What's Coming in Emoji 18.0?
Just months after Unicode 17.0 brought us the Distorted Face and Orca, the Unicode Consortium has quietly revealed nine proposed new emoji concepts for Emoji 18.0, expected to arrive in September 2026. Emojipedia spotted the update in Unicode's archives, giving us an early look at what could be on your keyboard by 2027.
The 9 Proposed New Emoji
Here's every emoji concept proposed for Emoji 18.0:
- 😊 Squinting Smiley: A smiley face with squinting eyes — adding nuance to the already extensive family of face emoji
- 🫰 Leftward Thumb Sign: A thumb gesture pointing left, expanding directional hand emoji
- 🫰 Rightward Thumb Sign: The matching rightward thumb gesture for complete directional coverage
- 🦋 Monarch Butterfly: A specific monarch butterfly, distinct from the existing generic butterfly emoji 🦋
- 🥒 Pickle: Finally! A pickle emoji distinct from the cucumber 🥒 — because pickles and cucumbers are NOT the same thing
- 🏠 Lighthouse: A coastal lighthouse, perfect for nautical themes and guidance metaphors
- ☄️ Meteor: A crashing meteor, distinct from the existing comet ☄️ — timely given current events
- ✏️ Eraser: For removing pencil markings — a school supply emoji that's been long overdue
- 🪺 Bug Net: A net with a handle for catching bugs — perfect for summer activities and nature lovers
Why These Emoji Matter
The pickle emoji is arguably the most anticipated addition. While we've had a cucumber emoji for years, pickle enthusiasts have long argued that pickles deserve their own representation. Pickles are a cultural staple in many countries, from American dill pickles to Japanese tsukemono to Korean kimchi.
The meteor emoji could also prove popular. As Mashable noted, "with the way things have been going, a crashing meteor emoji could prove useful." It adds a dramatic option for expressing catastrophic situations or cosmic events.
When Will These Emoji Be Available?
Important caveat: these are proposed emoji, not confirmed ones. The Unicode Consortium still needs to formally approve each design. Even after approval, it typically takes 12-18 months before emoji appear on your phone, as Apple, Google, Samsung, and other companies need to create their own designs.
If approved on schedule, expect to see these emoji on devices in early to mid 2027.
The Emoji You Can Copy Right Now
While we wait for the new ones, here are similar emoji you can use today:
🥒🫒🥬 — Pickle-adjacent combo
☄️🌠💫 — Cosmic combo
🦋🌸🌺 — Butterfly garden combo
⛵🌊🏖️ — Nautical combo (until lighthouse arrives)