What is Instagram Rings?

Instagram Rings is a brand-new creator awards program launched in October 2025 that celebrates and honors exceptional creativity, originality, and cultural influence on the platform. From Instagram’s global community of three billion users, only 25 selected creators receive this prestigious recognition each year, making it one of the most exclusive awards on the platform. The program focuses on celebrating creators who take creative risks, push creative boundaries, and shape digital culture through innovative storytelling and authentic influence.

How Instagram Rings Works

Unlike traditional social media awards that rely on follower counts or viral metrics, Instagram Rings uses a curated selection process based on creative excellence and cultural impact. The judging panel includes renowned industry figures such as filmmaker Spike Lee, designer Marc Jacobs, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), actress Yara Shahidi, and fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner who designed the physical ring. According to Eva Chen, Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram, the selection criteria focuses heavily on creators who “take creative chances and are always pushing the envelope and thinking about new ways to talk to their audience.”

Instagram Rings Winners and Their Benefits

Only 25 creators win Instagram Rings annually, selected based on their creative impact rather than vanity metrics. Winners span diverse content categories including fashion, makeup, sports, entertainment, and various other niches, reflecting Instagram’s diverse global community. Each winner receives multiple exclusive benefits that set them apart on the platform:

Physical Ring Award:

Winners receive a luxurious gold ring designed by acclaimed English fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, delivered in a premium presentation box.

Golden Story Ring:

Winners’ Stories appear with a distinctive golden ring border instead of the standard orange-red-pink gradient, making their Stories instantly recognizable to followers.

Profile Customization:

Rings winners gain the unique ability to customize their profile background color with an exclusive gradient—a feature Instagram has never offered to creators before.

Digital Badge:

Winners receive a digital representation of the award to showcase on their Instagram profile and Stories, signaling their status as culturally impactful creators.

In-App Spotlight:

Winners’ content receives dedicated featured placement within the app, giving their creative work prominent visibility across the platform.

Notable Instagram Rings Winners

The first class of Instagram Rings winners was announced on October 16, 2025, representing diverse creative fields and global talent. Among the 25 inaugural winners is content creator Dolly Singh, making her the only winner from India and bringing recognition to South Asian creators on a global stage. The winners collectively represent the diverse interests and talents of Instagram’s three-billion-strong user base, spanning multiple continents and creative disciplines.

All 25 Instagram Rings 2025 Winners

1. Aki and Koichi (@akiandkoichi)
2. Ari Miller (@arimiller)
3. Brian Lindo (@brianlindo_)
4. Chris Brickley (@chrisbrickley)
5. Cole Bennett (@colebennett) – Music video director
6. Ashley Gordon (@mochipanini)
7. Dolly Singh (@dollysingh) – India’s only winner, content creator and actor
8. Elyse Myers (@elyse_myers)
9. Futura (@futura)
10. Gabriel Moses (@gabrielmoses)
11. Golloria (@golloria)
12. Life on Film (@lifeonfilm) – Photography initiative by Grant Werob, Baiocco, and Griffin Katz
13. Lauf
14. Mimi Choi (@mimichoi) – Makeup illusionist
15. Mika Ninagawa (@mika.ninagawa) – Photographer
16. Mohammed and Humaid Hadban (@twinshadban) – Dubai-based twins
17. Nigel
18. Olivia Dean (@oliviadeano)
19. Adrian
20. Sebastian
21. Katie
22. Thalita and Gabriela Zukeram (@twolostkids) – Brazilian duo
23. Tysh Jones (@tysh.jones)
24. Zarna Garg (@zarnagarg)
25. DJ AG Online – DJ from London

The Judging Panel Behind Instagram Rings

The selection of Instagram Rings winners involves a distinguished panel of creative industry leaders and culture shapers. Judges include:

• Spike Lee (Filmmaker)
• Marc Jacobs (Fashion Designer)
• Adam Mosseri (Instagram Head)
• Marques Brownlee/MKBHD (Tech YouTuber)
• Grace Wales Bonner (Ring Designer)
• Eva Chen (Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram)
• Yara Shahidi (Actress)
• KAWS (Artist)
• Pat McGrath (Makeup Artist)
• Ilona Maher (Rugby Star)
• Tainy (Music Producer)
• Murad Osmann (Photographer)
• Cedric Grolet (Chef)

This diverse judging panel ensures winners are selected based on genuine creative impact rather than commercial appeal alone.

Winners vs. Vanity Metrics: A New Approach to Influence

Instagram Rings represents a fundamental shift in how the platform measures creator value and influence. Rather than rewarding creators based on follower counts or engagement rates, the program prioritizes those who “shape culture” and demonstrate originality over algorithmic popularity. This approach suggests that Instagram is moving toward recognizing genuine influence and creative contribution, even from creators who may not have massive followings.

For brands and marketers, this shift has significant implications for influencer partnerships and collaborations. Rings winners may represent higher-quality, more authentic creators with deeply engaged communities, making them valuable partners despite potentially smaller follower bases compared to mainstream influencers.

The Future of Instagram Rings

Instagram hopes the Rings award will become a regular, recurring event on its platform calendar. The platform aims to establish Rings as “the gold standard for creative excellence,” similar to how the Grammy Awards function in music or the Met Gala in fashion. As the program matures, it could redefine how the creator economy values and celebrates digital creativity, moving away from purely quantitative metrics toward qualitative cultural impact.

What This Means for Creators and Brands

For Creators: Instagram Rings provides recognition beyond follower counts and commercial deals, celebrating those who push creative boundaries and authentically connect with audiences. Winning means joining an elite group of culture-shaping creators and gaining exclusive platform features that increase visibility and engagement.

For Brands: Instagram Rings winners signal a shift toward genuine influence over vanity metrics, making them potentially more valuable for authentic brand partnerships and collaborations. Partnering with Rings winners could demonstrate a brand’s commitment to supporting creative excellence rather than chasing viral moments.