The Webby Awards at 30: A Legacy of Innovation and Excellence Online

For three decades, the Webby Awards has celebrated creative excellence online. What started in 1996 with dial-up tones and five-word speeches has grown into the Internet’s most coveted honor, shaping culture, technology, and creativity itself.

Now, as we enter our 30th season, we look ahead to the next evolution of the Internet. AI and emerging technology bring unprecedented possibilities, but they are just one piece of a bigger story. The Internet continues to evolve at lightning speed, challenging us to redefine excellence while reminding us of one thing: the Internet has always been about what’s next. 

A Look Back: The Moments That Made Webby History

1997
The very first Webbys crowned pioneers who proved the Internet wasn’t just information—it was creativity, with winners including IMDB, CNNfn, ESPNet SportsZone, PBS Online, The Onion, and others

1999
Amazon.com won its first Webby for Best Commerce Website, capturing the moment with five prescient words: “The best is yet to come.”

2000
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin arrived in rollerblades and metallic capes, accepting their win with five words: “We love you Google users.”

2006
Prince gave one of the most unforgettable Webby performances ever,showing he belonged in the canon of Internet pioneers as much as musical legends

2007
David Bowie received the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognized for tying his visionary artistry to the Internet through BowieNet, remix culture, and BowieArt.

2009
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone accepted Twitter’s Breakout of the Year recognition with “Creativity is a renewable resource.”

2012
At the 16th Webbys, President Obama, President Clinton, and Bono led a moving tribute to Steve Jobs, delivering unforgettable five-word salutes like Obama’s “Thank you for thinking different.”

2013
Steve Wilhite, inventor of the GIF, finally settled the debate: “It’s pronounced JIF, not GIF.”

2015
Spike Lee presented the first Webby for Social Movement of the Year to #BlackLivesMatter. Co-founder Opal Tometi accepted with a standing ovation and five words: “Stay turnt: Black Lives Matter.”

2016
Kim Kardashian received the Break the Internet Award at the 20th Webbys, teasing her new Kimoji app on the red carpet and sharing five words: “Nude selfies ’til I die.”

2020:
“Webbys From Home” conducted virtually and  hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt, featured stars including Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, and Anthony Fauci.

2023
Shigetaka Kurita, the inventor of emojis, delivered the first-ever wordless 5-Word Speech of 😊 🤝 🌏 🤝 😊

2025
The Webbys introduced a new class of Webby-recognized Creators, honoring breakout voices like Amelia Dimoldenberg, Jake Shane, Jools LeBron, The Rizzler, and many more shaping culture online.

2025
Dr. Fei-Fei Li, AI pioneer, marked a new era for technology and creativity, accepting her Webby Lifetime Achievement Award with five words: “Artificial intelligence must benefit humanity.”

If your work is pushing boundaries whether it’s culture bending, or community building, it belongs at The Webby Awards. From 1996 to 2026, the Webbys have honored the ideas that shaped the Internet we know today. Now it’s your turn

Submit work in the 30th Annual Webby Awards by the Early Entry Deadline on Friday, October 24, 2025 for best pricing.