diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 20753ef56015380..f15dc9f7e178781 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -408,23 +408,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: build-context
     if: needs.build-context.outputs.run-ios == 'true'
     timeout-minutes: 60
-    runs-on: macos-14
+    runs-on: macos-26
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
 
-      # GitHub recommends explicitly selecting the desired Xcode version:
-      # https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/12541#issuecomment-3083850140
-      # This became a necessity as a result of
-      # https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/12541 and
-      # https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/12751.
-      - name: Select Xcode version
-        run: |
-          sudo xcode-select --switch /Applications/Xcode_15.4.app
-
       - name: Build and test
-        run: python3 Platforms/Apple ci iOS --fast-ci --simulator 'iPhone SE (3rd generation),OS=17.5'
+        run: python3 Platforms/Apple ci iOS --fast-ci
 
   build-emscripten:
     name: 'Emscripten'
diff --git a/Platforms/Apple/testbed/__main__.py b/Platforms/Apple/testbed/__main__.py
index b3eed38571d9708..797b522678f9d74 100644
--- a/Platforms/Apple/testbed/__main__.py
+++ b/Platforms/Apple/testbed/__main__.py
@@ -271,8 +271,14 @@ def run_testbed(
     update_test_plan(location, platform, args)
     print(" done.")
 
+    # xcodebuild doesn't guarantee that the CoreSimulatorService daemon is
+    # running prior to using a simulator, but calling `xcrun simctl list` does.
+    # Determining the default simulator that *would* be used is a cheap action;
+    # so use that as a way to ensure that the CoreSimulatorService daemon is
+    # running.
+    default_simulator = select_simulator_device(platform)
     if simulator is None:
-        simulator = select_simulator_device(platform)
+        simulator = default_simulator
     print(f"Running test on {simulator}")
 
     xcode_test(