2025 is nearly over, which means you could well be gearing up for a New Year’s Eve party of some description.Whether you’re hosting or visiting, chances are not every important person in your life will be there, which means you may well be sending several messages, voice notes, pictures or videos over the next few days - and if you live in the UK, that probably means using WhatsApp.The nation’s defacto messaging app of choice has introduced several new features this year, from a new way to leave voicemail to bringing back the ‘About’ section for a way to leave temporary status notes.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Read more: WhatsApp’s latest free update could spell the end of your voicemail Read more: WhatsApp confirms a surprise free upgrade that’s coming to your phone this week Now, just in time for the ball to drop on 2026, WhatsApp has announced several seasonal additions to help you ring in the new year with people who may not be sharing the day with you.“This year, we've added a few festive touches, available now through the holiday, to help you share the moment with people who matter most,” WhatsApp said, introducing a new 2026 sticker pack for all users that will appear when the app updates.
This includes fun new stickers to fire off to family and friends.If you use WhatsApp’s Status feature, you will be able to add one of these stickers into your status and see it animate, which is the first time moving stickers have been seen in this part of the app.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTThe Meta-owned firm has also added new video call effects for helping you celebrate the dawn of 2026.During video calls, you should soon be able to see icons to tap that will set off fireworks, send confetti raining down, or flash stars across the screen.
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Read our Privacy PolicyGet More of Our News on GoogleSet Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.And in a slightly more hidden new twist, if you use the confetti emoji to react to someone’s message, you’ll see a fun new animated version of it spring to life.It’s surprising how much a small animation can bring an app to life and make it feel a little fresher, which you should be able to find on WhatsApp starting today whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.WhatsApp also reminded users of several ways to plan your New Year’s celebrations using the app, with some tips you may not be aware of.For example, you can already use WhatsApp to create an event with timings and information, which can be pinned to the top of a relevant chat.
People can even RSVP.It’s like the glory days of Facebook events.If you prefer, WhatsApp doesn’t want you to forget you can also run polls in chats, share your live location to make sure everyone knows where to meet, and of course send video and voice notes so those who aren’t with you can go back and see what you were up to, and what you wanted to let them know this new year.“Whether you're texting and calling from New York or New Delhi, Buenos Aires or Jakarta, WhatsApp is where the world privately comes together,” WhatsApp said.“We're grateful to be part of how you connect with the people you love—privately, and securely.”WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning your chats are impossible to be read by Meta or any other party.
