New Emojis Coming in 2026–2027: Unicode’s Draft List

ВIn January 2026, Unicode released an updated draft emoji list for upcoming versions of the standard. It includes nine new concepts, ranging from a newly proposed Cracking Face to a Pickle . If these symbols make it through the remaining approval stages, the first could start appearing in apps and platforms by late 2026.

What’s a Draft List, and How Are New Emojis Born?

Many people imagine Unicode as a council of wise elders who once a year decide which emojis get to enter the world. In reality, the process is much simpler and more democratic. Almost anyone can propose a new symbol.

True, wanting it isn’t enough. A line like “I want a unicorn emoji because it’s cool” doesn’t count as a real argument. To even get an idea on the table, you need to submit a solid proposal and explain why the world needs this symbol in the first place.

The author must conduct actual research. They need to demonstrate search statistics, share examples of similar symbols used on social media, and prove that the emoji fills a genuine gap and makes sense across different cultures.

Next, proposals go to a Unicode Consortium working group. Experts review them using dozens of criteria, and most get rejected early. The survivors make up a draft emoji list like the one we’re looking at now. Even then, nothing is guaranteed. A spot on the draft list doesn’t mean the emoji will make it into the final release.

The New Emoji List: A Closer Look

1. Lighthouse — simple, clear symbol of guidance in our foggy world. It’s the calmest and probably the most romantic emoji in the whole set. In the proposal, it gets every meaning at once: hope, rescue, and a path forward. A universal combo that, in real chats, usually boils down to a simple “hang in there.”
2. Meteor — a new space object in Unicode that you could easily mistake for a comet . But even a beginner astronomer will tell you they’re not the same thing: a comet can travel through space for years, while a meteor burns up in a single moment. That makes it a clear, visual symbol of something bright and fast. A perfect way to describe an idea that flared up and disappeared just as quickly.
3. Eraser — a universal tool for digital repentance and gently editing the past. Perfect for those moments when the message is already sent, the wording came out wrong, and there’s no undo button. An easy emoji to drop after a bad joke or a misplaced compliment.
4. Net with Handle — an ordinary object and a symbol of chasing after anything and everything, from butterflies to store discounts. It works for those moments in a conversation when you want to mark a lucky catch.
5. Monarch Butterfly — a bit of a head-scratcher, since Unicode already has a regular butterfly that only differs in its color scheme. Maybe someone at the Consortium just really wanted a monarch butterfly in the lineup. Why not? Now we’ve got one more symbol for summer, lightness, or even being in love.
6. Pickle — probably the funniest candidate on the list. Until now, we only had the fresh cucumber , but now its crunchy, briny version wants in too. The meme potential here is huge, from jokes about the perfect snack or a morning hangover cure to an ironic way to signal a “sour” mood. While working on this article, we even found a petition demanding a pickle emoji.

   

7. Cracking Face — an emotion for when everything is going off the rails. The visual equivalent of keeping a straight face while things fall apart inside. A painfully familiar expression for anyone doomscrolling the news.
8. Leftwards Thumb Sign и Rightwards Thumb Sign — at first glance, these two new emojis look like flipped “likes.” They’re meant to be a gentler alternative to the direct pointers and . Pointing a finger isn’t exactly polite, even online, while a thumb works as a tactful hint: “look over there” or “keep scrolling.” Unicode seems to be getting serious about digital etiquette.

The Competition for a Spot in Unicode

Originally, the draft list featured the Face with Squinting Eyes emoji instead of Cracking Face . However, during the discussion process, it was replaced by another option. The decision feels logical, since Unicode already includes and to convey skepticism and distrust.

Such changes are not unusual for Unicode. A year ago, the Apple Core emoji followed a similar path: it made it into the draft, sparked discussion, but was removed before release. These examples clearly show that even at later stages, the draft list remains a living document, and the final emoji lineup can still change.

An Emoji’s Real Life Begins After Release

Looking at the full list, it’s hard to call it sensational. Most of the candidates already have “older siblings” in Unicode, similar or more general symbols. And that’s okay. With almost four thousand emojis in the standard, reinventing the wheel every year is no longer an option.

New emojis aren’t meant to be taken literally. They’re more like space for metaphors and new meanings. Unicode isn’t trying to reshape emoji language, just quietly expand it: adding missing emotions, refining gestures, and naming specific things we used to explain with words.

But the interesting part starts after the release. Not in committees or documents, but in everyday conversations. That’s where it’s decided whether Pickle becomes a meme for years, Lighthouse turns into a sign of support, and Net with Handle starts meaning a perfectly captured moment. Unicode only provides the shape. As always, people do the rest.

When Will New Emojis Show Up on Platforms?

Even after Unicode finalizes the list, new emojis don’t appear on your device right away. Once the standard gets the final green light, it’s up to Apple, Google, Samsung, and other platforms to design, implement, and roll them out in their own systems. That’s why there’s often a gap of several months between Unicode’s decision and the emojis showing up on your keyboard. Sometimes it takes more than a year.

The previous release is a perfect example. Version 17.0 emojis were approved back in September 2025, but as of January 2026, they still haven’t landed in stable releases of iOS and Android. So even if some of the emojis from this draft get approved by September 2026, you probably won’t be using them in your daily chats for a while.