Instagram has unveiled Rings — a new, high-profile award designed to honor creators who defy convention, take creative risks, and inspire cultural change. This initiative aims to spotlight individuals whose distinctive vision connects communities and pushes the boundaries of creativity in the digital space.

Honoring the Spirit of Creativity

Unlike many awards that simply recognize a particular content format, Rings focuses on the spirit behind it — courage, experimentation, and the ability to influence culture. According to Instagram, the idea stems from a shared feeling among global creators: the mix of excitement and anxiety that comes with putting something new into the world.

We partnered with Grace Wales Bonner, a leading voice in fashion and culture, to design the ring to be awarded to each winner. Grace’s commitment to creative excellence across her multi-disciplinary practice reflects the spirit of Rings, so this collaboration was a special way to unveil the award. We hope Rings inspires even more creativity and reminds us all to take creative chances.

How Winners Are Chosen

To ensure the award truly reflects creative excellence, Instagram brought together a diverse jury of iconic creatives from around the globe. Each judge nominated and voted for creators they felt best embody the Rings spirit.

The selected winners will receive both a physical ring and a distinctive digital badge displayed on their Instagram profile. The physical ring has been designed in collaboration with acclaimed fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, a leading voice in contemporary culture known for her cross-disciplinary creative approach. Her design brings together elegance, symbolism, and the essence of courage in the creative process.

Exclusive In-App Recognition

Instagram wanted Rings winners to be celebrated in ways that feel authentic to the platform. Beyond the physical award, winners will enjoy unique in-app features that make their profiles stand out:

• Gold Story Ring: Whenever a winner posts a Story, their profile picture will be surrounded by a special gold ring instead of the standard Stories ring.

• Profile Backdrop Customization: Winners can choose custom backdrop colors to personalize their profile aesthetic.

• Custom “Like” Button: They’ll be able to add their own creative twist to the like button, giving followers a more engaging way to interact.

These visual and interactive elements will be visible throughout the app — on profiles, in the Stories feed, and in interactions — serving as a badge of honor that reinforces the winner’s creative status.

Inspiring the Next Wave of Creators

The Rings initiative isn’t just an award; it’s a call to action for creators worldwide to embrace uncertainty, trust their vision, and share their ideas boldly. Instagram hopes this celebration of creative courage will inspire others to take chances in their art, whether they’re emerging talents or established voices.