iOS 26 Update to Include 31 New Emojis, Unicode Confirms

Get ready to spice up your texts and social media posts! Apple’s next iOS 26 update will bring a new set of emojis from the Unicode 17.0 release. Quirky faces, iconic symbols, and more – these new emojis are sure to add fun to your texts. Here’s everything you need to know about the new iOS 26 emojis coming to your iPhone and iPad next year. 

What’s New in Unicode 17.0? 

The Unicode Consortium, the organization behind standardizing emojis across platforms, revealed a sneak peek of the Emoji 17.0 lineup. A total of 164 new emoji candidates went under review, and eight standout emojis are slated for launch in September 2025.

While not confirmed by Apple, they’re already generating buzz among iPhone users. These emojis are designed to be visually distinct, convey meanings or symbols, and offer creative ways to express yourself. If you’re into unusual faces or cultural symbols, there’s something for everyone in this update.

The New Emojis Coming to iOS 26 

Here are the eight confirmed emojis you can expect to see in the iOS 26 update: 

• Trombone 
• Treasure Chest 
• Distorted Face 
• Hairy Creature (Bigfoot/Sasquatch) 
• Fight Cloud (classic comic-style puff) 
• Apple Core 
• Orca 
• Ballet Dancers 

When Will You Get These Emojis? 

Whereas Unicode 17.0 is expected to be finalized in September 2025, Apple typically deploys new emojis in iOS updates a few months later. Certain platforms, such as Google, may preview the support beforehand, but Apple’s release is likely to occur around early 2026, based on its previous emoji release cycles. 

What’s Next? 

As we await iOS 26, these new emojis are already sparking excitement. If you want even more emoji excitement, Apple’s Genmoji on iOS 26 lets users mix and match custom emojis using Apple Intelligence. So, you can make your chats more fun, personalized, and colorful. 

Stay tuned for more updates on iOS 26 and let us know in the comments which emoji you’re most excited to use!