The year on YouTube: The topics, creators, music, and podcasts that defined 2025
Dec 02, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read
YouTube celebrated its 20th birthday this year, and while a lot has changed over the years, one thing has stayed consistent: Pop culture continues to be defined by the ways creators and fans use video. This is especially evident in the end-of-year Trending Topics, Top Creators, Top Songs, Top Songs on Shorts, and Top Podcasts lists in the U.S.
Even phenomena that didn’t start on YouTube, such as Squid Game and KPop Demon Hunters, turned into larger cultural moments because of the ways creators expanded their worlds online.
Many of the most-talked about games of the year weren’t made by a major studio — they were produced by creators within Roblox, including Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot. Even phenomena that didn’t start on YouTube, such as Squid Game and KPop Demon Hunters, turned into larger cultural moments because of the ways creators expanded their worlds online. Squid Game-focused skits and challenge recreations put the show in a new lens, while fans recognized KPop Demon Hunters with videos that treated girl group HUNTR/X as if it was a real KPop group, fancams and all.
Among top creators, MrBeast took the number one spot for the sixth year running. He’s joined by IShowSpeed, who pushed the limits of livestreams with his 24/7 IRL streams across the country, and CoryxKenshin, whose passionate fan base has purchased hundreds of thousands of copies of his self-published manga series.
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Meanwhile, creator takes on the catchy ROSÉ and Bruno Mars track “APT.” helped propel the song to become the fastest KPop music video to reach one billion views on YouTube, finally unseating the reigning champ, “Gangnam Style.” It’s the perfect way to usher in the next 20 years.
To see a country-by-country breakdown of the topics, creators, songs, and podcasts that topped lists around the world, head here. And to find out what topped your personal lists this year, check out the first ever YouTube Recap.
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Trending Topics (US)
- 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 Creators (US)
Top Songs
- Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga - Die With A Smile
- Rosé, Bruno Mars - APT.
- HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Golden
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Your Idol
- Victor Valverde, Jr Torres - El Mayor de los Ranas
- HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - How It’s Done
- Alex Warren - Ordinary
- Kendrick Lamar, SZA - Luther
- Kendrick Lamar - tv off
Top Songs on Shorts
- Forrest Frank - YOUR WAY’S BETTER
- ATLXS - Passo Bem Solto (Slowed)
- Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body
- Connie Francis - Pretty Little Baby
- Joyful - Chess
- Doechii - Anxiety
- Skrilla - Doot Doot (6 7)
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop
- Jiandro (feat. ola.wav) - Confess your love
- Billie Eilish - Ocean Eyes
Top Podcasts (US)
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- KILL TONY
- Good Mythical Morning
- Rotten Mango
- The MeidasTouch Podcast
- 48 Hours
- Shawn Ryan Show
- Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
- This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
- The Diary Of A CEO