Keith Broni, editor-in-chief of Emojipedia, explains what he thinks will be the biggest emoji trends next year and why viral online moments can make them popular
An emoji expert has shared his predictions for which of the symbols will be popular in 2026 and explained why Taylor Swift might have influenced one without even knowing.
The dynamite emoji is popular now and will be big next year due to the pop star, 35, using it to announce she was engaged to her NFL star fiancé Travis Kelce, 36, according to Keith Broni, editor-in-chief of Emojipedia.
Swift used the digital icon in her viral Instagram post in August as it represents ‘TNT’ – the nickname for the couple because it represents Travis N Taylor, and Keith believes moments like this bring new emojis to the forefront of people’s minds.
He said: “It’s the big pop culture moments that introduce people to things.”
Keith thinks the trend of using the emoji will pass quickly, but will “have a higher usage than before” as Swift has reminded folk the emoji exists.
He also told how he thinks the most popular emojis next year will include the fire emoji, adding it has replaced “lit” as an icon to mean something is amazing.
Keith, 36, said: “in my day it was used to mean ‘lit’ – nobody says that any more, but there remains a positive association.”
He believes the most popular emojis in the world are “very stable and broadly symbols for positive expression”.
Keith also reckons the the red heart is rising in popularity because it has an optimistic meaning, saying “it has become a catch-all positive semantic marker.”
He thinks one of the newer emojis which are rising in popularity and destined to be big next year are the tired face with bags under its eyes – and another consistent hit is the sparkle emoji.
One trend which has emerged in 2025 is using a broken heart, wilted flower and low battery to represent ‘laughing through the pain’ and Keith is sure it will “almost certainly fade and new emojis will emerge”.
Keith says it’s impossible to predict with certainty what will be topping the lists a year from now, because, like with the TNT emoji, there is often a “lightening rod moment that bolsters it immediately” when it goes viral.
The most popular emojis now and ones that will be big in 2026
Crying laughing Fire Red heart Sparkle Dynamite/TNT Tired face with eye bags
Emjojis waning in popularity
Skull and crossbones Pleading face
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