Instagram has announced an exciting new awards program to honor content creators who inspire, innovate, and influence global culture. The platform plans to recognize 25 top creators with a special “Gold Ring” next week, celebrating those who have redefined creativity and pushed cultural boundaries.
The awards will be judged by a panel that includes well-known figures such as Adam Mosseri, Spike Lee, Marc Jacobs, Marques Brownlee, Yara Shahidi, and Pat McGrath. Winners will receive a custom-designed gold ring by English fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, symbolizing achievement and creative impact. Alongside the physical ring, recipients will also get a digital golden ring displayed around their Instagram profile and the chance to customize a unique “Like” button for their posts.
Unlike many traditional award programs, this one doesn’t come with a cash prize. Instead, it focuses on recognition and prestige. Instagram’s goal is to celebrate creativity itself, rather than financial success, highlighting creators who take bold risks and inspire others through originality.
This move comes after Meta scaled back its financial reward programs for creators in recent years. Initiatives such as bonuses for Reels, affiliate marketing rewards, and ad revenue programs were gradually discontinued. Meanwhile, reports show a significant decline in brand deals — with creators experiencing a 52% drop in sponsored partnerships in 2024. Despite these changes, Instagram’s new award aims to bring motivation and visibility to creators in a competitive digital space.
Instagram says the “Ring Award” is all about honoring those who shape conversations and build communities through creativity. Winners of this new symbolic award will be officially announced on October 16.
The “Gold Ring” might not come with money, but for many creators, the recognition from one of the world’s biggest platforms could be priceless.
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