Google Maps Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Benson Boone Collaboration

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📝 Key Points of This Article

• A special event appears to be unfolding on Google Maps to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
• Analysis of the in-app code from the Android Google Maps app v25.49.06.838461706 update has confirmed the addition of code for a “Maps is 20!” anniversary special navigation icon (“limited-edition party bus”), a “Celebrate Carnaval” theme, and a limited navigation icon in collaboration with American artist Benson Boone.
• It is unknown if these will be available in Japan.

Google’s map service, Google Maps, celebrated its 20th anniversary in February 2025.

It appears that a special event is being rolled out on Google Maps to celebrate this 20th anniversary. Moreover, it seems to be a collaboration with American artist Benson Boone.

An analysis of the in-app code from the Android Google Maps app update v25.49.06.838461706, which was released on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, confirmed the addition of code for a special “Maps is 20!” anniversary navigation icon (“limited-edition party bus”), a “Celebrate Carnaval” feature, and a limited navigation icon through a collaboration with American artist Benson Boone.

<string name="NAVATARS_BIRTHDAY_INLINE_PROMO_TITLE">Maps is 20!</string>
<string name="NAVATARS_BIRTHDAY_INLINE_PROMO_BODY">Celebrate navigating the world together with a limited-edition party bus</string>
<string name="NAVATARS_BIRTHDAY_INLINE_PROMO_ACTION_BUTTON">Hop on</string>
<string name="NAVIGATION_CUSTOM_CHEVRON_CARNAVAL_CHEVRON_PROMO_TITLE">Celebrate Carnaval!</string>
<string name="NAVIGATION_CUSTOM_CHEVRON_BENSON_BOONE_PROMO_TITLE">Get wheels like Benson Boone’s</string>

However, it is unclear if the “Maps is 20!” anniversary special navigation icon, the “limited-edition party bus,” or the Benson Boone collaboration’s limited navigation icon will be available in Japan. Furthermore, Google already celebrated the 20th anniversary of Google Maps once on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and “Carnaval” is an international event held from late March to early April.

In other words, the information from this in-app code analysis is quite mysterious.

“Google Maps” App Links