“This year's honorees come from more than a dozen countries, reach audiences across every major platform, and are shaping everything from science, fashion, technology, sports, and entertainment,” TIME’s CEO Jessica Sibley said in her welcome remarks, stepping behind the DJ booth to address the crowd. “Together, you command a combined social following of more than 1 billion across the world’s leading digital platforms,” she continued. “You're driving the economy—building businesses, creating opportunities, and delivering real value for your audiences.”

Throughout the night, influencer and skin-care brand founder Alix Earle, who appears on the TIME100 Creators cover, posed for photos with guests. Maura Higgins and Serena Page, both supernovas in the Love Island cinematic universe and beyond, reunited with a big hug. Creator mental-health advocate Shira Lazar and psychiatrist turned creator Judith Joseph chatted in the bathroom line. And Kane Parsons—the 21-year-old YouTuber turned director of A24’s Backrooms, which this year became the studio’s highest-grossing feature to date—stopped by the red carpet for an interview conducted by 2025 listee Cyrus Veyssi.