The Evolution of Emojis: A Decreasing Number of New Icons

The Unicode Consortium has been overseeing the character inventory of electronic text processing since 1991 and sets a standard for symbols, characters in different scripts, and emojis. The number of new emojis released each year has been decreasing, with only 8 new non-customizable emojis released in 2025. The Unicode Consortium has recommended new emojis for release in 2026, including the orca, yeti, landslide, and ballet dancer. Emojis have become a staple of electronic communication and have been coordinated by the Unicode Consortium since 1995.

The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organization responsible for the character inventory of electronic text processing, has announced a set of new emojis that are slated for release in 2026. This year's release includes eight new non-customizable emojis, a decrease from the more than 100 new emojis typically added annually [1]. The new emojis are expected to be part of Unicode 17.0, which will be formally released on September 9, 2025 [2].

Among the new emojis are the Orca, Apple Core, Bigfoot (referred to as "Hairy Creature"), and Ballet Dancers. The Consortium has stated that these new emojis have "long-standing symbolic meanings, are visually distinctive, and contain multitudes of expression" [3]. The formal release of the updated standard containing these emojis is expected on September 9, 2025, and it may take several months for Apple and Google to adopt the new standard on their devices [1].

The announcement comes on World Emoji Day, held annually on July 17th, which coincides with the date represented by the 📅 calendar emoji. This year's announcement includes a preview of some of the new emojis that are expected to be released in the spring of 2026 [2]. The new emojis are likely to be added to Android and iOS devices after the standard is updated.

The Unicode Consortium has been overseeing the character inventory of electronic text processing since 1991 and has been coordinating emojis since 1995. The number of new emojis released each year has been decreasing, with only 8 new non-customizable emojis released in 2025 [1]. The Consortium has recommended new emojis for release in 2026, including the orca, yeti, landslide, and ballet dancer [4].

Emojis have become a staple of electronic communication, and their increasing popularity has led to a greater demand for new and diverse emojis. The Unicode Consortium's role in standardizing these emojis ensures that they are universally recognized and understood across different platforms and devices.

References:
[1] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/07/17/bigfoot-orca-and-a-trombone-are-among-new-emoji-coming-to-ios-26
[2] https://www.theverge.com/news/709179/emoji-17-0-bigfoot-apple-core-orca-treasure-chest-trombone-dancer
[3] https://www.engadget.com/mobile/unicodes-new-emoji-refuses-to-put-respect-on-bigfoots-name-184412935.html
[4] https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/heres-your-first-look-at-the-newest-emoji-coming-out-this-fall/