The energy at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles on December 7, 2024, was electric, but let’s be real—it was also kinda chaotic. QTCinderella’s fourth annual gala didn't just hand out trophies; it basically drew a line in the sand for where livestreaming is headed in 2026 and beyond. If you missed the five-hour marathon broadcast, you missed more than just a few backflips. You missed the official crowning of a new era.
Darren "IShowSpeed" Watkins Jr. didn't just win; he dominated. Taking home Streamer of the Year felt like an inevitability after his viral tours across Europe and Southeast Asia. Honestly, watching him hit a signature backflip on stage after winning the night's biggest honor was the most "Speed" moment possible. It capped off a year where he became the first English-speaking streamer to crack 1 million peak viewers.
But he wasn't the only one hauling heavy hardware back home.
The Big Winners of the Twitch Streamer Awards 2024 Winners List
While Speed grabbed the headlines, Kai Cenat was right there with him. Kai actually tied Speed for the most wins of the night. It's wild to think about the "Mafiathon 2" numbers, but the stats don't lie. He took home Best Marathon Stream, Best Just Chatting Streamer, and Best Streamed Collaboration. That collab win—featuring Kevin Hart and Druski—basically proved that the gap between "Internet famous" and "Hollywood famous" has officially evaporated.
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The Heavy Hitters
- Streamer of the Year: IShowSpeed
- Gamer of the Year: CaseOh (Who also happens to be one of the most meme-able humans alive right now)
- Best FPS Streamer: Jynxzi
- Best Variety Streamer: RDCgaming
- Best VTuber: Ironmouse (Winning yet again, proving her community is basically an unstoppable force)
One of the more interesting additions this year was the "Get Off Your A** Award" for Best IRL Streamer. Speed took that one too. It makes sense. The guy spent half the year running away from mobs in different countries while holding a camera.
Why This Year Felt Different
You’ve probably noticed that the awards moved to December. Usually, this happens in February, but QT shifted the schedule to make it a true "end of year" recap. This meant we actually had two ceremonies in 2024 if you count the one back in February. It’s a bit confusing, yeah, but it makes the December wins feel more current.
The viewership numbers were a bit of a talking point too. The show peaked at around 525,000 concurrent viewers. That’s actually a dip from previous years. Does that mean streaming is dying? No. It means the audience is fragmented. Over 57% of people were watching through co-streams rather than the main channel. People want to watch the awards with their favorite creators, not just on a sterile official feed.
The Technical and Niche Victories
The show tried to give love to the grinders, not just the giants. Squeex took home Best Speedrun Streamer, which was a huge win for that sub-community. Anna Cramling won Best Strategy Game Streamer, cementing her spot as the face of "Chess Twitch."
Then there’s PirateSoftware (Jason Thor Hall). He won the "League of Their Own" award. If you've spent any time on YouTube Shorts or TikTok lately, you've seen his face. He’s the guy giving game dev advice and talking about cybersecurity. His win shows that "educational" content is actually becoming "entertainment" in the eyes of the average viewer.
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Controversies and the "Friend Group" Allegations
It wouldn't be a QTCinderella event without some drama. Before the show even started, social media was a mess. People were claiming the nominations were rigged or that QT only picks her friends.
She actually addressed this on Twitter (and on stream), looking visibly exhausted. The voting is split: 70% fan vote and 30% panel. If a "friend" wins, it's usually because they have a massive audience that showed up to click a button. xQc not being nominated in certain categories sparked a lot of noise, but honestly, the field was just crowded this year.
The "Sapphire Award," which recognizes top female creators, went to Cinna. It was a big moment, especially considering the amount of harassment she and other female streamers like Valkyrae and Emiru have faced recently.
Actionable Insights for the Future of Streaming
If you’re looking at these winners and wondering how to replicate that success, there are a few clear patterns from the 2024 results:
- IRL is King: The "Get Off Your A**" category and Speed’s success prove that viewers want to see creators out in the real world.
- Collaborations are Vital: Kai Cenat’s win with Kevin Hart shows that high-production, multi-guest events are the gold standard for growth.
- Community Identity Matters: Winners like Ironmouse and CaseOh don't just have "viewers"; they have subcultures.
- Short-Form Integration: Almost every winner this year has a massive presence on TikTok or Reels. You can't just go live on Twitch and hope for the best anymore.
The 2024 Streamer Awards proved that the industry is maturing. It’s no longer just kids in bedrooms; it’s a massive, multi-million dollar production involving Hollywood talent and global tours. Whether the viewership dip is a sign of "award show fatigue" or just a quirk of the December scheduling remains to be seen, but the names on those trophies represent the absolute peak of digital entertainment right now.
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To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on how these winners pivot their content into 2026. The shift toward high-stakes IRL content and mainstream celebrity crossovers isn't slowing down. If you want to dive deeper into the specific stats of each winner, checking out the raw data on Streams Charts can give you a better idea of how many "hours watched" it actually takes to secure a trophy in today's climate.