IShowSpeed secured the Streamer of the Year title at the 2026 Streamer Awards, delivering his entire acceptance speech in Indonesian.
The creator, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., outperformed fellow nominees Caseoh, Joe Bartolozzi, Jynxzi, and Stableronaldo to claim the top honor.
This victory marks the third year the American streamer has taken the Streamer of the Year award, having previously won in 2024 and 2025. In addition to the main prize, he secured the Best IRL Streamer title, besting nominees including Cooksux, Evelyn Ortiz, Extraemily, and Qoosik.
The speech, which was delivered entirely in Indonesian rather than English, surprised many viewers watching the event via the official YouTube broadcast. “Terima kasih banyak semuanya. Aku mulai dari nol, cuma anak kecil dengan mimpi besar. Kalian sudah bersamaku dari awal, kalian bukan cuma penggemar, kalian keluargaku. Aku nggak akan berhenti, aku akan terus berjuang untuk kalian, aku cinta kalian semuanya,” he said.
/data/photo/2026/11/13/6af6c3ef41a28.png "Photo: Kompas")
The streamer’s fluency in the language stems from his high-profile visit to Indonesia in September 2024. During that trip, he conducted IRL (In Real Life) streams across Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Bali, which drew massive crowds and increased his global subscriber count.
As reported by Kompas, his time in the country included iconic moments such as visiting Kota Tua in Jakarta and learning traditional archery in Yogyakarta. During these broadcasts, he popularized specific Indonesian phrases like "awas" and "minggir lu miskin" to manage the large crowds of fans gathering around him.
During his visit to the country, his concurrent viewership surpassed one million people. As of the date of the award ceremony, his total YouTube subscriber count had climbed to 62.3 million.
Following his speech on stage, the streamer performed his signature backflip while holding the trophy. This physical stunt previously garnered attention when he performed it in front of the CEO of Apple while holding a new iPhone model.
/data/photo/2026/11/13/6af6d194896af.jpg "Photo: Kompas")
While the streamer has not provided a specific reason for the choice, his extensive 2024 tour of Indonesia, where he engaged with local culture and fans, established a strong connection between him and his Indonesian audience.
How many times has IShowSpeed won the Streamer of the Year award? The 2026 award represents his third win, following victories in both 2024 and 2025.
In addition to the top honor, he was named Best IRL Streamer, a category that recognizes excellence in real-world live broadcasting.