SANTA MONICA, CA – The 38th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards showered stars with slime and handed out its signature orange blimps, offering a vibrant look into the current state of youth pop culture. Hosted by singer Tyla, the June 21st event saw massive wins for musician Sabrina Carpenter, the movie Wicked, and K-pop group Stray Kids, painting a clear picture of a generation whose tastes are shaped by viral trends, global music, and blockbuster films that double as cultural events.

• Sabrina Carpenter’s Sweep – The singer won three major music awards for Favorite Song (“Taste”), Favorite Album (Short n’ Sweet), and Favorite Female Breakout Artist, cementing her status as a dominant force in youth pop music.
• Blockbuster Magic – Wicked took home the award for Favorite Movie, with its star Ariana Grande winning Favorite Movie Actress, proving the continued appeal of large-scale fantasy productions.
• Global & Digital Dominance – The victories of K-pop group Stray Kids (Favorite Music Group), YouTuber MrBeast (Favorite Male Creator), and gamer IShowSpeed (Favorite Gamer) highlight the deeply international and creator-driven landscape of modern celebrity.

The night was a celebration of what’s currently capturing the attention of kids and teens, from the comedy of Jack Black, who was honored as the “King of Comedy”, to the cultural impact of Rihanna, who received the first-ever ICON Silver Blimp award. As the slime settled, the results provided a compelling look at the artists, trends, and platforms defining the next generation.

‘Wicked’ and ‘Minecraft’ Build the Box Office

The film categories demonstrated a clear preference for big, immersive worlds. The big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked was crowned Favorite Movie, a win bolstered by Ariana Grande’s award for Favorite Movie Actress for her role as Glinda. This suggests that even for a digitally-native generation, the pull of a major cinematic event with established characters and music remains powerful.

Meanwhile, the video game world continues to show its influence, with Jack Black winning Favorite Movie Actor for his role in A Minecraft Movie. The success of films tied to massive gaming franchises indicates a powerful synergy that studios are keen to tap into. The animated categories also saw wins for major sequels, with Inside Out 2 named Favorite Animated Movie and Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho winning for their voice work in Moana 2.

The Sound of 2025: Sabrina, SZA, and Stray Kids

This year’s music awards show that the tastes of young audiences align closely with the mainstream, while also being distinctly global. Sabrina Carpenter was the night’s big music winner, securing three blimps for her song “Taste,” her album Short n’ Sweet, and as Favorite Female Breakout Artist. In her acceptance video, Carpenter acknowledged the win’s significance, saying, “I’ve always wanted one of these ever since I was a little girl”.

The top artist awards went to SZA (Favorite Female Artist) and Bruno Mars (Favorite Male Artist), both established Grammy-winning stars. However, the award for Favorite Music Group went to South Korean powerhouse Stray Kids, a testament to K-pop’s unwavering popularity with young audiences. The viral song category was won by Selena Gomez and benny blanco for “Bluest Flame”, reinforcing how social media trends continue to be a primary hit-making engine.

Creators, Icons, and a Whole Lot of Slime

Beyond traditional film and music, the KCAs prominently featured the personalities who shape youth culture online and in culture at large. MrBeast continued his reign, winning Favorite Male Creator, while IShowSpeed took home the blimp for Favorite Gamer. These awards underscore the creator economy’s central role in the lives of Gen Alpha and Gen Z.

The ceremony also took time to present special honors. Comedy legend Jack Black was given the “King of Comedy” Silver Blimp, presented by his Nacho Libre co-stars before he was predictably drenched in a “double Sliming”. In a significant moment, Rihanna was honored as the first-ever recipient of the ICON Silver Blimp for her wide-ranging impact on music, beauty, and activism. Accepting via video, she offered an inspiring message to young viewers: “Own your space in this world and know that you are chosen for greatness”.