Instagram has announced its 2026 Rings award winners, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland joining a group of musicians, designers and digital creators recognised for their originality.
The winners, revealed on October 29, include an American food educator, an Indian football freestyler, a Mexican music trio and a Portuguese fashion influencer.
Instagram launched Rings in 2025 to recognise creators in entertainment, fashion, sport and other fields for their originality and cultural influence, rather than follower counts.
This year’s winners were selected by a 14-member judging panel that included Donatella Versace, A$AP Rocky, filmmaker Chloé Zhao and Instagram head Adam Mosseri.
Winners receive a physical ring designed by Emily Adams Bode Aujla, featuring a four-leaf clover made from Irish marble. They also get a golden ring around their Instagram profile picture and exclusive profile customisation features.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s record-breaking striker
Erling Haaland became one of football’s biggest stars after joining Manchester City in 2022, scoring a record 36 goals in his first Premier League season and helping the club win a historic treble in 2023.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Haaland scored seven goals in five appearances, helping Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time in its history. He scored twice against Iraq and Senegal in the group stage, netted the winner against Côte d’Ivoire in the round of 32 and added two more goals against Brazil. Norway’s run ended with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England.
Who are the winners besides Erling Haaland?
Alexis Nikole Nelson turns wild plants into viral recipes
Alexis Nikole Nelson, known online as Black Forager, is an American food educator from Ohio who teaches people how to identify edible wild plants, mushrooms and other ingredients.
Her videos combine cooking demonstrations, environmental education and humour, often showing viewers how to turn plants found outdoors into meals.
In 2022, Nelson won a James Beard Award for her social media work. She was also named to the TIME100 Creators list in 2025 and published her cookbook Happy Snacking, Don’t Die, which became a New York Times bestseller in 2026.
Muhammed Riswan, the Indian freestyle footballer
Muhammed Riswan is a freestyle footballer from Kerala, India, whose videos feature ball-control tricks and creative challenges filmed in unusual locations.
He became an internet sensation after posting a video in November 2023 showing him kicking a football towards a waterfall.
Riswan taught himself freestyle skills through online tutorials and began gaining recognition while still a teenager. His Instagram biography now claims more than 600mn views for his record-breaking reel.
Latin Mafia, the Mexican brothers changing Latin pop
Latin Mafia is a Mexican music group formed by three brothers: twins Milton and Emilio de la Rosa, who perform vocals, and their older brother Mike, who produces their music.
The trio first attracted attention through social media, combining R&B, reggaeton, pop and electronic music. Their debut album, Todos Los Días Todo El Día, earned them a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards.
Vicky Montanari breaks styling rules
Vicky Montanari, also known as Vic Montanari, is a Portuguese fashion influencer recognised for her colourful outfits, unconventional styling and playful approach to clothing.
She is associated with the Portuguese girl aesthetic, a fashion trend characterised by bold colour combinations, contrasting patterns and statement accessories.
Her styling has attracted attention from international fashion publications, including Vogue, which featured her among its standout fashion Instagram accounts in 2023.
Who else received Instagram Rings in 2026?
The remaining 20 winners include British rapper Little Simz, footwear designer Salehe Bembury, Chanel model Bhavitha Mandava, comedian Jordan Firstman, photographer Renell Medrano, Subway Takes host Kareem Rahma and choreographer Damien Jalet.
The list also features Szilveszter Makó, Skylar Marshai, Lyas, Sam Visser, Pooja Tripathi, Steve Gao, MLMA, Ngozi Esther Edeme, Jasmine Badie, Joyce Alane, Juan Alvear, Medet Shayakhmetov and the Under the Cover book series.
