
Need CSS Expertise?
Our VOID team can help you optimize your CSS and ensure cross-browser compatibility. We work on:
- CSS architecture and design systems
- Performance optimization and best practices
- Cross-browser testing (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- Modern CSS features and progressive enhancement
Additional Resources
- Web Performance Morocco: our performance optimization services
- React Agency Casablanca: modern front-end development
- All our publications: tech guides and news
Article published on September 30, 2025. Safari 26 CSS features overview for front-end developers.