Rolling Stone has published its 2026 list of the 25 most influential creators, ranking comedian Druski (Drew Desbordes) in the top spot, followed by iShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) at No. 2 and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker at No. 3.
The list was compiled from submissions by Rolling Stone staffers, contributors and industry experts, then narrowed using follower counts, growth, engagement rates and editorial judgment. Notably, the publication said it excluded several creators who ranked highly on past lists because their business ventures have overtaken their content output. “This year, you may notice that we left off some of the highest-ranking creators from past lists,” the outlet wrote. “That’s because their empires have made content largely an afterthought — if you have a $100 million Amazon show or a $500 million media company, do you still really count as a creator?” Instead, the ranking favored creators the outlet described as “industry leaders, entertainment darlings, and go-to experts” who remain active on the platforms that built their audiences.
Druski, who has 41 million followers and became the youngest-ever host of the BET Awards this year, told the outlet his approach to influence centers on self-belief: “To be influential, you gotta be iconic. You have to believe in yourself first before anybody else believes in you.” iShowSpeed, with 195 million followers, was cited for his performance at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremonies in front of a reported 1.2 billion global viewers. Kai Cenat, who has 90 million followers and came in at No. 4, was recognized in part for Streamer University, a content-creation bootcamp now in its second year that took over Hendrix College in Arkansas for 120 participants.
The list spans genres well beyond comedy and streaming. Children’s entertainer Ms Rachel (Rachel Accurso) placed fifth, cited for her YouTube series “Songs for Littles” and her public advocacy on behalf of children in Gaza, Sudan and U.S. immigration detention. Lifestyle creator Alix Earle, at No. 9, was noted for her skincare line Reale Actives and an upcoming Netflix series, “Earle Meets World.” Talk-show host Kareem Rahma, creator of “SubwayTakes,” and podcaster Jake Shane also appeared in the top 10.
Rolling Stone’s rankings weighed follower totals ranging from 500,000 for fashion creator Atiya Walcott at No. 22 to 195 million for iShowSpeed at No. 2, reflecting the outlet’s stated emphasis on cultural influence and platform activity over raw audience size alone.
Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.
Rolling Stone has published its 2026 list of the 25 most influential creators, ranking comedian Druski (Drew Desbordes) in the top spot, followed by iShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) at No. 2 and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker at No. 3.
The list was compiled from submissions by Rolling Stone staffers, contributors and industry experts, then narrowed using follower counts, growth, engagement rates and editorial judgment. Notably, the publication said it excluded several creators who ranked highly on past lists because their business ventures have overtaken their content output. “This year, you may notice that we left off some of the highest-ranking creators from past lists,” the outlet wrote. “That’s because their empires have made content largely an afterthought — if you have a $100 million Amazon show or a $500 million media company, do you still really count as a creator?” Instead, the ranking favored creators the outlet described as “industry leaders, entertainment darlings, and go-to experts” who remain active on the platforms that built their audiences.
Druski, who has 41 million followers and became the youngest-ever host of the BET Awards this year, told the outlet his approach to influence centers on self-belief: “To be influential, you gotta be iconic. You have to believe in yourself first before anybody else believes in you.” iShowSpeed, with 195 million followers, was cited for his performance at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremonies in front of a reported 1.2 billion global viewers. Kai Cenat, who has 90 million followers and came in at No. 4, was recognized in part for Streamer University, a content-creation bootcamp now in its second year that took over Hendrix College in Arkansas for 120 participants.
The list spans genres well beyond comedy and streaming. Children’s entertainer Ms Rachel (Rachel Accurso) placed fifth, cited for her YouTube series “Songs for Littles” and her public advocacy on behalf of children in Gaza, Sudan and U.S. immigration detention. Lifestyle creator Alix Earle, at No. 9, was noted for her skincare line Reale Actives and an upcoming Netflix series, “Earle Meets World.” Talk-show host Kareem Rahma, creator of “SubwayTakes,” and podcaster Jake Shane also appeared in the top 10.
Rolling Stone’s rankings weighed follower totals ranging from 500,000 for fashion creator Atiya Walcott at No. 22 to 195 million for iShowSpeed at No. 2, reflecting the outlet’s stated emphasis on cultural influence and platform activity over raw audience size alone.
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