How to send New Year wishes on WhatsApp using stickers, reactions, and status updates

As New Year wishes are set to flood WhatsApp, these built-in features will help you reply faster, manage plans better, and keep conversations under control.

As the clock moves closer to midnight on December 31, WhatsApp turns into a hub of messages, calls, and group updates. Friends send greetings, families connect over video calls, and groups try to settle plans at the same time. To manage this rush, WhatsApp has rolled out a set of New Year 2026 features that aim to make communication simpler and quicker. These tools focus on short interactions, visual cues, and planning support, helping users stay connected without adding to the clutter. Here’s how to use these New Year features.

Send New Year Wishes Using 2026 Stickers

Here’s how to send stickers, use effects, and manage chats on WhatsApp for the New Year 2026.

By MD Ijaj Khan

Ijaj Khan is a technology journalist and Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience covering the consumer technology industry. His work spans smartphones, laptops, wearables, gaming, appliances and AI - from hands-on reviews, comparison and buying guides to breaking news and in-depth features that help readers cut through the noise and make informed decisions. Before joining HT Tech, he worked with Jagran New Media, where he sharpened his instincts for fast-paced digital reporting. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Whether he's testing the latest flagship smartphone, tracking a major AI announcement, or putting a gaming laptop through its paces, Ijaj approaches every story with the same goal - making technology feel relevant and easy to understand for everyday users, not just enthusiasts. When he's not in front of a screen for work, he's usually travelling to a new city, hunting for great food, or keeping tabs on what's next in tech before everyone else catches on.

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Typing individual replies to every message can take hours. WhatsApp’s New Year sticker pack offers a faster option. Users can open any chat, tap the sticker icon, and select the 2026 sticker pack from the list. Once selected, a sticker can be sent to a personal chat or a group. This allows users to acknowledge messages without repeating the same text multiple times.

Use Effects During Video Calls

Video calls remain a common choice around midnight, especially for families and close circles. During a WhatsApp video call, users can tap the effects icon that appears on the screen. From there, they can choose options such as fireworks, confetti, or stars. These effects show up during the call and add a visual layer without interrupting the conversation. Users can turn effects on or off at any point.

React With Confetti in Active Chats

In fast-moving group chats, typing replies may not always be practical. WhatsApp reactions offer a quicker way to respond. Users can long-press any message and select the confetti emoji. For the New Year period, this reaction triggers a short animation, making acknowledgements visible without filling the chat with extra messages.

Post an Animated New Year Status

Manage New Year Plans in Group Chats

Group chats often turn into planning centres during New Year’s Eve. WhatsApp includes tools to keep discussions organised. Users can create events within a group and pin them so details remain easy to find. Polls help groups decide on plans like food or activities without long message threads. Live location sharing allows members to track arrivals or confirm safe returns. Voice notes and short video messages also support quick updates when typing feels slow.