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World Emoji Day

Celebrate World Emoji Day with a bang! Express yourself with your favorite emojis and share the love on social media to spread the fun!

Friday

July 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEJuly 17

OBSERVED INInternationally

CATEGORYTech

SUBCATEGORYSocial Media

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate World Emoji Day on July 17 with a smile and your favorite emojis! This day was created in 2014 to recognize the impact that these small digital images have had on culture, communication, and expression. Nowadays, people use emojis to express themselves through text messages or social media posts. They are widely used around the world by all ages - from young kids who love their cartoon faces to adults who can’t seem to get enough of them!

TIMELINE

World Emoji Day Timeline

Emojis Invented

Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita invents emojis for a mobile communication platform, revolutionizing digital communication.

Emojis in Unicode Standard

Emojis were included in the Unicode Standard, leading to their usage spreading globally on various digital platforms.

Apple's Emoji Keyboard

Apple includes an official emoji keyboard on its devices making them more accessible to the public.

Emoji Domination

Oxford Dictionaries named an emoji ("Face with Tears of Joy") as the Word of the Year, highlighting their immense popularity and influence.

First World Emoji Day

Jeremy Burge, founder of Emojipedia, creates World Emoji Day to promote the use and appreciation of emojis.

Emoji Movie Premiere

Sony Pictures releases "The Emoji Movie," further embedding emojis in popular culture and expanding their audience.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate World Emoji Day

Create your own emojis

Design a series of emojis to reflect your personality or the things that you love. You can draw them, print them out, or even make them digitally.

HOST

Host an emoji party

Invite your friends over for some emoji themed fun! Have everyone bring a snack and decorate the room with lots of bright and colorful emojis.

PLAY

Play emoji games

From guess the picture to charades, there are many ways to play emoji themed games. Get creative and come up with new ways to use emojis to have fun.

SEND

Send emoji cards

Make your own custom cards with emojis on them or buy some pre-made ones. Send them to your friends and family to show how much you care.

EXPRESS

Express yourself through emojis

Take some time to think about how you can express yourself through the use of emojis. Use them in texts, emails, social media posts, or any other form of communication.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love World Emoji Day

Emojis foster connection

Emojis aren't just used for jokes and silliness - they can also be used as a way to connect with people across different cultures and countries. By using emojis, we can bond over shared experiences and understandings without having to break down language barriers.

Emojis are fun

Nothing brightens up a text conversation or tweet like an emoji. Whether you're sending a smiley face or an angry one, they always add a bit of playfulness and humor to any message!

Emojis make communication easier

Sometimes words just don't convey the emotion or sentiment that you're trying to express. A quick emoji can save you from having to type out a long explanation - perfect for those moments when you just don't have the time or the energy to explain yourself in detail!