WhatsApp Adds Member Tags, Text Stickers and Event Reminders to Group Chats

Anna's Dad in one group, Goalkeeper in another
WhatsApp's own examples of how member tags can differ from one group chat to the next.

On January 7, 2026, WhatsApp added three small tools to group chats: member tags that let each person carry a different role label in every group, text stickers made from typed words, and custom reminders for event invitations. The company built them around what groups actually do together, from sharing resolutions to planning a celebration or a football season. Such modest additions speak to an old human wish: to be known differently in different circles, and to be gently reminded when it matters to show up.

WhatsApp announced three additions to group chats on January 7, 2026, and framed them around the ordinary business of groups: sharing New Year's resolutions, preparing for a celebration, planning a run at a football league title.

The most visible change is member tags. Each person can attach a short role label to their name, and the label can differ from group to group. WhatsApp's examples capture the idea: the same person might be "Anna's Dad" in one chat and "Goalkeeper" in another. The feature is rolling out gradually, so not everyone will see it at once.

Text stickers turn any typed word into a sticker through Sticker Search, and new stickers can be saved straight into a sticker pack rather than first being sent in a chat.

The third addition concerns events. Whoever creates an event in a group can now set custom early reminders for invitees, whether to get to a party on time or to join a call at the right moment.

The announcement does not say when member tags will reach every user, or whether stickers and reminders are available to everyone immediately. For now, the thing to watch is how the tags spread and whether custom reminders appear across all accounts in the coming weeks.

WhatsApp announced three additions to group chats on January 7, 2026: member tags, text stickers and custom event reminders. The company framed the update around the kinds of things groups actually do, from sharing New Year's resolutions to preparing for a celebration to planning a run at a football league title.

Member tags are the most visible change. A user can now attach a short label to their own name that tells the group what role they play, and the label can be different in every group. WhatsApp's own examples show the idea: someone might appear as "Anna's Dad" in one chat and "Goalkeeper" in another. The company says this feature is being rolled out gradually, so it will not appear for everyone at once.

Text stickers address messages that need to stand out. By typing a word into Sticker Search, a user can turn it into a sticker. The update also changes how new stickers are stored: they can be added directly to a sticker pack, rather than having to be sent in a chat first and saved from there.

The third addition concerns events. When someone creates and sends an event in a group chat, they can now set custom early reminders for the people invited. WhatsApp says this is meant to help invitees remember to travel to a party being hosted, or to join a call at the right time, depending on the type of event.

In a statement, WhatsApp said group chats make it easier to stay connected with people "no matter what device they own," and described the new tools as ways to make staying connected and expressing yourself in groups better.

The company placed the update in a longer line of group features. It pointed to earlier launches including file sharing of up to 2GB, HD media, screen sharing and voice chats, among others.

The announcement, as reported, does not give a date for when member tags will reach every user, and it does not say whether the stickers and reminders are available to everyone immediately. For now, the thing to watch is the gradual rollout of tags and whether custom reminders show up across all accounts in the coming weeks.

Group chats make it easier to stay connected with the people in your life no matter what device they own.
— WhatsApp, in a statement
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