Rolling Stone has placed Druski first in its 2026 ranking of 25 digital creators, ahead of IShowSpeed and a field spanning streaming, education, scripted video, beauty and food. The Rolling Stone 2026 creators list shows how the publication weighed audience size, growth, engagement and editorial judgment across distinct creator formats.
Key Takeaways
- Druski leads the 25-person ranking with 41 million followers across platforms.
- IShowSpeed ranks second, while Kai Cenat, Ms Rachel and Dhar Mann occupy Nos. 4 through 6.
- The opening group covers comedy, livestreaming, education, scripted skits, gaming and lifestyle content.
- Rolling Stone considered follower counts, growth, engagement rates and editorial assessment.
Druski, born Drew Desbordes, leads Rolling Stone’s published ranking with 41 million followers. His social-first sketch format ranks ahead of IShowSpeed, Kai Cenat, Ms Rachel, Dhar Mann and Markiplier.
Druski Leads as Sketch Comedy Reaches Larger Productions
Druski built a repeatable online format through character-driven sketches, including his role as the demanding head of fictional label Coulda Been Records. The premise gave his videos a recognizable identity across original posts, reposts, reaction clips and collaborations.
Rolling Stone cited his 2026 BET Awards hosting role and work adapting established sketches into longer Hollywood productions. The publication presented those projects as extensions of comedy, not a departure from channels that built his audience.
IShowSpeed ranks second with 195 million followers, according to the feature. Darren Jason Watkins Jr. first gained attention through high-energy gaming broadcasts before moving into international travel and public livestreams. His performance of “World Cup (Champions)” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony placed his creator persona inside a global sports broadcast.
That international activity also aligns with his creator-led travel campaign, which connected an extended Caribbean livestream with destination content. Together, the projects show how his format has expanded beyond gaming without abandoning live audience interaction.
Kai Cenat and Ms Rachel Represent Contrasting Formats
Kai Cenat’s No. 4 placement brings livestreaming, community programming and creator education into the opening group. Rolling Stone listed Cenat with 90 million followers and highlighted the second year of Streamer University at Hendrix College in Arkansas.
The weeklong program brought together 120 participants, with Ludwig, Lizzo and Duke Dennis among the instructors identified in the feature. Cenat developed his audience through extended Twitch broadcasts that mixed gaming, celebrity appearances and daily life. Streamer University moved part of that creator community into an in-person training setting.
Ms Rachel follows at No. 5 with 39 million followers. Rachel Accurso’s “Songs for Littles” combines early-childhood education, music and direct-to-camera instruction. Rolling Stone reported that her YouTube channel had passed 21 million subscribers and noted that the program was also available on Netflix.
Dhar Mann and Markiplier Scale Platform-Built Projects
Dhar Mann ranks sixth with 171 million followers. His scripted stories began in a small Los Angeles space and now operate from a Burbank production complex. Rolling Stone described a workforce involving hundreds of editors, designers and writers, along with a large group of actors producing short moral dramas.
Markiplier ranks seventh with 77 million followers. Mark Fischbach began posting YouTube gaming playthroughs in 2012 before expanding into podcasts, scripted projects and filmmaking. Rolling Stone reported that his self-financed film “Iron Lung” earned more than $50 million, although his profile continued to identify YouTube as his primary platform.
Quenlin Blackwell ranks eighth with 23 million followers, followed by Alix Earle with 15 million and Jake Shane with 6 million. Earle’s entry covers her “get ready with me” videos, Reale Actives skincare line and Netflix series “Earle Meets World.” She also appeared in a 2026 creators announcement published in July.
Rolling Stone 2026 Creators List Uses Multiple Metrics
Rolling Stone said editors gathered nominations from staff members, contributors and industry experts. They then weighed follower counts, audience growth, engagement rates and editorial judgment to determine the final order.
The remaining positions broaden the category mix. Kareem Rahma, Brittany Broski, Tefi Pessoa and Drew Afualo occupy Nos. 11 through 14. Dave Jorgenson, Reece Feldman and cooking creator Tini Younger follow, with Jen Hamilton, Anania and Grace Reiter at Nos. 18 through 20.
Cyrus Veyssi, Atiya Walcott, Pooja Tripathi, Leigh Soriano, and comedy couple Chan and Jamal complete the ranking. Their listed audiences range from Walcott’s 500,000 followers to 8 million for Chan and Jamal. The range supports Rolling Stone’s statement that follower totals were only one part of its evaluation.
Tripathi’s “Brooklyn Coffee Shop” developed from a solo barista sketch into a Webby-winning digital series with a production crew and guest performers. Rolling Stone reported that Soriano’s Instagram audience rose from slightly above 230,000 to nearly 1 million within six months.
The Rolling Stone 2026 creators list centers personalities who still publish on the platforms that established their audiences, even as some add films, television projects, live events or product lines. That boundary places large production operations beside smaller specialists instead of ordering the ranking solely by follower size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who ranked first on Rolling Stone’s 2026 creators list?
Druski ranked first, with Rolling Stone listing 41 million followers across platforms. The publication highlighted his sketch comedy, BET Awards hosting role and work developing longer productions.
Where did IShowSpeed place in the ranking?
IShowSpeed placed second with 195 million followers listed in the feature. His profile covered the transition from gaming broadcasts to international travel streams and his 2026 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony appearance.
How did Rolling Stone select the creators?
Rolling Stone said it gathered nominations from staff, contributors and industry experts. The Rolling Stone 2026 creators list then weighed follower counts, growth, engagement rates and editorial judgment.
Which creator categories appear in the ranking?
The ranking includes comedy, livestreaming, children’s education, scripted skits, gaming, lifestyle, food, beauty, fashion, film and talk-show formats. The listed creators work across YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other digital channels.
