WhatsApp is introducing a seasonal feature that displays confetti animations when users react with specific festive emojis. The update, currently rolling out to iOS and Android beta testers, creates brief bursts of color over message bubbles to enhance holiday conversations.
When a user selects a supported emoji from the reaction tray, WhatsApp triggers a brief Lottie animation that displays confetti directly over the chat bubble. This visual effect enhances the messaging experience without affecting app performance or altering message content.
The feature maintains platform consistency by delivering the same animated experience across both iOS and Android devices, building on similar functionality introduced during previous holiday seasons.
Supported Emojis and Accessibility
WhatsApp now includes the Party Popper emoji (🎉) in the default reaction tray for instant access. Several other emojis also trigger the confetti animation, providing users with multiple options for celebratory reactions:
- Partying Face (🥳) for birthdays and excitement
- Clinking Glasses (🥂) for toasts and congratulations
- Confetti Ball (🎊) for general celebrations
- Bottle with Popping Cork (🍾) for milestones and achievements
Each supported emoji displays the same high-quality confetti animation, ensuring visual consistency while allowing users to choose reactions that match their message context.
📝 WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.35.10.71: what's new?
Similarly to last year, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that shows a confetti animation for emoji reactions this holiday season, and it's available to some beta testers!https://t.co/u5654Bnhug pic.twitter.com/AfPq9vBS6K
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) November 29, 2025Technical Implementation and Availability
The confetti animation leverages the Lottie framework, which compresses complex animations into lightweight files for smooth playback across all devices. This approach ensures the feature doesn’t impact app performance while delivering crisp, responsive visuals.
Like previous seasonal features, the confetti animations will remain available only during the holiday period. The limited-time availability makes the feature feel special and aligned with festive celebrations before being automatically disabled afterward.
The update is currently available to select beta testers on both platforms, with a broader rollout expected to all users in the coming days as the holiday season approaches.
