To add a bit of extra cheer to this year’s celebrations, WhatsApp has rolled out several festive features available through the holiday season. Users can mark the arrival of the New Year with a brand-new sticker pack designed to capture the excitement of a fresh start. Video calls also get a celebratory upgrade, with visual effects like fireworks, confetti, and star animations that can be switched on mid-call to light up the screen as the countdown ends.

For chat reactions, animated confetti has made a return. Reacting with the confetti emoji now triggers special animations, adding a playful twist to messages and wishes. Status updates are also getting something new this year: animated stickers. For the first time, users can post a dedicated 2026-themed Status layout complete with motion, making it easier to share the moment with all their contacts at once.

Beyond celebration, WhatsApp remains a practical tool for planning the night itself. Group chats often lead to New Year’s planning, and the app offers several features to keep everything organised. Creating an event and pinning it to the chat helps ensure that important information does not get lost in the conversation. Polls make it easy to settle debates over food, drinks, or activities without endless back-and-forth.

Live location sharing can guide friends to the party and offer peace of mind when it is time to head home. And for those who can’t be there in person, quick video clips and voice notes help capture the atmosphere as it unfolds, keeping everyone included, even from afar.