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Every year, new emojis appear on smartphones. These small symbols have long been part of everyday life and reflect not only emotions but also cultural trends. The selection is regularly updated so that users can express what they think, feel, or experience with just a few characters. It's now clear which new emojis will be introduced as part of Unicode 17. Apple will incorporate them with an update in iOS 26.
On the occasion of World Emoji Day, the Unicode Consortium has published the list of new emoji characters that will officially be released in fall 2025 with Unicode 17. Apple plans to integrate these symbols into iOS 26 during 2026. The implementation of new emojis typically takes several months. Apple usually does this in a point update, as was the case with iOS 18.4.
These emojis are new
Unicode 17 introduces the following new emoji characters:
- a hairy creature reminiscent of Bigfoot or Sasquatch
- an apple core
- a distorted face that can represent strong or mixed emotions
- a battle cloud, as known from classic comic scenes
- a treasure chest
- a trombone
- an orca
- a ballet dancer
The selection demonstrates how diverse the emoji system has become. In addition to everyday symbols like the apple core or the treasure chest, there are increasingly figures from myth, art, or the animal world.
Schedule for iOS 26 and Emoji Introduction
Unicode 17 will be released in fall 2025. After that, Apple will begin designing the emojis in the typical Apple style. It will take some time before the new characters are available in iOS. As things stand, the release is expected in spring 2026, presumably as part of iOS 26.4. This is similar to the previous year. Back then, the Unicode 16 emojis were introduced in March 2025 with iOS 18.4. These included, among others, a leafless tree, a fingerprint, eye bags, a harp, a shovel, and a splash.
How the emoji process works
The Unicode Consortium is behind every new emoji introduction. It is an organization responsible for the global standardization of characters and symbols. Every year, the consortium reviews new emoji suggestions submitted by the public. If they are accepted, they are incorporated into the next Unicode update. Only after Unicode publishes them can platforms like Apple, Google, or Samsung begin creating their own designs for these emojis. The developers adhere to the official symbol description but design them in their own style.
iOS 26 brings a breath of fresh air to the emoji repertoire
The new emojis, scheduled to be released with iOS 26, expand the repertoire with exciting, sometimes unusual symbols. Bigfoot, Battle Cloud, and Apple Core represent the mix of emotion, fantasy, and everyday life that the emoji system offers today. Those who enjoy communicating with symbols can look forward to the next update in spring 2026. (Image: Shutterstock / Tada Images)
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