For A Second Year, Webby Creator Weekend Features Programming Focused on Creators Shaping the Internet
Returns May 9-10 Presented by Adobe
A two-day program of panels, keynotes, and networking opportunities with leading Internet creators shaping digital innovation
New York, NY – May 5, 2026 – Webby Media Group today announced the second annual Webby Creator Weekend, returning May 9–10, 2026 at Elsie Rooftop in the heart of New York City. Presented by Adobe, Webby Creator Weekend convenes creators, platforms, and brand leaders for two days of programming centered on the evolution of internet culture, creativity, and the growing creator economy.
Held the weekend leading into the Webby Awards, the largest and most prestigious award honoring excellence on the Internet, the invite-only gathering will feature keynotes, panels, and fireside conversations with creators at the forefront of internet culture alongside other leading companies shaping the digital landscape.
Featured programming will include insights and conversations with Brandon B, Anania, Chris Klemens, Tiffany Baira, and executives from Adobe, Snap, Patreon, We are Social and NAACP while covering topics ranging from AI-powered creativity and the future of content creation to building direct-to-fan communities and scaling everyday storytelling into lasting formats.
“This year, we’re turning up the volume on what makes the internet so special,” said Jesse Feister, Executive Director, Webby Media Group. “The response from the creator community exceeded all expectations last year. By teaming up with our incredible partners at Adobe, we’re looking forward to building on the momentum in 2026.”
Webby Creator Weekend takes place immediately ahead of the 30th annual Webby Awards, which will be hosted by Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Josh Johnson on Monday, May 11, 2026 in New York City. Fans can watch special moments and the hallmark 5-Word Speeches from the ceremony by following @TheWebbyAwards across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Facebook.
Webby Creator Weekend Schedule
Saturday, May 9th
Love Letter to NYC, powered by Adobe Firefly
Adobe will debut an interactive generative AI experience powered by Firefly, inviting attendees to remix and reimagine their portraits into a personalized “love letter” to New York City.
1:10-1:40 PM: Building a Podcast Audience That Lasts with Patreon
By prioritizing direct-to-fan relationships over optimizing for ads or reach, today’s podcasters are building communities on their own terms. Join Chris Klemens, Julia Have and Patreon to learn how podcasters can move beyond algorithm dependency and take back control of discovery.
Panelists: Chris Klemens: Creator; Julia Hava: Actress, Host of Binchtopia
Moderator: Lina Renzina: Head of Top CreatorManagement, Patreon
2:05- 2:35 PM: An Afternoon with “A Twink and a Redhead”
Grant Gibbs and Ashley Gill, the duo behind “A Twink and a Redhead,” have built a viral comedy brand through sharp, chaotic, and deeply online sketches, from “Panera” and “Barnes & Noble” to their starring, Webby-winning turn in InStyle’s The Intern. In this keynote conversation, they join Webby GM Nick Borenstein to break down how they turned internet humor into a breakout platform, what makes their content connect, and how they sustain momentum in an ever-shifting algorithm.
Panelists: Grant Gibbs: Musician, Creator; Ashley Gill: Musician, Creator
Moderator: Nick Borenstein: GM, The Webby Awards
3:00 – 3:30 PM: Create Without Limits: How AI Is Expanding Who Creates
The creative landscape is undergoing a profound shift as generative AI tools redefine how and who gets to create. This session explores how AI is amplifying human imagination, embedding directly into familiar workflows to accelerate ideation, production, and experimentation. As barriers to entry fall, a more diverse generation of creators is emerging. Hear real-world examples from some of the internet’s most creative voices on how they are pushing the boundaries with tools like Adobe Firefly, while maintaining true to their artistic voice.
Panelists: Brandon Baum: Creator, Founder of StudioB; Valerie Zhang: Entrepreneur, Content Creator, Co-Founder of VX Media; Pablo Rochat: Content Creator
Moderator: Jared Carneson: Global Social Lead, Adobe
3:55-4:25 PM: Built in Public: Scaling Everyday Content
What makes a moment worth sharing? Snapchat creators break down how they identify, shape, and scale everyday content into repeatable formats–offering practical insights on storytelling, pacing, and building deeper audience connection in real time.
Panelists: Sofi Ibrahim: Digital creator, Host, and Founder of TheOdditty; Kalita Hon: Creator; Christian Crosby: Creator
Moderator: Nick Kosir: Digital Creator & FOX Weather Meteorologist
Sunday, May 10th
1:10-1:40 PM: Black & Viral
Viral moments, cultural shifts, and platform breakthroughs — Black creators have been at the center of it all. Presented by the NAACP and the Webby Awards, join NYC-based creators Anania (Gaydar), Achieng Agutu (@noordinarynoire), and Allyiah Gainer @allyiahsface) to celebrate Black excellence online while exploring how creators can protect their influence, own their impact, and build lasting careers.
Panelists: Anania: Creator and Host of @gaydar; AllyiahsFace: Creator; Achieng Agutu: Creator; Vanessa Mbonu: VP of Marketing, NAACP
Moderator: Jordana Jarret: Head of Brand Strategy, The Webby Awards
2:05 – 2:35 PM: Almost Famous: Inside the Celebrity Lookalike Phenomenon
Celebrity lookalike competitions have taken off across the internet, drawing crowds, cameras, and millions of views, with Webby Winner Anthony Po at the center after his Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest took over New York City, dominated social feeds, and sparked a wave of copycat events. In this keynote, he’ll be joined by Christian Conti and Zander Dueve, two standout lookalikes from the Timmy competition, as they sit down with Webby GM Nick Borenstein to unpack how a spontaneous idea became a cultural flashpoint, reshaping how virality works today, and why lookalike culture resonates so deeply.
Panelists: Anthony Po: Creator; Christian Conti; Zander Dueve
Moderator: Nick Borenstein: GM, The Webby Awards
3:00-3:30pm: Campaigns to Community: Creator Partnerships Built to Last
As the creator economy matures, the focus shifts from transactional campaigns to sustained partnerships. We Are Social hosts creators to explore how long-term collaboration unlocks greater creative freedom, consistent income, stronger audience relationships, and impactful brand building for creators and brands.
Panelists: Serena Kerrigan: Founder of Let’s F*cking Date, author, and content creator; Miranda Sanchez: Content Creator; Loco Ninja: Creative, Actor, Artist; Nick Kosir: Digital Creator & FOX Weather Meteorologist
Moderator: Krisztina Virag: Managing Director, We are Social
3:55-4:25pm: Live From New York: The New Late Night
The talk show didn’t die, it just moved to your phone. Today’s most exciting interviewers aren’t behind desks, they’re on NYC sidewalks, in bodegas, and at chicken shops. As the press tour evolves and audiences look for something more real, these creators are reshaping what an interview looks like, and where it happens. Join NYC-based creators and hosts Tiffany Baira (Street Hearts), Michelladonna (Shop Cats), and Aiden Wall (The 1 Minute Talk Show) as they share how their formats came to life, and why these conversations are connecting in ways traditional media can’t.
Panelists: Tiffany Baira: Creator and Host of @streethearts; Michelladonna: Creator and Host of @shopcats; Aidan Wall: Creator and Co-host of @1minutetalkshow
Moderator: Nick Borenstein: GM, The Webby Awards
For more information on the event, visit: https://creatorweekend.webbyawards.com/
###
About The Webby Awards
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising, Media & PR; Apps & Software; Social; Games; Podcasts; Creators and AI. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Adobe, WP Engine, Meltwater, Patreon, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, AdAge, TechCrunch, The Hollywood Reporter, SXSW, Scalable, and The Society of Digital Agencies.
Find The Webby Awards Online:
Website: webbyawards.com
Instagram: @thewebbyawards
Linkedin: The Webby Awards
TikTok: @thewebbyawards
X: @TheWebbyAwards
YouTube: youtube.com/thewebbyawards
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheWebbyAwards
Media Contact:
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
webby@ssmandl.com