VidCon Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees
Four pioneering creators who helped shape digital culture and the creator economy will be inducted during VidCon Anaheim.
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Four trailblazing creators whose influence has helped shape digital culture and the creator economy will be inducted into the VidCon Hall of Fame during the convention's flagship event in Anaheim.
This year’s honorees include: Creator and independent filmmaker Markiplier, media personality, news commentator, and entrepreneur, Philip DeFranco, entrepreneur and beauty innovator Michelle Phan, CEO and Head Designer behind POPFLEX Cassey Ho (Blogilates).
The creators will be formally inducted during VidCon’s Opening Night Celebration on June 25, kicking off the convention’s three-day event.
Each member of the second class of VidCon’s Hall of Fame represents four of the earliest forms of creators: the news commentator, The Fitness creator, The Beauty Guru, and the gamer.
Markiplier has evolved from one of YouTube's most recognizable gaming creators into a successful filmmaker. His feature debut, Iron Lung, grossed more than $50 million worldwide before making its digital debut exclusively on YouTube, underscoring the growing influence creators have across the entertainment industry.
A fixture of YouTube since 2006, Philip DeFranco is widely regarded as a pioneer of creator-led news and commentary. His candid delivery and fast-paced approach helped define a format that has influenced generations of digital creators. Nearly two decades later, The Philip DeFranco Show remains a cornerstone of online news, with billions of views and a devoted audience worldwide.
Rising to global prominence after launching her YouTube channel in 2007, Michelle Phan's influence on the beauty community extends far beyond makeup tutorials. As co-founder of IPSY, she helped redefine beauty discovery in the digital age, building one of the world's largest beauty communities and inspiring a generation of creators to turn their passions into businesses.
Cassey Ho, best known as Blogilates, transformed a YouTube fitness channel into a multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand by putting her community at the center of everything she creates. Her audience-driven approach to content and product design has helped her build a following of more than 19 million people and establish a blueprint for creator-led entrepreneurship.
VidCon says this year’s class was determined by a diverse group of industry insiders and experts in digital media and the creator economy, as well as past Hall of Fame inductees and members of the VidCon Advisory Board.
“We launched the VidCon Hall of Fame to honor the legends who built the foundation of the creator economy, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition in 2026,” said Sarah Tortoreti, Vice President, VidCon. “With the input of our new VidCon Hall of Fame Selection Committee, we’ve put together a stellar 2026 inductee class, and we look forward to welcoming these creators to VidCon to celebrate their legacy.”
The ceremony is open to all VidCon badge holders, and each honoree’s custom “VidCon Hall of Fame” jersey will be on display on the expo hall floor.
For more information on VidCon, visit www.vidcon.com/anaheim.