WhatsApp 2.26.8.72 Emojis
The emoji update that does not need a phone update
What emoji did WhatsApp 2.26.8.72 add?
WhatsApp began rolling out version 2.26.8.72 for Android on 6 March 2026, adding 143 designs from the Emoji 17.0 set. WhatsApp matters here because it is the one platform that can give you new emoji without an operating system update: the app carries its own emoji font, so an old Android phone that will never see another system release can still get current artwork. This release also added skin tone sequences for People Wrestling and People With Bunny Ears, and redrew Black Bird to show the full bird rather than just its head, Pie as a whole pie in a tin rather than a cherry slice, and People With Bunny Ears in plain black leotards with both hands behind their backs.
The only emoji update that ignores your phone's age
Every other release on this page depends on the operating system. WhatsApp does not, because it bundles its own emoji font inside the app. An Android phone that stopped receiving system updates years ago still gets current emoji artwork inside WhatsApp by updating from the Play Store. That makes WhatsApp the single most effective way to see new emoji on old hardware, and it explains why WhatsApp emoji frequently look different from the ones on the same phone's keyboard.
Three redesigns worth knowing about
Black Bird now shows the whole bird rather than just its head, bringing it in line with every other platform and fixing an oddity that made it hard to recognise at small sizes. Pie became a whole unsliced pie in a tin, replacing a single slice of cherry pie, which changes the emoji from a dessert serving to a baked item. People With Bunny Ears were redrawn in plain black leotards with both hands held behind their backs. This release also added skin tone sequences for People Wrestling and People With Bunny Ears, so each figure can now carry a different tone.
Counting is not standardised
WhatsApp reported 143 new designs for the same Emoji 17.0 set that Samsung counted as 133 and that Apple and Microsoft both counted as 163. None of them is wrong. The underlying set is identical; what differs is whether a skin tone or gender sequence is counted as a separate addition or folded into its base entry. Comparing headline numbers between vendors tells you about their counting conventions rather than about what you actually gained.
At a glance
| Shipped | |
|---|---|
| Platform | WhatsApp Android |
| Emoji version implemented | Emoji 17.0 |
| Emoji added | 143 |
The emoji WhatsApp 2.26.8.72 is remembered for
How to get these emoji
Emoji ship inside the system font, so there is no separate download and nothing to enable.
- Open Settings, then General, then Software Update.
- Install WhatsApp 2.26.8.72 or any later version.
- Open any keyboard and tap the emoji button. The new characters are already in the picker.
If you send one of these to somebody on an older release, they see a blank box. The character transmits correctly either way, and appears as soon as they update.
The standard behind this release
Unicode 17.0 was published on 9 September 2025 and reached most phones during the first half of 2026. The headline count of 163 is misleading on its own: only seven are genuinely new drawings. The other 156 are skin-tone and variant sequences, most of them filling in the people wrestling and people with bunny ears emoji so both figures can carry different skin tones independently.
Read the full Unicode 17.0 recordFrequently Asked Questions
Can I get new emoji without updating Android?
Inside WhatsApp, yes. WhatsApp ships its own emoji font with the app, so updating to 2.26.8.72 or later from the Play Store gives you the Emoji 17.0 designs even on a phone that stopped receiving system updates. Those designs only apply inside WhatsApp.
Why do WhatsApp emoji look different from my keyboard emoji?
Because they are different fonts. WhatsApp draws with its own set, while the rest of your phone uses the system emoji font. The underlying character is identical, so the meaning travels correctly even though the picture changes between apps.
Which WhatsApp emoji designs changed in this update?
Black Bird now shows the whole bird instead of just its head, matching other platforms. Pie became a whole unsliced pie in a tin rather than a single slice of cherry pie. People With Bunny Ears now wear plain black leotards with both hands held behind their backs.
Does the iPhone version of WhatsApp have these too?
This changelog covers the Android rollout that began on 6 March 2026. WhatsApp ships its emoji font per platform and the versions do not always land together, so check your app version rather than assuming the dates match.
Browse iOS emoji releases
Related iOS releases
Further reading
- Why some emoji look identicalCucumber against pickle, comet against meteor, and 18 more pairs.
- The seahorse emoji that never existedWhy millions remember one, and why AI chatbots insist it is real.
- The 25 oldest emoji, dated to 1993Checked against Unicode's own character age file. Half of them are zodiac.