Instagram Rings 2026: A$AP Rocky, FINNEAS, Donatella Versace & Vikas Khanna Join Panel Honouring Creative Excellence

Mumbai, 21^st October 2026: Instagram is bringing back its Rings awards for 2026, celebrating creators who push creative boundaries, take risks and influence culture through their work. Following its debut last year, the initiative returns for its second edition, recognising individuals whose ideas spark conversations and shape creative expression both on and off the platform. The full list of 2026 Rings winners is expected to be revealed on Instagram later this month.

Unlike traditional awards that focus primarily on finished work, Instagram Rings celebrates the creative journey itself. The initiative recognises experimentation, persistence, self-expression and the willingness to embrace uncertainty while pursuing original ideas. Instagram emphasises that creativity cannot be confined to one content format or category, highlighting the courage to take creative chances as the defining quality of its recipients.

The 2026 judging panel brings together leading voices from music, fashion, film, sport, design and digital culture. This year’s judges include rapper A$AP Rocky, musician and producer FINNEAS, fashion designer Donatella Versace, filmmaker Chloé Zhao, skier Mikaela Shiffrin, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, chef Vikas Khanna and author Jack Edwards. The panel also features Emily Adams Bode Aujla, OSGEMEOS, Charm La’Donna, Eva Chen, Will Welch and Isamaya Ffrench. Each judge nominated creators and voted to determine the winners, bringing perspectives from across creative industries.

Instagram has partnered with judge Emily Adams Bode Aujla to design the physical ring presented to each winner. Inspired by the idea that bold creative choices can help people create their own opportunities, the 2026 design features a four-leaf clover carved from Connemara marble. The symbol reflects intuition, exploration and the role of chance in creative discovery. With its second edition, Instagram Rings continues to position creator recognition beyond follower counts and viral moments, placing greater emphasis on originality, creative courage and cultural impact. The platform will announce the 2026 winners later this month.