Learn more fun facts on the World Emoji Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Arts & Entertainment
- Tags:
- Pop Culture
- Where:
- World
- Date change rule:
- Every July 17
- Holiday emoji:
- 😂
World Emoji Day lights up our screens every July 17, celebrating the vibrant digital icons that have revolutionized how we communicate. From expressing joy to conveying complex emotions, emojis add color and nuance to our messages. Take a moment to share your favorite emojis, learn about their origins, and appreciate their global impact on language and connection.
Want to sponsor World Emoji Day? Learn how
Expected World Emoji Day Deals
While official 2027 promotions are still under wraps, World Emoji Day often inspires playful campaigns from tech and communication brands. Expect mobile app developers like Apple and Google to highlight new emoji releases or features. Social media platforms such as Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and X/Twitter may launch special filters or sticker packs. Retailers like Target and Walmart might offer discounts on emoji-themed merchandise, while food brands like Dunkin’ or Starbucks could introduce limited-time emoji-inspired treats. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 17 approaches.
Platform Guide for World Emoji Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #WorldEmojiDay. Share creative photo collages featuring your favorite emojis or a reel showcasing how you use them in daily life.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #WorldEmojiDay. Create short, fun videos demonstrating emoji challenges, or use popular sounds to act out emoji meanings.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #WorldEmojiDay. Participate in trending emoji polls, share your most-used emojis, or tweet about your favorite new additions to the emoji keyboard.
World Emoji Day Hero
Shigetaka Kurita
World Emoji Day timeline
“The New York Times” is responsible for the first use of an emoticon — ‘:)’ — when they misprint a transcribed copy of President Abraham Lincoln’s speech.
The first intentional use of emoticons is published by the American satirical magazine “Puck.”
AIM introduces its Buddy Icons, small images or icons conveying feelings.
The first emoji is created by Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita.
Unicode adopts emojis, adding new ones such as cat faces.
198 flags are added to the emoji selection.
How Businesses Can Celebrate World Emoji Day
Local businesses can tap into World Emoji Day by integrating emojis into their marketing. Restaurants could create a ‘secret emoji menu’ where customers order by sending specific emojis, or offer a discount to anyone who pays with an emoji in their name. Retailers might run a social media contest asking customers to describe their products using only emojis, offering prizes for the most creative entries. Consider a ‘guess the emoji’ game for in-store entertainment.
World Emoji Day FAQs
When is World Emoji Day?
World Emoji Day 2026 falls on Friday, July 17, celebrating the expressive power of digital icons. It’s the perfect day to communicate exclusively in emojis.
How many emojis are there?
As of late 2025, the Unicode Standard includes over 3,600 distinct emojis, with new additions approved annually. This vast library ensures a symbol for nearly every emotion, object, or concept.
How many people use emojis daily?
Globally, billions of emojis are sent every day across various messaging platforms and social media. Studies indicate that over 90% of online users regularly incorporate emojis into their digital conversations, highlighting their widespread adoption.
What is the origin of World Emoji Day?
World Emoji Day was created by Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia, in 2014. He chose July 17 because it’s the date displayed on the calendar emoji (📅) on Apple devices, making it a fitting and recognizable tribute to the icons.
World Emoji Day Activities
Have an emoji-only conversation
Challenge your emoji knowledge by having an emoji-filled message stream with your best friend. See how well you can understand each other using only these delightful icons. Who knew you could have a whole conversation without any words?
Create your own emojis
You can turn your favorite photos into shareable emojis using various apps and online tools. You can finally turn your favorite photo of your dog or cat into an emoji (since we already know you send too many pictures of them anyway)!
Wear your favorite emoji
Create your own customized emoji-filled t-shirt or purchase one through a vendor online (check out Amazon for some ideas). Your favorite emoji can become your new favorite t-shirt.
Why We Love World Emoji Day
They've become a new universal language
Language comes in many forms and one of most ancient types of language is visual symbols. Emojis are unique in that they are visual symbols that help enhance our written language. They can replace words or whole phrases and still be understood.
We love getting "emoji"-tional
Emojis were originally created as a way to symbolize emotions with pictures. Similar to punctuation, they express emotion through irony or humor and even suggest tone of voice or body language in text-based communication. They trigger emotional responses in people, which can cause us to be more empathetic. Basically, as we become better in identifying our emotions, we also become better at sensing others' emotions. Looks like "emoji-tional empathy" is trending.
They help us when words fail us
Emojis help us better understand something visually when things can get lost in translation through words. In the Internet Age, they help us communicate better and faster. Let's admit it, they're cute and kind of addicting to use but they serve a much greater purpose. They improve our capacity to communicate effectively with others and make our intended meaning be known. When in doubt, emoji it out!
Social Media Tips for World Emoji Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands