Snapchat has released the full list of nominees for the first-ever Snappy Awards Show, set to take place March 31 at the company’s Santa Monica headquarters. Comedian Matt Friend will host the event, which will recognize creators, referred to as “Snap Stars,” across 20 categories spanning entertainment, comedy, music, sports, beauty, fashion, gaming, and more.

Nominees and Categories

The nominee list features a mix of digital-native creators and mainstream celebrities. 

Categories range from craft-focused honors such as “Best Use of Creative Tools” and “Top Lens Creator,” to platform behavior metrics like “Spotlight MVP” and “Off-Platform Buzz,” to vertical-specific awards including “Top Athlete Creator,” “Top Food Creator,” and “Top Gamer Creator.”

“Creator of the Year” nominees include David Dobrik, Khloe Kardashian, Landon McBroom, Catherine Paiz, and JoJo Siwa. 

The “Breakout Creator” category features JaNa Craig, Francesca Farago, Ashton Hall, Skai Jackson, and Nic Vans. 

The “Comeback Star” category includes Kandi Burruss, Tyreek Hill, Kylie Jenner, and Shay Mitchell.

Snapchat will present DJ Khaled with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of his impact as a creator, artist, and entrepreneur.

Growing Trend of Platform-Hosted Creator Awards

The Snappy Awards follows similar moves by competing platforms. Instagram launched “Rings” in fall 2025, honoring 25 top creators with physical and digital rings. TikTok held its inaugural U.S. awards show in December, presenting 14 awards during a live event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

The March 31 Snappy Awards Show will mark Snapchat’s first entry into platform-hosted creator recognition programming.

Jim Shepherd, Head of Content Partnerships at Snapchat, framed the awards show as part of a broader creator strategy. “The Snap Stars we’re honoring aren’t just entertaining audiences – they’re driving conversations, building businesses, and shaping culture,” Shepherd said. “This show represents our long-term commitment to giving creators meaningful recognition and real opportunity as they continue to define what’s next.”