Instagram’s Rings Awards Give Creators the Gold-Ring Treatment—Literally

Some awards go on a shelf. Instagram’s new Rings Awards come with a profile-level twist: every winner receives a gold ring around their Instagram profile, plus a physical ring crafted by judge Emily Adams Bode Aujla. It’s hard to get more on-platform than that.

Instagram hosted an intimate party in New York City to celebrate the winners of its 2026 Rings Awards. The new global program honors creative voices whose bold ideas spark conversations and shape culture. In other words, it’s built for creators who don’t just post into the scroll—they make people stop, react and talk.

Two rings, one very Instagram prize

The award has a literal and digital side. Each winner receives a physical ring designed by Emily Adams Bode Aujla, who is also one of the judges, along with a gold ring around their Instagram profile. The trophy can leave the app; the profile ring stays right where people discover the work.

It’s a clever bit of platform logic. A traditional trophy usually needs a shelf, a photo, and at least one relative asking what it is. This one comes with a built-in explanation: the gold ring marks a creator recognized by Instagram’s new awards program.

A creative panel with range

Rings is a global program spanning a wide range of categories, with winners hand-selected by a panel of creative luminaries. This year’s judges include Donatella Versace, Isamaya Ffrench, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, director Chloé Zhao, FINNEAS, editor Will Welch, choreographer Charm La’Donna, skier Mikaela Shiffrin and author Jack Edwards.

The New York celebration brought together winners and judges, including Donatella Versace, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, Bhavitha Mandava, Kareem Rahma, Elias Medini and more. It’s a guest list that makes the point: creative influence doesn’t stay in one lane, and the awards are designed to recognize voices from across culture.

Recognition that lives where the work does

Instagram says Rings honors people who take creative chances. The gold profile ring gives that recognition a visible home on the platform, while the custom-made ring gives winners something they can actually hold. A digital badge and a physical keepsake—basically, the award equivalent of “the screenshot is nice, but here’s the real thing.”

For a new award, that’s a strong identity: not just another name on a list, but a marker built for the place where these creators share their ideas. The question now is what the winners do next—and whether the gold ring becomes the most recognizable accessory on the app.

This year’s judges include: Donatella Versace, Isamaya Ffrench, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, Hamnet director Chloé Zhao, FINNEAS, editor Will Welch, choreographer for Bad Bunny and Beyoncé Charm La’Donna, Mikaela Shiffrin, author Jack Edwards, artists Os Gemêos, chef Vikas Khanna, and Instagram’s own Adam Mosseri & Eva Chen 

This year’s 25 winner include: @erling, @bhavithamandava, @samvissermakeup, @kareem, LATINMAFIA,  @szilvesztermako, @paintedbyesther, @damienjalet, @mssjb, @Blackforager, @riswan_freestyle, @jtfirstman, @littlesimz, @melovemealot, @ly.as, @medet, @salehebembury, @skylarmarshai, @joycealanee, @vicmontanari, @byjuanalvear, @winnie_thepooj, @renellmedrano, @stevenmotocooks, @underthecover