Unicode Consortium Reveals Nine New Emoji Designs for Unicode 18

The Unicode Consortium is preparing to expand its digital lexicon with nine new emoji designs slated for the Unicode 18 standard. Unicode Emoji Subcommittee Chair Jennifer Daniel offered an early preview of these upcoming graphics, which aim to represent more complex emotions and nuanced situations. Among the proposed additions is the "Cracking Face" emoji, which depicts a smiling face fracturing into pieces, intended to visually represent a failing facade and offer a darker alternative to the "Melting Face" emoji. This design was approved by the Unicode Technical Committee in January 2026, replacing an earlier "Face with Squinting Eyes" option.

The new release also introduces a dedicated "Meteor" emoji, designed to resemble a flaming meatball. This addition aims to resolve a long-standing issue where the existing "Comet" emoji was often redesigned to look like a hot rock, deviating from its original sparkling blue celestial appearance. By providing a distinct "Meteor" graphic, the "Comet" emoji can reportedly revert to its uniform blue aesthetic across all operating systems. Other proposed emojis include a "Monarch Butterfly," a lighthouse, an eraser, a net with a handle, and a pickle.

In addition to these objects and celestial bodies, Unicode 18 is set to introduce two new hand gestures. These gestures involve thumbs pointing left and right, offering new ways for users to express directionality or emphasis in digital communication. The final selection and implementation of these emojis will be subject to the official Unicode 18 release, with the preview serving as an indicator of the evolving landscape of digital iconography. The consortium's ongoing work ensures that emoji sets continue to adapt to user needs and cultural trends.