World Emoji Day
A global celebration of emojis — the pictographs that have become a universal digital language. The date comes from the calendar emoji, which shows July 17.
2 min read · Fact-checked · Updated for 2026
About World Emoji Day
World Emoji Day is celebrated on July 17th, a date chosen because the calendar emoji (📅) on Apple's platforms has historically displayed July 17. Founded by Jeremy Burge, creator of Emojipedia, in 2014, the day celebrates how emojis have transformed digital communication. Over 3,300 emojis are currently approved by the Unicode Consortium, used by billions of people daily across messaging apps and social media. The day sees tech companies unveil new emoji designs, and social media fills with emoji-based conversations and challenges.
Read more on WikipediaWhy July 17? The Date Hidden in Plain Sight
World Emoji Day falls on July 17 because that is the date displayed on the calendar emoji 📅 on Apple devices — a nod to the day Apple announced iCal in 2002. Emoji search engine founder Jeremy Burge created the holiday in 2014, and it has since been embraced by Apple, Google and the Unicode Consortium, who often time major emoji announcements to the day.
From 176 Pictograms to a Global Language
The first emoji set was designed in 1999 by Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita for the mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo — just 176 tiny 12×12-pixel pictograms. The word itself is Japanese: e (picture) + moji (character); the resemblance to 'emotion' is pure coincidence.
Today the Unicode Standard defines more than 3,800 emoji, and new ones are approved each year by the Unicode Consortium, where anyone can formally propose a new emoji.
Emoji by the Numbers
Over 90% of the world's online population uses emoji, and billions are sent every day. The most used emoji worldwide is 😂 (Face with Tears of Joy) — which in 2015 became the first emoji ever chosen as Oxford Dictionaries' 'Word' of the Year — followed closely by ❤️. Studies consistently find that messages with emoji are perceived as friendlier, and marketers report higher engagement when they are used well.
When is World Emoji Day?
World Emoji Day is celebrated every year on July 17. Upcoming dates:
| Year | Date | Day of week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Emoji Day 2026 | July 17, 2026 | Friday | View date → |
| World Emoji Day 2027 | July 17, 2027 | Saturday🎉 weekend | View date → |
| World Emoji Day 2028 | July 17, 2028 | Monday | View date → |
| World Emoji Day 2029 | July 17, 2029 | Tuesday | View date → |
| World Emoji Day 2030 | July 17, 2030 | Wednesday | View date → |
How to Celebrate World Emoji Day
- 🎯Try a hands-on activity: code something small, automate a task, or teach someone a digital skill.
- 💡Read about the history behind World Emoji Day — it is usually stranger than you expect.
- 📣Share your project or story with #WorldEmojiDay.
Official hashtag: #WorldEmojiDay
Frequently Asked Questions
When is World Emoji Day 2026?
World Emoji Day 2026 is on Friday, July 17, 2026.
How many days until World Emoji Day?
There are 4 days until World Emoji Day (July 17, 2026).
What category is World Emoji Day?
World Emoji Day is categorized as a Tech event.
Is World Emoji Day a public holiday?
World Emoji Day is an observance day, not typically a public holiday. Check your country's official calendar for local public holidays.
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