How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch
The first-ever U.S. TikTok Awards are happening on Dec. 18, 2025 — and yes, fans can already vote.
Designed to honor the creators, trends, and memorable cultural moments that defined the platform this year, the show is shaping up to be TikTok's biggest attempt yet at turning internet fame into a full-blown awards spectacle.
So what can you actually expect? Think of it as the For You Page brought to life, with all the unpredictable energy that implies. TikTok is promising creator-led segments and live performances, meaning some of your favorite viral personalities will be doing what they do best — only this time without the safety net of a million drafts. There will be immersive TikTok Shop activations (basically, the impulse-buy scroll turned IRL), plus fan-oriented pop-ups engineered to be filmed, posted, and immediately stitched into oblivion.
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The lineup will blend viral creators with musicians, athletes, and celebrities, making the night feel like a crossover episode between every side of TikTok at once. And because this is TikTok, expect meme-by-morning chaos and at least one moment destined to live forever in reaction GIF form. Officially, TikTok describes the show as "a celebration of creativity, community, and culture." Unofficially, it sounds like the kind of award show where absolutely anything could happen, and probably will.
Whether you're wondering how to vote in the TikTok Awards, who’s nominated, when the show starts, or where to watch, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
When are the TikTok Awards 2025?
The TikTok Awards 2025 ceremony will air live on Thursday, Dec. 18, from the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
Red carpet begins at 5 p.m. PT
Main show starts at 6 p.m. PT
You can watch live on TikTok (@TikTok) or stream the ceremony on Tubi
This is the first U.S.-based TikTok Awards show, celebrating the creators, trends, and viral moments that shaped the platform in 2025.
How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025
TikTok users can vote directly for their favorite creators within the app. Here's how to vote:
Open the TikTok app
Go to the TikTok Awards hub (visible on the For You page or search "TikTok Awards")
Browse categories and nominees
Tap to submit votes (you can vote daily!)
You can cast your votes for your favorite creators starting Nov. 18 to Dec. 2, 2025. This is the only way to officially vote for the TikTok Awards, as there doesn't appear to be any web-based voting.
TikTok Awards 2025 nominees and categories
Here are the nominees for the TikTok Awards categories this year:
Creator of the Year
Video of the Year
Rising Star of the Year (sponsored by e.l.f. Cosmetics)
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Storyteller of the Year
Muse of the Year
TikTok for Good Award
My Show is On Award [Film & TV]
MVP of the Year [Sports]
Okay Slay Award [Fashion/Beauty]
I Was Today Years Old Award [Learning] (sponsored by H&R Block)
Immediately Added To Cart Award (presented by TikTok Shop)
CapCut Creator of the Year
TikTok LIVE Creator of the Year
TikTok notes that additional nominees may be announced leading up to the show.
If you want real-time updates, red carpet chaos, and all the "did we just witness that?" moments, make sure you're following @tiktokcreators and keeping an eye on #TikTokAwardsUS.
This is TikTok, after all. If something wild happens backstage, it’ll be on your For You Page within minutes.
Crystal Bell is the Culture Editor at Mashable. She oversees the site's coverage of the creator economy, digital spaces, and internet trends, focusing on how young people engage with others and themselves online. She is particularly interested in how social media platforms shape our online and offline identities.
She was formerly the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped the brand expand its coverage of extremely online fan culture and K-pop across its platforms. You can find her work in Teen Vogue, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.
She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.
