As 2025 draws to a close, it's time to prepare special messages to share with friends and family as we welcome in the new year.
In this comprehensive guide, you will find a selection of the best WhatsApp messages, organised by category so you can find the perfect one for every special person in your life.
Pitfalls to avoid when sending your New Year's messages
- Personalise the message to the recipient.
- Avoid forwarding the same message to all your contacts.
- Schedule or prepare important messages in advance so they don't get lost at the busiest time.
- Consider different time zones if you have international contacts.
- Respond in a personalised way to the greetings you receive.
- Use the featured messages feature to save special greetings.
- Avoid sending chain messages without personalising them.
The recommended times for sending year-end greetings are 31 December in the morning for business contacts and in the evening for family and close friends.
At midnight, it's better to focus on partners and close family and on 1 January to send messages to other contacts.
Here is a complete list of sample best wishes messages for every contact in your address book.
Personal messages for family
Family members deserve special messages that convey our love and gratitude.
- Dear family, thank you for another year of unconditional love and support. May this 2026 keep us united and bring us more unforgettable moments together. Love you! ❤️
- To my beautiful family, you are my greatest blessing. May this new year gift us with more laughter, hugs and moments to treasure. Happy 2026! 🎇
- Thank you for being my refuge and my strength. May this new year find us always united, celebrating life and family love. ✨
- For my family, who make every day worthwhile. May 2026 bring us more moments together and reasons to celebrate. 🎊
- In this new year, my greatest wish is to continue building unforgettable memories with you, my beloved family. Happy 2026! 🎆
- Soul family, every year, having you by my side is a gift. May 2026 fill us with health, joy and that warmth of home that only we know how to create. 💕
Funny messages for friends
With friends, messages can be more casual and include a touch of humour.
- May we have more crazy weekends, fewer bitter Mondays and more epic moments in 2026! Happy New Year, my people! 🎉
- New version of the year available: 2026.0. Do you want to install? I already clicked 'Accept'! 🚀
- Get ready for 2026 with more adventures, less drama and better selfies! Happy New Year, my friend! 📸
- Warning! A virus called 2026 has been detected. Side effects: more fun, success and good times. 🦠
- My resolution for 2026 is to stay just as awesome as I was in 2025...And to have more excuses to celebrate with you! 🥳
- Important update: In 2026 we'll still be just as ridiculous, but with one more year of experience. Happy New Year, you crazy person! 😂
Romantic messages for your partner
Perfect for expressing love and good wishes to the special person in your life.
- May this new year find us closer than ever. Thank you for being my life partner. I love you more every day ❤️
- 365 new days to love you more and build our dreams together. Happy 2026, my love! 💑
- With you, every year is a wonderful adventure. Happy 2026, my love! I can't wait to live more special moments together 💖.
- You are my best gift and my wish fulfilled. May this 2026 bring us more love and magical moments 💫.
- My love, every year by your side is better than the last. Here's to 2026 being full of our laughter, shared dreams and infinite love. 🥂
Messages for WhatsApp groups
Ideal for sharing with family or friends groups.
- Beautiful family! May this 2026 bring us more moments to share and fewer excuses for not getting together 👨👩👦👦
- Dear group! Thank you for another year of laughter, support and random messages - may 2026 keep us just as united! 🤗
- Happy 2026 to the best group on WhatsApp! May we continue to share memes, laughs and good times 😄.
- Attention group! 2026 is here and promises more anecdotes to share in this chat. Happy New Year to all! 🎊
- Dear group: If we survive 2025 together, 2026 will be a piece of cake 🎉 Happy New Year, gang!
Inspirational messages for special moments
Perfect to share with people who need a motivational message.
- May each day of 2026 bring you a new reason to smile and be thankful. The best year is yet to come! ✨
- 365 new opportunities are coming. May this 2026 be the year all your dreams come true. 🌟
- New year, new blank page. Write your story with courage and determination - Happy 2026! 📖
- May your goals become achievements and your dreams become reality. Happy 2026! 🎯
- 2026 is your canvas. Paint with the colours of passion, perseverance and faith in yourself. Your year will be extraordinary! 🎨
- Let go of yesterday's doubts. 2026 is waiting for you with open arms to shine with all your light. Go ahead! 💪
Spiritual and religious messages
To share with people who value the spiritual aspect.
- May God bless your every day in 2026 and fill your life with peace and love. 🙏
- May divine grace accompany you in every step you take in this new year. Happy 2026! ✝️
- Abundant blessings to you and yours in this new year that begins. 🕊️
- May the light of the Lord illuminate your path in 2026 and guide you towards happiness and fulfilment. 🕯️
- I entrust your year into God's hands, may He be your guide and protection in every dawn. Happy 2026! 🙌
Short and effective messages
Ideal for sending to large groups or more casual contacts:
- Happy 2026! May it be a year full of blessings 🎊.
- New year, new adventures - Happy 2026! 🎉
- May all your wishes come true in 2026! ✨
- Welcome to 2026! 🎆
- 2026: Year of opportunities - seize them! 💫
- Happy New Year! May 2026 be your best version 🌟
Formal messages for professional contacts
Formal messages are ideal for sharing with colleagues, bosses or clients. They maintain a professional tone while still conveying good wishes.
- May the coming year come with new professional and personal successes. I wish you a prosperous 2026, full of achievements and satisfaction.
- On behalf of the entire team, we wish you an excellent end of the year and a 2026 full of new opportunities and successes. Happy New Year!
- Thank you for your trust in 2025. I wish you a prosperous New Year full of successful projects and fulfilled goals.
- May this new cycle bring renewed energy to achieve all our professional goals. Happy 2026!
- Let's celebrate our achievements and get ready for new challenges. I wish you a prosperous 2026.
- It has been an honour to work with you in 2025. I hope that 2026 will strengthen our professional relationship and bring us enriching projects.
Messages for colleagues
Perfect for that closer and more trusting work environment.
- Thanks for making work a more enjoyable place. May 2026 come with fewer endless meetings and more Fridays. Happy New Year! ☕
- We survived another year of impossible deadlines together. 2026 will be our year of glory! 💼
- Happy 2026 to the best team ever. May this year bring exciting projects and many shared coffees. ☕
- Cheers to another year together! May 2026 bring us professional successes and more time for lunch. 🍽️
Messages for neighbours and acquaintances
Kind messages to maintain good neighbourly relations.
- Happy 2026, neighbour! May this year bring harmony and good times for the whole community. 🏘️
- May the new year find us always in the best mood. Happy 2026 and many blessings! 😊
- Happy New Year! Thank you for making our neighbourhood a special place. May 2026 be wonderful. 🌺
Messages for teachers and mentors
Expressions of gratitude for those who guide us.
- Thank you for your dedication and teachings in 2025. May 2026 bring you many professional and personal satisfactions - Happy New Year! 📚
- Your guidance has been instrumental to my growth. I wish you a 2026 filled with success and rewarding moments. Happy New Year! 🎓
- Teacher, may the New Year bring you health and the satisfaction of seeing the seeds you sow every day blossom. Happy 2026! 🌱
Messages for doctors and health workers
Special recognition for those who care for our health.
- Thank you for your dedication. May 2026 bring you peace, well-deserved rest and much health. Happy New Year! 🩺
- Your work is invaluable. I wish you a 2026 full of satisfaction and moments of joy. Happy New Year! 💙
- May this New Year recognise your dedication and give you moments of peace and happiness. Happy 2026! 🏥
A guide to using emojis in your messages
Emojis can liven up your messages but it's a matter of good taste; too much can feel overwhelming. Here's a guide to the most appropriate ones depending on the occasion:
Celebration and Festivity:
- 🎉 Party
- 🎊 Confetti
- 🎆 Fireworks
- 🎇 Sparklers
- 🥂 Toast
- 🍾 Champagne
Love and Affection:
- ❤️ Red Heart
- 💖 Glittering heart
- 🤗 Hug
- 💑 Couple with heart
- 👨👩👦👦 Family
Luck and Prosperity:
- ✨ Shining Stars
- 🍀 Shamrock
- 🌟 Star
- 💫 Sparkle
Spiritual:
- 🙏 Praying hands
- 🕊️ Dove
- ✝️ Cross
- 🕯️ Candle
Motivational:
- 💪 Strength
- 🎯 Diana
- 🚀 Rocket
- ⭐ Star
Keywords for your messages
If you don't have a clear idea about what message to send we give you a hint about the keywords it should contain. These words are some of the most used and should not be missing in your congratulation messages:
- New Year 2026
- New Year's greetings
- Good wishes
- Prosperity
- Success
- Blessings
- New beginnings
- Happiness
- Health
- Love
- Peace
- Abundance
- Hope
- Gratitude
Elements to complement your messages
- New Yearanimated GIFs
- Festive stickers that you can integrate from your own mobile phone
- Personalised voice memos
- Photos of special moments of the year
- Personalised short videos
Remember that the most important thing is not the length of the message or the originality of the emojis or images, but the sincerity and affection with which you send it.
Every word counts when wishing our loved ones the best on these special dates.
From the Euronews team, we wish you all a healthy and happy 2026.
