The Clios have named actor Terry Crews host of the inaugural Clio Creator Awards and will present specialty awards to Dhar Mann and Grace Wells at the ceremony on November 18 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Mann, founder of Dhar Mann Studios, will receive the 2026 Clio Creator Impact Award. His company reaches more than 170 million followers and draws more than 320 million views each week. Wells, a short-form storyteller known for her “Making Epic Commercials for Random Objects” series, will receive the 2026 Clio Creator Rising Star Award, which recognizes an emerging creator for creative craft, breakthrough momentum and cultural influence. According to the Clios, Wells has expanded the series into brand advertising and works with aspiring filmmakers.
More than 20 creators and performers will present the Grand Clio Creator Awards across the program’s “Brand” and “Creator” tracks, including Trixie Mattel, Jesse Riedel (Jesser), Justine Ezarik (iJustine), Jordan Howlett (Jordan the Stallion), Amanda McCants, Hannah Stocking, Cole Walliser, Andrew Bachelor (King Bach) and the Stokes Twins. Stocking and Mattel will also host the red carpet.
Several presenters already have ties to the program. Mann, Stocking and Walliser were named to its creative council in July alongside Haley Kalil and Adam Waheed. Howlett was named Blenders Eyewear’s first Chief Content Officer in July, a role covering the brand’s campaigns and products.
“The Clios have been setting a high bar for creativity in the marketing and advertising industry for more than 65 years, and the impact that creators have had on this business in recent years is hard to overstate,” said Nicole Purcell, CEO of the Clios.
A Platform-Agnostic Program
Clio Creators launched in March as one of six specialized Clio verticals and is presented by YouTube and powered by Influential (acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2024 for around $500 million), with MOCEAN as a creative partner. The program accepts entries from Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and other platforms, which the Clios position as a point of difference from other recognition programs. Clio has said judging rests on an entry’s creativity and craft rather than its view count, reach or popularity.
The jury, announced in July, draws from creators, brand executives and agency leaders. It includes Marisa Hammonds, TikTok’s Global Head of Creator Marketing and Community; Monica Lambert, Head of Influencer and Talent at Amazon Studios and Prime Video; Rahul Titus, Publicis Groupe’s Global Influencer Lead; and Kenny Gold, Edelman’s Global Chief Creator Officer. Jurors determine Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards.
“Today’s creators are the new Hollywood – shaping culture, redefining modern entertainment, and building business empires,” said Tim Katz, Vice President of Americas at YouTube.
Chris Detert, Influential’s Chief Communication Officer and the awards’ executive producer, said Influential is helping “identify the right voices, surface standout work and collaborate with the jury.”
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Dolby Theatre, and the ceremony will stream on YouTube.
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.
The Clios have named actor Terry Crews host of the inaugural Clio Creator Awards and will present specialty awards to Dhar Mann and Grace Wells at the ceremony on November 18 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Mann, founder of Dhar Mann Studios, will receive the 2026 Clio Creator Impact Award. His company reaches more than 170 million followers and draws more than 320 million views each week. Wells, a short-form storyteller known for her “Making Epic Commercials for Random Objects” series, will receive the 2026 Clio Creator Rising Star Award, which recognizes an emerging creator for creative craft, breakthrough momentum and cultural influence. According to the Clios, Wells has expanded the series into brand advertising and works with aspiring filmmakers.
More than 20 creators and performers will present the Grand Clio Creator Awards across the program’s “Brand” and “Creator” tracks, including Trixie Mattel, Jesse Riedel (Jesser), Justine Ezarik (iJustine), Jordan Howlett (Jordan the Stallion), Amanda McCants, Hannah Stocking, Cole Walliser, Andrew Bachelor (King Bach) and the Stokes Twins. Stocking and Mattel will also host the red carpet.
Several presenters already have ties to the program. Mann, Stocking and Walliser were named to its creative council in July alongside Haley Kalil and Adam Waheed. Howlett was named Blenders Eyewear’s first Chief Content Officer in July, a role covering the brand’s campaigns and products.
“The Clios have been setting a high bar for creativity in the marketing and advertising industry for more than 65 years, and the impact that creators have had on this business in recent years is hard to overstate,” said Nicole Purcell, CEO of the Clios.
A Platform-Agnostic Program
Clio Creators launched in March as one of six specialized Clio verticals and is presented by YouTube and powered by Influential (acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2024 for around $500 million), with MOCEAN as a creative partner. The program accepts entries from Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and other platforms, which the Clios position as a point of difference from other recognition programs. Clio has said judging rests on an entry’s creativity and craft rather than its view count, reach or popularity.
The jury, announced in July, draws from creators, brand executives and agency leaders. It includes Marisa Hammonds, TikTok’s Global Head of Creator Marketing and Community; Monica Lambert, Head of Influencer and Talent at Amazon Studios and Prime Video; Rahul Titus, Publicis Groupe’s Global Influencer Lead; and Kenny Gold, Edelman’s Global Chief Creator Officer. Jurors determine Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards.
“Today’s creators are the new Hollywood – shaping culture, redefining modern entertainment, and building business empires,” said Tim Katz, Vice President of Americas at YouTube.
Chris Detert, Influential’s Chief Communication Officer and the awards’ executive producer, said Influential is helping “identify the right voices, surface standout work and collaborate with the jury.”
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Dolby Theatre, and the ceremony will stream on YouTube.
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