YouTube’s year in review: Leading creators, songs and key topics

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With the year coming to a close, YouTube has released its 2025 year-end highlights for the US and several other markets, including Indonesia, India, Brazil, and multiple countries across Europe. The platform outlined the topics that shaped viewer interest this year and revealed its top creators, songs, podcasts, and additional categories.

In the US, YouTube pointed to a surge in demand for gaming content made by users rather than major studios, especially within sandbox titles like Roblox. The platform singled out hits such as Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot, along with broader cultural trends that first took off outside YouTube, including Squid Game and KPop Demon Hunters.

MrBeast topped the creator rankings for the sixth year running, while YouTube also spotlighted IShowSpeed and CoryxKenshin, the latter known for content built around his own self-published manga series.

Trending topics on US YouTube

• Squid Game.

• User-Generated Roblox Experiences: Grow a Garden, Dandy’s World, Forsaken, Steal a Brainrot.

• KPop Demon Hunters.

• Brainrot.

• Charlie Kirk.

• Labubu.

• Nintendo Switch 2.

• Cookie Run: Kingdom.

• Blue Lock.

• Katseye.

Top US YouTube creators

1. MrBeast.

2. CaylusBlox.

3. IShowSpeed.

4. Double Date.

5. Cadel and Mia.

6. Charlie Kirk.

7. Law by Mike.

8. CoryxKenshin.

9. Zack D. Films.

10. Outdoor Boys.

Top US YouTube songs

1. Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga  - Die With A Smile.

2. Rosé, Bruno Mars  - APT.

3. HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Golden.

4. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop.

5. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Your Idol.

6. Victor Valverde, Jr Torres - El Mayor de los Ranas.

7. HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - How It’s Done.

8. Alex Warren - Ordinary.

9. Kendrick Lamar, SZA - Luther.

10. Kendrick Lamar - tv off.

Top US YouTube Shorts songs

1. Forrest Frank - YOUR WAY’S BETTER.

2. ATLXS - Passo Bem Solto (Slowed).

3. Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body.

4. Connie Francis - Pretty Little Baby.

5. Joyful - Chess.

6. Doechii - Anxiety.

7. Skrilla - Doot Doot (6 7).

8. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop.

9. Jiandro (feat. ola.wav) - Confess your love.

10. Billie Eilish - Ocean Eyes.

Top US YouTube podcasts

1. The Joe Rogan Experience.

2. KILL TONY.

3. Good Mythical Morning.

4. Rotten Mango.

5. The MeidasTouch Podcast.

6. 48 Hours

7. Shawn Ryan Show.

8. Smosh Reads Reddit Stories.

9. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von.

10. The Diary Of A CEO.

In its full 2025 report, YouTube also provided country-level insights covering a broad set of markets, including:

• Korea.

• Germany.

• Mexico.

• India.

• France

• Middle East & North Africa.

• Indonesia.

• United Kingdom.

• Brazil.

• Japan.

• Canada.