Apple fans will soon have fresh ways to express themselves as iOS 26 introduces a new batch of emojis. The Unicode Consortium revealed the list on World Emoji Day, confirming fun additions like Bigfoot, Orca, and Trombone. These updates aim to make digital conversations more creative and expressive.
What’s Coming in the Update
The Unicode Consortium reviews and approves new emoji proposals every year. For 2025, it announced eight confirmed emojis so far:

- Apple Core
- Ballet Dancers
- Bigfoot
- Distorted Face
- Fight Cloud
- Orca
- Treasure Chest
- Trombone
According to the group, these choices carry strong symbolic meaning and offer a wide range of expression.
Release Timeline for iOS 26 Emojis
The Unicode standard update will launch on September 9, 2025. After that, Apple will integrate the new emojis into iOS. Based on past updates, users could see them in early 2026. Last year, Apple rolled out its emoji update in March with iOS 18.4.
Why It Matters for Users
Emojis have become an essential part of modern messaging, adding personality and emotion to conversations. New options like Bigfoot and Fight Cloud give users more fun ways to communicate ideas and feelings without words.