TikTok announced on Monday that it is launching its first-ever TikTok Awards show in the United States. The awards will include categories such as Creator of the Year, Video of the Year, Muse of the Year, and Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
This announcement comes just weeks after Instagram introduced its own Ring awards program. Unlike Instagram, TikTok is taking a more traditional approach by hosting an actual awards show. Winners will be revealed live at an event featuring a red carpet, live performances, and a live audience of hundreds of creators.
The awards show is scheduled for December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. It will be livestreamed on the TikTok app and on Tubi. The show will be available to stream on demand on Tubi starting the following day.
Users can vote for their favorite creators through a new portal on TikTok launching on November 18.
Although this is TikTok’s first awards show in the U.S., the company has held similar events in other countries including Germany, Mexico, and Korea in the past.
The nominees for Creator of the Year are adamw, alixearle, brookemonk_, keith_lee125, and kristy.sarah. The nominees for Breakthrough Artist of the Year are alexwarren, katseyeworld, laufey, ravynlenae, and sombr.
Other awards categories include Storyteller of the Year, TikTok for Good Award, MVP of the Year, Okay Slay Award, and TikTok LIVE Creators of the Year.
By launching an awards show, TikTok is positioning itself as more than just a social media app and establishing itself as a notable force in the entertainment industry. Given that TikTok serves as a launching pad for several emerging artists and actors, it makes sense for the company to celebrate its top users with its own branded show.
TikTok stated that the trophies presented on stage will beam a colorful glow upon the creators defining this new era of culture, which encompasses many areas including fashion, beauty, sports, TV and film, and new forms of entertainment.