The popular messaging app WhatsApp is preparing its users for 2026 with new year features. These innovations, offered specifically for the busiest period of the year, include fun additions such as themed stickers, video call effects, and Status animations.
WhatsApp New Year Features
WhatsApp has released a series of temporary features to help users celebrate the new year with loved ones in a more fun way. While the platform manages over 100 billion messages and approximately 2 billion calls on a normal day, these numbers far exceed that during the New Year period. To celebrate this increased activity, the following features are offered:
- 2026 Sticker Pack: You can liven up your chats with stickers specially designed for the new year.
- Video Call Effects: During a call, you can add visual effects such as fireworks, confetti, and star animations by tapping the effects icon on the screen.
- Animated Confetti Reactions: When you react to messages with a confetti emoji, a special animation appears on your screen. Animated Stickers for Status: With this feature, offered for the first time, you can share your celebrations by adding an animated sticker for 2026 to your Status updates.
In addition to the new features, WhatsApp also reminded users of existing tools that make organizing New Year’s parties and gatherings easier. These tools make planning in your group chats much more practical.
- Creating Events: You can create and pin an event to a chat, and easily collect RSVPs from your friends.
- Polls: You can create polls to quickly decide as a group on things like what to eat, where to go, or what activity to do.
- Live Location Sharing: Share your live location to make it easy for everyone to find the meeting place and ensure everyone arrives safely.
- Voice and Video Notes: You can record short voice or video notes to share instant celebration moments with friends who can’t attend the party.
These New Year features will be available to all users throughout the holiday season.
So, what are your thoughts on WhatsApp’s New Year features? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
