Manchester United topped the UK rankings in January 2026 with nearly 500,000 new Instagram followers, while musician Olivia Dean and Amad Diallo rounded out a list heavy on football, music, and entertainment, according to data from HypeAuditor. Rising creators Owen Cooper and Cody Dahler also broke into the top 10 alongside established names RAYE and YUNGBLUD.
Here are the fastest-growing UK Instagram accounts from January 2026.
#1. Manchester United | @manutd
Gained: +497K followers January total: 66.1M followers
One of the world’s most-followed football clubs, Manchester United, continued to convert global match audiences into followers through consistent highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and fan-oriented Reels, with on-pitch performances and transfer-window storylines keeping the club in daily football discourse.
Gained: +419K followers January total: 46.8M followers
Styles maintained strong organic growth, driven by his entrenched global fandom, with ongoing speculation about future music and touring, and high engagement with archival performance clips and fan edits, keeping his profile discovery high despite no major new release in January.
Gained: +415K followers January total: 1.6M followers
The emerging creator had a breakout month as short, highly shareable clips circulated beyond his existing audience, with each viral Reel translating into an outsized percentage-growth spike compared with more established UK figures.
Gained: +414K followers January total: 4.8M followers
The British singer-songwriter continued to build momentum from her 2025 album “The Art of Loving,” with fan covers, live performance clips, and editorial coverage keeping her in UK music discovery feeds through early 2026.
Gained: +254K followers January total: 861K followers
Dahler posted highly viral, algorithm-friendly content in January, triggering one of the highest percentage growth rates among UK accounts in his follower band and pushing him firmly toward the macro-creator tier.
Gained: +244K followers January total: 2.9M followers
The Manchester United winger benefited from eye-catching individual performances and highlight-worthy moments, with match clips, fan edits, and cross-posting of his goals on football meme pages funneling fresh attention back to his personal account.
Gained: +235K followers January total: 4.3M followers
The BRIT Award-winning artist is still riding a multi-year upswing following her breakout chart and awards run in 2023-25, with ongoing performance clips and fan-led content continuing to introduce her to new listeners.
Gained: +229K followers January total: 79.9M followers
January’s transfer window and a dense fixture calendar ensured a constant stream of newsworthy content, with match highlights, transfer announcements, and short-form Reels around dramatic moments driving reliable discovery into international football feeds.
Gained: +211K followers January total: 28.0M followers
The “Game of Thrones” actress continued to benefit from long-tail global recognition, ongoing visibility through film and TV work, and her SameYou advocacy, with personable lifestyle posts and cause-driven content sustaining engagement outside an active blockbuster release window.
Gained: +191K followers January total: 7.6M followers
The English singer-songwriter extended momentum from his fourth studio album “IDOLS,” which drove 80%+ audience growth in 2025, with tour content, festival announcements, and heavy fan interaction keeping him in music discovery surfaces into early 2026.
Cecilia Carloni, Interview Manager at Influence Weekly and writer for NetInfluencer. Coming from beautiful Argentina, Ceci has spent years chatting with big names in the influencer world, making friends and learning insider info along the way. When she’s not deep in interviews or writing, she's enjoying life with her two daughters. Ceci’s stories give a peek behind the curtain of influencer life, sharing the real and interesting tales from her many conversations with movers and shakers in the space.
Manchester United topped the UK rankings in January 2026 with nearly 500,000 new Instagram followers, while musician Olivia Dean and Amad Diallo rounded out a list heavy on football, music, and entertainment, according to data from HypeAuditor. Rising creators Owen Cooper and Cody Dahler also broke into the top 10 alongside established names RAYE and YUNGBLUD.
Here are the fastest-growing UK Instagram accounts from January 2026.
#1. Manchester United | @manutd
Gained: +497K followers
January total: 66.1M followers
One of the world’s most-followed football clubs, Manchester United, continued to convert global match audiences into followers through consistent highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and fan-oriented Reels, with on-pitch performances and transfer-window storylines keeping the club in daily football discourse.
#2. Harry Styles | @harrystyles
Gained: +419K followers
January total: 46.8M followers
Styles maintained strong organic growth, driven by his entrenched global fandom, with ongoing speculation about future music and touring, and high engagement with archival performance clips and fan edits, keeping his profile discovery high despite no major new release in January.
#3. Owen Cooper | @owencoooper
Gained: +415K followers
January total: 1.6M followers
The emerging creator had a breakout month as short, highly shareable clips circulated beyond his existing audience, with each viral Reel translating into an outsized percentage-growth spike compared with more established UK figures.
#4. Olivia Dean | @oliviadeano
Gained: +414K followers
January total: 4.8M followers
The British singer-songwriter continued to build momentum from her 2025 album “The Art of Loving,” with fan covers, live performance clips, and editorial coverage keeping her in UK music discovery feeds through early 2026.
#5. Cody Dahler | @mrcodydahler
Gained: +254K followers
January total: 861K followers
Dahler posted highly viral, algorithm-friendly content in January, triggering one of the highest percentage growth rates among UK accounts in his follower band and pushing him firmly toward the macro-creator tier.
#6. Amad Diallo | @amaddiallo19
Gained: +244K followers
January total: 2.9M followers
The Manchester United winger benefited from eye-catching individual performances and highlight-worthy moments, with match clips, fan edits, and cross-posting of his goals on football meme pages funneling fresh attention back to his personal account.
#7. RAYE | @raye
Gained: +235K followers
January total: 4.3M followers
The BRIT Award-winning artist is still riding a multi-year upswing following her breakout chart and awards run in 2023-25, with ongoing performance clips and fan-led content continuing to introduce her to new listeners.
#8. Premier League | @premierleague
Gained: +229K followers
January total: 79.9M followers
January’s transfer window and a dense fixture calendar ensured a constant stream of newsworthy content, with match highlights, transfer announcements, and short-form Reels around dramatic moments driving reliable discovery into international football feeds.
#9. Emilia Clarke | @emilia_clarke
Gained: +211K followers
January total: 28.0M followers
The “Game of Thrones” actress continued to benefit from long-tail global recognition, ongoing visibility through film and TV work, and her SameYou advocacy, with personable lifestyle posts and cause-driven content sustaining engagement outside an active blockbuster release window.
#10. YUNGBLUD | @yungblud
Gained: +191K followers
January total: 7.6M followers
The English singer-songwriter extended momentum from his fourth studio album “IDOLS,” which drove 80%+ audience growth in 2025, with tour content, festival announcements, and heavy fan interaction keeping him in music discovery surfaces into early 2026.
Data from HypeAuditor, January 2026
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Check Out Our Podcast