New year, new features: WhatsApp adds fun updates for 2026

To welcome the upcoming year, 2026, WhatsApp has introduced New Year-themed features to make the celebrations even more engaging for its global user base of over two billion.

The messaging platform owned by Meta Corporation, which consistently breaks records on New Year’s Eve, announced the new features via a blog post on 29 December 2025. The company noted: “On a regular day, we support over 100 billion messages and 2 billion calls - but the twenty-four hours when the world welcomes a New Year always tops our charts. Whether it's a video call that unites families across continents, or a group chat that organizes a celebration, we’re proud to play a small role in making people’s wishes for next year special.”

In a bid to improve the experience of its users during this peak moment, the company has incorporated various facets of the holiday season like seasonal touches across chats, video calls, reactions and Status updates into its messaging services. Here is everything that was introduced:

1. 2026 Theme Sticker Pack: These stickers can be used for individual as well as group conversations. The stickers are designed in such a way that it becomes very easy to send greetings through them instead of using texts.
2. To add a dash of fun to virtual parties, WhatsApp has unveiled new video call effects. With the "effects" button tapped on the screen during a call, users will be able to use animated effects such as fireworks, confetti, and starbursts in the background, thereby making the countdowns and year-end discussions with loved ones in other parts of the world a lot of fun.
3. Other returning features include the animated confetti reaction. When users react to messages using emojis like a confetti ball, party popper, or clinking glasses, special animation will play within the chat, making exchanges feel more festive and dynamic.
4. WhatsApp has launched animated stickers on Status updates for the first time. This will allow users to make Status updates with pictures and videos that have an animation effect, and they will be able to make Status updates with a theme of 2026.

WhatsApp also reminded users that its existing group chat features can help plan and organise parties. These include creating and pinning events for RSVPs, conducting polls for food and activities, sharing live locations to find venues, and sending voice or video messages to invite friends who cannot attend in person.

All of these features are available and will remain so throughout the New Year holiday period, allowing users to explore the updates and make their celebrations more connected and memorable.