iFANN Awards
    Monthly Awards: September 2026
    iFANN AwardsNominees
    2026

    Rising Star Award: September 2026

    Renata Vaca
    Renata Vaca
    Awanle Ayiboro Hawa Ali
    Awanle Ayiboro Hawa Ali
    Cho Jun-young
    Cho Jun-young
    ERTHH
    ERTHH
    Li Jin Hao
    Li Jin Hao
    Bianca de Vera
    Bianca de Vera
    Kamva Matuis
    Kamva Matuis
    Robbie Jaworski
    Robbie Jaworski
    Carl-Edouard Keita
    Carl-Edouard Keita
    Scan to voteScan to votePoint your camera to open this poll
    ifann.net#MonthlyAwardsSeptember2026

    The Rising Star Award is a monthly award given by iFANN to rising creatives of every kind, all over the globe: musicians, actors, painters and visual artists, creators and every other creative field. Winners are chosen through worldwide public voting plus review by the iFANN International Editorial Board. Read more

    Nominees
    52
    in the running
    Status
    In Review
    editorial vote underway

    Voting closed. The finalists are in editorial review

    The top finalists are now undergoing the iFANN Awards editorial voting process. The winner will be announced once the editorial vote is complete.

    Finalists, listed alphabetically

    Bhavitha MandavaChoi Gyu-riEmma PrempehJo Han-gyeolJo Na-In
    How winners are decided

    Editorial record

    Voting window:
    September 1, 2026 – October 1, 2026
    Ballot:
    52 nominees
    Decided by:
    Under editorial review (60% fan vote, 40% editorial board)

    Record kept by the iFANN Awards Editorial Board · Methodology · About this award

    Nominees

    Kenya flag
    Agnes WaruguruPainting on cotton, scent and water
    Philippines flag
    Angela Muji'Seducing Drake Palma' lead, ex-P-pop
    Canada flag
    Anwen O'DriscollRiri Timurov in Netflix's Bet
    Ghana flag
    Awanle Ayiboro Hawa AliPainting Accra's Kayayei in men's suits
    South Africa flag
    Ayakha NtunjaInimba lead and 2026 True Love cover star
    South Korea flag
    Baek Sun-hoRookie lead of 'If Wishes Could Kill'
    Nigeria flag
    Barry YusufuCharcoal-and-coffee portraits, Kolo art
    India flag
    Bhavitha MandavaScouted on a subway, opened for Chanel
    Philippines flag
    Bianca de VeraMMFF Best Actress nominee, 'Love You So Bad'
    Kosovo flag
    Blerta HashaniKosovo's quiet painter of rural idylls
    Carl-Edouard KeitaReviving Abidjan's lost Goumbe culture
    South Korea flag
    Cho Jun-youngSM's rising actor from 'Spring Fever'
    South Korea flag
    Choi Gyu-ri'Marry My Husband' scene-stealer, now a lead
    Colleen AllenNew York's fast-rising womenswear darling
    South Africa flag
    Daniah de VilliersStar of Die Kantoor, SA's 'The Office'
    Spain flag
    Daniel del ValleFlorist-turned-designer making living couture
    Italy flag
    Deva CasselNetflix's new Angelica in The Leopard
    United Kingdom flag
    Emma PrempehLondon painter's Paris debut at Perrotin
    Thailand flag
    ERTHHGen-Z pop-surrealist, Tang Contemporary
    Indonesia flag
    Eunike TanzilFirst Asian woman composer on DG's roster
    Philippines flag
    Heath JornalesTeen lead of 'You're My Favorite Song'
    Spain flag
    Hugo WelzelGoya-nominated newcomer from Enemigos
    South Korea flag
    Hyun Woo-seokFirst lead in Netflix's 'If Wishes Could Kill
    Philippines flag
    Ian Mark KamangkangT'boli 'Pitik Queen' who got a nation dancing
    South Korea flag
    Im SungooGraphite memory worlds, Frieze Seoul solo
    Thailand flag
    Java BhobdhamaGMMTV rookie, first lead in 'MuTeLuv'
    South Korea flag
    Jo Han-gyeolScene-stealing heir in 'Undercover Miss Hong'
    South Korea flag
    Jo Na-InThe dancer behind 'Golden' and 'Takedown'
    Colombia flag
    Juanita MolinaMeme in Netflix's Cien años de soledad 2
    South Africa flag
    Kamva MatuisGen Z painter with a feel for brown
    South Africa flag
    Katlego LebogangLead of Netflix rom-com Yoh! Bestie
    Philippines flag
    Kim CruzManila painter takes her studio to Paris
    South Korea flag
    Lee Sang-minDebut made Korea's biggest-ever horror hit
    Thailand flag
    Lena SchuettFirst lead role in GL hit 'My Safe Zone'
    China flag
    Li Jin HaoSurreal Singaporean stand-up wowing Fringe
    Senegal flag
    Libasse KaDakar-born abstractionist's museum debut
    Thailand flag
    Miu NatshaBreakout GL lead of 'My Safe Zone'
    Switzerland flag
    Nelio Biedermann22-year-old behind the global hit 'Lázár'
    Nigeria flag
    Onyinye OdokoroEx-nurse turned lead of Netflix's Baby Farm
    Nigeria flag
    Osas OkonyonSinging lead of 2026 Nollywood drama EVI
    India flag
    Pretika MenonGoa photographer on BJP's Ones to Watch 2026
    Philippines flag
    Rabin AngelesViva's breakout from 'Ang Mutya ng Section E'
    Philippines flag
    Ralph de LeonPBB runner-up turned 'Hotel 88' star
    Japan flag
    Reika TakebayashiKyoto landscape painter, Taka Ishii pick
    Mexico flag
    Renata VacaLead of Netflix's Mal de amores (2026)
    Philippines flag
    Robbie JaworskiStar Magic newcomer of 'The Loyalty Game'
    Nigeria flag
    Rukky BrumeLagos-raised lawyer with a debut on grief
    India flag
    Shailee MehtaIndore painter of women and water
    Kenya flag
    Shandra ApondiKenya's first Venice Days lead
    United Kingdom flag
    Teddie AllenMobLand's Gina, an ELLE 2026 rising pick
    South Korea flag
    VivinosSelf-taught maker of YouTube hit Alien Stage
    Japan flag
    Yumia FujisakiTeen co-lead of Last Samurai Standing

    Nominee cards

    Save a beautiful share card for any nominee: pick a theme, pick a size.

    Comments (113)