TikTok announced Grammy-winning artist Ciara as the musical headliner for its first U.S. Awards ceremony, scheduled for December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

“There’s nothing like performing for a community that loves movement, music, and expression as much as I do,” Ciara said in a statement. “The TikTok platform plays a significant role in entertainment. It is one of the most influential platforms in the world. The TikTok Awards are all about celebrating that spirit, and I’m honored to hit the stage for the first-ever show in the U.S.”

According to the announcement, TikTok is adding eight new presenters to the awards program. REI AMI will present “Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” while Tan France will present the “Okay Slay Award for Beauty.” Tefi Pessoa will present “Video of the Year,” and Justin Danger will present the “I Was Today Years Old Award for Education.”

Patrick Starrr will present the “Immediately Added to Cart Award for TikTok Shop.” Carter Gregory will present “CapCut Creator of the Year,” and Ashby Florence will present “Live Creator of the Year.”

Streaming and Distribution

The ceremony streams live on the @TikTok account and on Tubi, the official streaming partner of the TikTok Awards 2025. Tubi will make the Awards available on demand the following day. Red carpet coverage begins at 5 p.m. PT, with Dylan Kevitch, Hannah Kosh, and Taylor King serving as red carpet hosts and correspondents. The main ceremony starts at 6 p.m. PT.

e.l.f. Cosmetics serves as title sponsor for the event and presents the “Rising Star of the Year Award.” The ceremony takes place in front of a live audience of hundreds of creators at the Hollywood Palladium.

Awards Theme and Categories

The 2025 TikTok Awards operates under the theme “New Era, New Icons,” celebrating creators whose impact extends beyond the platform’s For You Feed. The awards recognize content across fashion, beauty, sports, entertainment, learning, and daily life verticals.

The platform honors creators who have “inspired, entertained, and connected communities across the country.” TikTok reports reaching 170 million users in the United States.

Event Positioning

TikTok positions the awards as recognizing videos that “stopped us in our scrolls” and communities that “inspired global phenomena.” The ceremony spotlights innovators redefining content creation across multiple categories.

The U.S. Awards joins TikTok’s global awards series, which operates in Korea, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and other markets. The platform launched its UK & Ireland Awards in November, marking the second year for that regional program.

TikTok directs users to follow the conversation using #TikTokAwardsUS and to follow @tiktokcreators and @tiktok for updates.

Checkout Our Latest Podcast