BIGO Awards Gala 2020-2027: Themes, Highlights and Preview

On January 15, 2020, we held the inaugural BIGO Awards Gala at Capitol Theatre in Singapore, the home of BIGO Technology. The first edition did not use a publicly announced annual theme, but its purpose was clear: to give outstanding broadcasters and families a global stage.

More than 75 broadcasters received honors, and total attendance came close to 1,000. Indonesia's RCT_Khan was named Top Global Broadcaster, supported by more than 50 fans who traveled to Singapore. The ceremony also recognized regional and global families, welcomed performers from several markets and gave some winners the chance to livestream their award moments directly to viewers in the app.

That first night set the pattern for the years ahead: creator recognition, cultural exchange, fan participation and a live broadcast that allowed the wider BIGO LIVE community to celebrate together.

Howie Lau, then Chief Industry Development Officer at Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, joined as guest of honor. Selected winners also visited the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay and Chinatown, while ceremony highlights reached viewers across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the United States, Japan and Taiwan. The Gala was global from its opening year, both in the people it honored and in the audiences it reached.

The second Gala took place on January 21, 2021, as a fully online event on the BIGO LIVE Music Livehouse channel. Its theme, "Connecting the World," spoke directly to a year when people relied on live video to stay close despite physical distance. DINO opened the show, and 78 broadcasters and more than 72 families were selected for recognition from a community spanning 150 countries and regions.

Japan's Ami Ohta, known as Amy from Tokyo, earned the number-one Top Global Broadcaster honor. US broadcaster MeganQQ was also recognized for the bilingual style that helped her reach viewers across markets. The entertainment program included fire dance, DJ sets, K-pop choreography and Urdu songs.

Viewers voted for creators, families and performances, then joined lucky draws for DINO items and event rewards. Winners received medals, gift boxes and in-app prizes, while selected honorees appeared on billboards at landmarks in 23 countries. The online format did not reduce the Gala's reach; it gave more fans a direct role in the celebration.

The third annual Gala was held online on January 14, 2022, under the theme "Better Live, Better Future." The production used the virtual format as a creative space of its own. DINO appeared as a 3D host, and BIGO LIVE's Virtual Live avatar feature made its event debut in a concert with Thai singer-songwriter The Toys.

The announced program brought together about 100 broadcasters from different cultural and language backgrounds, with performances ranging from aerial yoga and opera to K-pop dance and cosplay. Amy and Iwapoyo from Japan and Vanruby from Vietnam ranked among the leading Top Global Broadcasters, while Japan's BigWin received the Top Global Family honor. US representatives included Palestine as a Top Regional Broadcaster and Karma as a Top Regional Family.

Regional programs added familiar names to the build-up. French singer Kendji Girac and Dutch DJ Quintino supported activities in Europe, Lebanese singer Yara joined a Middle East and North Africa celebration, and Jessie J appeared in a livestream with US broadcaster Palestine. These appearances connected the main show with local audiences before Gala night.

Fans voted for broadcasters, families and the Glory Region, with prizes including an iPhone 13, DINO pillows and Gala virtual gifts. Selected winners also appeared on major outdoor screens in New York's Times Square and Dubai's Burj Khalifa. The result was an awards show, an international variety program and a live demonstration of 3D social features in one broadcast.

After two online editions, the Gala returned to Capitol Theatre on January 7, 2023. The theme "We Live Together" captured the reunion: about 1,000 guests attended in Singapore, while close to four million people watched through BIGO LIVE. More than 270 broadcasters and nearly 100 families received recognition.

Singaporean actor and comedian Hossan Leong hosted the three-hour ceremony with actress Pamela Oei. TracTrac from the United States won Global Top Broadcaster, and BB&BG from Vietnam won Global Top Family. Italian performers Pikalydia and TBSinger received Most Popular Performance for "You Can't Stop the Beat." Creator acts also included magic from Egypt's Hanyshow and a dance performance from Thailand.

Fans watching online joined prize draws for badges, skins, Gala virtual gifts and Huawei Nova 9 phones, with an announced prize pool worth S$1 million. The 2023 edition kept the audience activities built during the online years while restoring the red carpet, the theater and face-to-face celebration.

The Gala also reflected features introduced on BIGO LIVE during the previous year. Virtual Live allowed users to represent themselves with personalized 3D avatars, while Community gave people a way to create and manage interest-based groups. The 2023 show brought those online connections into a shared physical venue without leaving global viewers behind.

The fifth Gala took place in Las Vegas on January 16, 2024, marking our first annual flagship event in the United States. The theme "Win Big on BIGO" matched the host city's bold entertainment identity and celebrated the opportunities creators can build through BIGO LIVE. More than 800 creators were announced for the gathering.

Media personality Perez Hilton and television personality Natalie Nunn co-hosted the night. The program featured K-pop dance, singing, magic, music from DJ WZRD, performances by rapper JAQUAE and Filipino artist Emie Conjurado, and the "Runway Around the World" fashion segment. Nominees included Ucepth from France and TracTrac from the United States.

Around the Gala, BIGO LIVE also highlighted its Amateur Streamers Incentive Program, which offered selected applicants training, flexible schedules, wider exposure and rewards for consistent content. The mini-drama series "WolfsFolly" showed another way creators could use live storytelling. Las Vegas gave the Gala a new home in a city known worldwide for major shows and memorable personalities.

Moving the event to the United States also widened the Gala's geographic reach. Singapore remained central to our story, while Las Vegas placed BIGO LIVE creators within one of the world's best-known entertainment destinations.

The sixth BIGO Awards Gala returned to Singapore on January 24, 2025, at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Under the theme "LIVE YOUR OASIS," the event celebrated a place where creators can express themselves, find support and build meaningful relationships. More than 200 top creators from 40 countries took part, with over 1,000 guests in the theater and more than 140,000 viewers online.

Singaporean actress and radio DJ Vernetta Lopez co-hosted with actor and comedian Rishi Budhrani. Neso received the Top 1 Global Creator title, Matrix led the Top 1 Global Family, and Brq was honored as a Top 3 Global Creator and community mentor. Categories such as Most Uplifting Livestream and Global Community Builder placed positive community impact alongside creator rankings.

The program featured 35 international artists across pop, opera, hip-hop, rock, EDM, dance and acrobatics. The edition also became our first fully carbon-neutral Gala: emissions linked to materials, transport and energy use were measured and offset with carbon credits. Together, the theme, award categories and production choices presented creator success as both personal achievement and shared responsibility.

Real-time audience voting helped select the Most Popular Broadcaster of the Year, Most Popular Family of the Year and Gala Star. That direct fan role connected the theater to viewers at home and kept one of the Gala's longest-running traditions at the center of the program.

The seventh BIGO Awards Gala was held on January 23, 2026, at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. It was the first main edition hosted in South Korea. The theme "SEOUL LIGHTS, BIGO NIGHTS" linked the city's global entertainment influence with the creators who bring energy, talent and friendship to BIGO LIVE every day.

About 1,200 streamers, agencies and fans attended from five continents, and nearly 200 creators and organizations received honors. K-pop star Se7en and broadcaster Olivia IH hosted the ceremony. FIFTY FIFTY performed three songs, tripleS closed the night, and creators from Korea, Japan, Vietnam, France, Indonesia, the Middle East, the CIS region and the United States joined the performance lineup.

The red carpet opened in the afternoon, giving guests time to share their arrival live with fans. Korean hosts Kim Latte and Dohee performed a cover of BLACKPINK's "Forever Young," while the Japanese trio maid on presented "HEART BEAT." These creator acts placed talent from the BIGO LIVE community alongside the headline K-pop guests.

Lexi received Most Popular Broadcaster of the Year Top 1, Michelle received Gala Star Top 1, and HỒ GIA VI earned Most Popular Family of the Year Top 1. Selected honorees appeared on outdoor billboards in Seoul. The event also introduced a blind-box collection of mini-DINO figures.

Peak concurrent viewership reached about 630,000 people from around 150 countries. Fans took part through real-time voting, Votebox, dance challenges and prize draws. Seoul brought the Gala's in-person and online strengths together in one night: a major venue, local stars, creator performances, public recognition and active participation from viewers around the world.