Unicode 17.0 brings new emojis: list, meaning, and dates

The Unicode Consortium has given the green light to a batch of New emojis in Unicode 17.0, which will begin appearing on mobile and computer keyboards in the coming months. This update will be integrated into systems such as iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, as well as messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

The review does not come alone: ​​in addition to the icons, Unicode 17.0 incorporates thousands of characters and coding improvements. For practical purposes, It is important to distinguish between Unicode 17.0 (the character base) and Emoji 17.0 (the part that collects base emojis and their combined sequences).

New Unicode 17.0 emojis

The list of highs includes eight base designs These are added to the usual catalog. These proposals are designed to express emotions as well as to illustrate objects, animals, or specific actions.

• Distorted face
• Fighting Cloud
• Furry creature (inspired by Bigfoot/Yeti)
• Orca
• Apple core
• Landslide
• Trombone
• Treasure chest

Among the most striking, the distorted face aims to convey anxiety, shock, or discomfort; fighting cloud recreates that “commotion” of a vignette; and the furry creature pays homage to the legends of Bigfoot. The most literal block includes the killer whale’s most emblematic landmarks, the trombone’s most emblematic landmarks, the treasure chest’s most emblematic landmarks, the landslide and the apple core.

Variants and sequences included

Along with the new base designs, Unicode incorporates skin tone sequences and gender combinations to expand representation in existing emojisThis particularly affects icons used in social and leisure contexts.

• People with rabbit ears: multiple skin tones and gender combinations
• Men with rabbit ears: new skin tones
• Women with rabbit ears: new skin tones
• Ballet dancer: neutral representation with tone variations
• People fighting: skin tones and gender combinations
• Men fighting: new skin tones
• Women fighting: new skin tones

In Emoji 17.0, sequences are used to “compose” a single symbol from several code points, so that the variants of people They are generated without the need to create a separate base emoji for each combination..

Arrival schedule for mobile phones and computers

Unicode 17.0 was officially released on September 9, and now each manufacturer adapts the designs and schedules their deployment. The usual thing is that Support will gradually appear in 2026, with slight differences between platforms and regions.

• Google: Noto layout preview coming in September and expanded support on Android around March 2026.
• WhatsApp: planned deployment between January and February 2026 on Android and iPhone.
• Samsung: integration into a One UI update to early 2026.
• Apple : arrival via iOS update 26 between March and April 2026.
• Facebook/Messenger: launch during the Summer 2026.
• Microsoft: incorporation progressive towards the end of 2026 on Windows 11.

The deadlines are indicative and depend on each provider, but most users will see the new emojis throughout 2026 on your compatible devices.

What each icon means

La distorted face expresses panic, fright or nerves; fighting cloud illustrates a comic book style dispute or quarrel; and the furry creature takes Bigfoot or Yeti as a reference. The ballet dancer It is proposed without marking gender and with skin tone options.

In the rest there is no loss: the killer whale’s most emblematic landmarks, the trombone’s most emblematic landmarks, the treasure chest’s most emblematic landmarks, the landslide and the apple core They represent exactly what they name. Incidentally, a symbol other than “bitten apple"in the initial stages that ultimately did not prosper, while the apple core is part of the final set.

Unicode 17.0: Other new features of the standard

Beyond emojis, the update adds 4.803 new characters, bringing the total to 159.801. It includes additional ideograms for Chinese and Korean, new writing systems such as Beria Erfe, Tolong Siki, Tai Yo and Sidetico, and symbols such as the Saudi riyal.

If you are interested in testing the designs as soon as possible, Google updates I notice emoji and Noto Color Emoji with previews and resources; in any case, most systems will be updated automatically when stable support arrives.

With this wave, the count rises to 3.954 recommended emojis by Unicode (including base layouts and sequences). Each platform applies its own visual style, so you'll see design differences between Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft or WhatsApp.

In human and activity icons, the options of skin tone and gender combinations are selected by long-pressing the emoji, just like you do with existing ones. New ones will be placed at the end of their categories or appear in the "recent" section.

How they will get to your keyboard

To use them you won't have to do anything special: Update your system and apps when you receive the notification. On WhatsApp, for example, the new batch will appear automatically in the selector of emojis when installing the compatible version.

Those participating in beta programs may see some changes sooner, but the overall rollout will be will concentrate in 2026If your device is relatively new and is kept up to date, you shouldn't be left out.

The arrival of Unicode 17.0 puts the focus on the expressiveness and diversity: a few new, highly recognizable icons, more people-representation variations, and an extended adoption schedule that will bring these new features to all users during the next update cycle.