Ludwig won the first Streamer of the Year award in 2021, Kai Cenat claimed it twice in 2022 and 2023, and IShowSpeed has taken home three consecutive trophies from 2024 to 2026. That’s the full list so far. Founded by QTCinderella, The Streamer Awards began on March 12, 2022. Its biggest prize comes last, closing the show after a night of celebrations, surprises and occasional arguments.

How the award works, and why the years get confusing

The Streamer Awards recognise creators for their work during the previous year. That simple rule creates a few headaches when checking the winners because the first ceremonies took place the following spring.

The inaugural edition celebrated 2021 but aired on March 12, 2022, under the original title “2022 Streamer Awards”. It was later relabelled as the 2021 edition. The next two ceremonies followed a similar schedule, taking place on March 11, 2023, and February 17, 2024.

Then came a change. The 2024 edition moved to December 7, 2024, meaning two ceremonies took place that year. The 2026 voting system allows fans to nominate and vote, while the Streamer Awards panel contributes 30% of the final weight. Winners receive a Peepo figure trophy.

2021: Ludwig takes the first trophy

Ludwig Anders Ahgren, better known as Ludwig, became the inaugural winner at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on March 12, 2022. QTCinderella and Maya Higa hosted the ceremony.

He beat Mizkif, Sykkuno and xQc. There was a strong case for xQc, who had attracted enormous attention, and some viewers voiced their disappointment online when Ludwig’s name was announced.

Ludwig had enjoyed a remarkable 2021. His March subathon brought a huge audience to his channel and helped him become Twitch’s most-subscribed streamer, overtaking Ninja. By November, however, he had moved to YouTube.

That move made the trophy feel even more unusual. During his acceptance speech, Ludwig said it was his last chance to win one because he had left Twitch. He got the first one anyway.

Kai Cenat’s back-to-back run

2022: First win for Kai

Kai Cenat took the second edition’s biggest prize on March 11, 2023, at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. QTCinderella and Valkyrae presented the show.

His competition included HasanAbi, Jerma985 and xQc. Kai came out ahead, adding another major achievement to a year that had established him as one of streaming’s biggest personalities. The award marked the beginning of a run that would prove difficult to match.

2023: The repeat

The Wiltern welcomed the awards again on February 17, 2024. This time, QTCinderella shared hosting duties with Pokimane.

Kai defended his title against CaseOh, Ironmouse, Jynxzi and Quackity. He also collected Best Just Chatting Streamer, giving him two trophies on the night.

There was another interesting detail. All five nominees for Streamer of the Year left with at least one award. Nobody went home empty-handed, although one person clearly had a better evening than the rest.

IShowSpeed’s three-peat

2024: Speed breaks the streak

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., ended Kai’s winning run at the December 7, 2024 ceremony. The event took place at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles, with QTCinderella and TinaKitten hosting.

Speed beat Caedrel, Emiru, Kai Cenat and PirateSoftware to claim the top honour. He also enjoyed a successful night overall, winning three awards. Kai matched that total with three of his own.

Speed’s acceptance speech came with a physical flourish. He performed a backflip on stage, giving the audience a moment that suited his unpredictable public persona. The trophy had a new owner.

2025: Speed holds off Kai again

On December 6, 2025, The Wiltern hosted another ceremony, where QTCinderella and Maya Higa took charge. IShowSpeed retained his crown after beating ExtraEmily, JasonTheWeen, Kai Cenat and Plaqueboymax.

His work during the year included the “Speed Does America” IRL tour, a defining project that helped shape his streaming output. He also picked up Best IRL Streamer.

Kai, however, had an extraordinary evening of his own. He won four awards, the highest number collected by one person at a single Streamer Awards ceremony. Still, the biggest prize went elsewhere.

2026: Three in a row

The November 12, 2026 ceremony brought another victory for IShowSpeed. Held in Los Angeles, the event was hosted by QTCinderella and Caroline Kwan.

Speed defeated CaseOh, Jynxzi, Joe Bartolozzi and Stable Ronaldo, securing his third consecutive Streamer of the Year trophy. He also won Best IRL Streamer for the second year running.

Jynxzi had his own reason to celebrate after winning Gamer of the Year. But the headline belonged to Speed. Three editions, three victories. Nobody else has managed that run.

Who has won Streamer of the Year the most?

IShowSpeed leads the all-time standings with three wins in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Kai Cenat follows with two consecutive victories in 2022 and 2023, while Ludwig remains the first-ever champion with his 2021 win.

That makes three different winners across six editions. No other streamer has claimed the award.

Every Streamer of the Year winner at a glance

Here is the complete record of the Streamer of the Year winners, including the edition year and the actual ceremony date.

Conclusion

Six ceremonies have produced only three different champions. That is a remarkably small club for an industry filled with thousands of creators competing for attention.

IShowSpeed now sits at the top with three trophies, one more than Kai Cenat and two ahead of Ludwig. The 2027 ceremony will bring a fresh field of contenders, but anyone hoping to take the crown will have to get past the reigning champion.

Speed has made that job look rather difficult. The next winner will need more than a good acceptance speech.