Tonight, Mumbai rolls out the red carpet for the internet. Times Entertainment’s Power Creator Awards 2026 takes over the city on Friday, October 23, turning the spotlight on the creators who shape what India watches, laughs at, cooks, wears and talks about every single day.
More than 25 categories are on the table this year, spanning lifestyle, food, travel, fashion, gaming, music, comedy and a lot more. For one evening, the country’s biggest digital stars share a room with the jury and the fans who put them there. If you have ever wondered who runs India’s attention economy, the answer will be on that stage tonight.
A night built around the creator economy
The Power Creator Awards are Times Entertainment’s flagship celebration of India’s digital creators. The idea is simple: content that sparks conversation and drives culture deserves a trophy of its own. The awards honour creators who are not just chasing views, but setting trends, building communities and influencing how millions of Indians spend their time and money.
This edition is the biggest one so far. With over 25 award categories covering the full spectrum of digital content, every winner walks away with recognition from one of the most-watched platforms in Indian entertainment.
How the winners are picked
Winners are decided through two parallel tracks, which is what makes the night interesting:
- Jury Choice: decided by an expert panel of casting director Mukesh Chhabra, actors Gaurav Gera and Kubbra Sait, and Dhruv Chitgopekar, co-founder and partner at Collective Artists Network. The jury weighs creativity, originality, impact and audience engagement.
- Popular Choice: decided entirely by public votes. Voting for this year’s edition wrapped up earlier this week, and fans turned up in force for their favourite creators.
The dual format means a creator can win the critics and the crowd in the same night, or watch one slip away while the other lands. That tension is part of the fun.
The categories everyone is watching
With 25-plus categories, the awards read like a map of India’s online life. Lifestyle, food, travel, fashion, gaming, music and comedy sit side by side, judged on the same stage. The breadth is the point: a gaming streamer from Bengaluru, a food vlogger from Lucknow and a fashion creator from Mumbai all get the same shot at glory.
The category list also reflects where the creator economy is heading. Dedicated attention to travel content and community builders shows that influence in India is no longer an English-only, metro-only game.
From the Women’s Edition to tonight
Tonight’s ceremony is the latest chapter in a series that has been building through the year. The Power Creator Awards Women’s Edition was held on March 9 at The Lalit in Mumbai, celebrating women creators on International Women’s Day with stars like Hina Khan, Kusha Kapila and Sona Mohapatra in attendance. An inaugural Travel Edition also honoured India’s top travel creators, from railway and heritage-walk storytellers to sustainable-travel voices spotlighting lesser-known Indian destinations.
Each edition has drawn bigger names and bigger audiences than the last, which is why tonight’s main event is being billed as the biggest celebration of India’s creator economy yet.
Why tonight matters
India’s creator economy is no longer a side-gig story. Creators now drive product launches, shape travel decisions, set fashion trends and move markets in ways brands once reserved for television and film stars. Awards like these formalise that shift, giving digital-first talent the kind of institutional recognition that used to belong to Bollywood alone.
For the creators walking the carpet tonight, a win means more than a trophy. It means brand deals, bigger audiences and a stamp of credibility in an industry that is still writing its own rules.
How to follow the night
The ceremony takes place in Mumbai on the evening of Friday, October 23. Winners in both the Jury Choice and Popular Choice categories will be announced during the event, and highlights are expected to stream on the TOI website and YouTube and social platforms through the night.
Expect the full winners list to trend within hours. In the creator economy, the after-party happens online.
Frequently asked questions
When and where are the Power Creator Awards 2026?
The ceremony is being held in Mumbai on Friday, October 23, 2026.
How are the winners chosen?
In two tracks: Jury Choice, decided by an expert panel, and Popular Choice, decided by public votes that closed earlier this week.
Who is on the jury?
Casting director Mukesh Chhabra, actors Gaurav Gera and Kubbra Sait, and Dhruv Chitgopekar of Collective Artists Network.
Which categories are covered?
More than 25, including lifestyle, food, travel, fashion, gaming, music and comedy.
Where can I watch the awards?
Highlights are expected to stream on the TOI website and YouTube and social platforms through the night.
From the red carpet to the ring light, Informeia will keep you posted on tonight’s biggest winners. Stay tuned.
