nstagram is handing out awards now.
And no, they’re not going to whoever posts the most selfies, has the most followers or gets the most likes.
The platform is bringing back Instagram Rings, an awards programme introduced in 2025 to recognize creators doing something original with their content.
Think filmmakers, musicians, fashion designers, visual artists and people who have developed their own creative identity online.
The goal is to celebrate originality, creative risks and cultural influence, rather than simply rewarding popularity.
And this year, Instagram has assembled an unusual judging panel.
Wait, A$ap Rocky is a judge?
Yes. And he’s not alone.
The 14-person panel includes A$AP Rocky, FINNEAS, Donatella Versace, filmmaker Chloé Zhao, designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla and Instagram head Adam Mosseri.
The judges nominate creators and vote to select the winners.
But here’s something important: you can’t submit an application.
Instagram’s teams and judging panel identify and nominate potential recipients, meaning there isn’t a public entry form.
So what do winners get?
An actual ring.
The physical award for 2026 was designed by Emily Adams Bode Aujla and features a four-leaf clover crafted from Connemara marble.
Winners also receive special digital features for their Instagram profiles, including a distinctive gold ring around their profile picture when they post Stories.
There’s no announced cash prize.
The recognition is intended to highlight creators and make their work more visible.
Instagram recognized 25 creators during its first edition, with a larger group expected to receive awards this year.
The 2026 winners are scheduled to be revealed on October 29.
And while social media has spent years teaching everyone to care about followers, views and engagement, Rings is trying to draw attention to something different.
Creativity that stands out for reasons beyond the algorithm.
Now the interesting question is whether the awards will introduce audiences to creators they would never normally discover.
And perhaps, one day, that could include more Moroccan talent.
