QTCinderella Streamer Awards 2026 Key Changes: Creators Can Self-Apply and Kick Streamers Are Eligible
Blaire “QTCinderella” has revealed multiple notable changes ahead of the upcoming Streamer Awards 2026, with the key ones being that streamers don’t have to rely on the community to nominate them for an award, and Kick creators are also now eligible for the event.
The Streamer Awards became a staple of the streaming space after the event’s 2022 inception. QTCinderella has hosted them annually, with several popular creators being awarded in the various categories. A major moment of The Streamer Awards has become Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr., who has won Streamer of the Year in both 2024 and 2025 consecutively. While Speed is still the favorite in both the community and with prediction markets by a large margin in 2026, QTCinderella has announced some new rules that may shake up The Streamer Awards.
What major changes will The Streamer Awards 2026 see?
Streamers have previously relied on their fans and the community in general to nominate them for awards at The Streamer Awards. This is set to change in The Streamer Awards 2026, as QTCinderella has introduced applications, which allow a creator to put their name forward in the event. Streamers can apply by setting their name, picking the categories, and uploading clips; fans will also still be able to nominate creators.
Image credit: The Streamer Awards 2026
The application window is live, and streamers will be able to apply till October 2. The nomination window will open later, and fans will be able to put forth names starting September 12 until October 2. Voting will then commence on October 16 and end on October 31. Once that process has concluded, the event will go live. The Red Carpet will be held on November 12 at 2:30 PT, and The Show at 5:30 PT on the same day. The event will be streamed on both QTCinderella’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
QTCinderella has addressed a major point of contention that viewers had during the past Streamer Awards. The Streamer Awards 2026 FAQ explicitly states that viewers can nominate streamers from all streaming platforms, including rival Kick. Several fans and creators have alleged bias against Kick streamers during the previous years, and it appears QT is attempting to resolve this issue for this year’s event.
The Streamer Awards 2026 is also changing how nominees handle their presentation by providing them a dashboard. Nominees can open the dashboard to edit elements such as their name, photo, and the clip. This seems to be a good addition, as it can help creators make their nomination presentation more appealing to viewers.
☑️ My analysis: Including Kick could make for a different event
Streamers not having to rely on their community, and having the option to put their own name in the event is a big thing. There is no doubt about that, and adding to the fact that streamers also have a dashboard where they can edit their information after being nominated adds another useful element into the mix. However, the community has been alleging for years that Kick streamers were being overlooked, and that the Stake-backed platform deserves a space at The Streamer Awards.
QTCinderella has addressed the issue before, after she received backlash following last year’s show. The streamer had claimed that the community chooses the nomination, not her, and Kick users just aren’t supporting creators. However, since The Streamer Awards 2026 features a self-apply option, Kick streamers could apply without waiting for their community to come forward. This means, if QT’s claim is correct, then Kick creators can apply themselves without having to wait for a nomination by their community — and that will have a huge impact on the Awards, as well as the possible winners.
Feature image credit: QTCinderella, The Streamer Awards
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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