YouTube reveals the creators, songs, videos, podcasts, and trends that shaped 2025.

Alongside dropping their first ever ‘Wrapped-style’ feature to dive into your personal insights, YouTube has once again brought together all the top moments on the platform in 2025. The lists provide a snapshot of the creators, videos, and cultural moments that defined how we watched, listened, and engaged online.

YouTube writes:

“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 US.”

Below, we’ll be sharing the top lists for YouTube this year in the United States. However, you can see a country-by-country breakdown of the top topics here. You can also discover what topped your own lists for the first time ever, by checking out your YouTube Recap here.

Top Trending Topics on YouTube in the US 2025

From brainrot to popular game experiences. YouTube’s top trending topics this year show just how much internet culture extends into the video world. 

Brainrot had a huge presence this year, with ‘Steal a Brainrot’ being one of many Roblox game experiences that dominated YouTube feeds. The September assassination of Charlie Kirk became a defining moment which rippled across the US, and YouTube. Meanwhile, the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 finally dropped and became one of the year’s most talked-about releases.

Here are YouTube’s top trending topics in the US for 2025:

  • 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 on YouTube in the US 2025

Mr Beast topped the list as the most popular creator in the US for the sixth year in a row. Behind him is iShowSpeed, who kept up his momentum thanks to his 24/7 IRL livestreams from all corners of the world.

Here are YouTube’s top creators in the US for 2025:

  1. MrBeast
  2. CaylusBlox
  3. IShowSpeed
  4. Double Date
  5. Cadel and Mia
  6. Charlie Kirk
  7. Law by Mike
  8. CoryxKenshin
  9. Zack D. Films
  10. Outdoor Boys

Top Songs on YouTube in the US 2025

KPop Demon Hunters became a cultural force in 2025, helping to place a number of songs from the soundtrack in this year’s top list. 

Alongside hits from Kendrick Lamar and Alex Warren, Bruno Mars and ROSÉ also made a huge impact. Their duet “APT.” became the fastest KPop music video to hit one billion views on YouTube, dethroning “Gangnam Style” in the process.

Here are YouTube’s top songs in the US for 2025:

  1. Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga  – Die With A Smile
  2. Rosé, Bruno Mars  – APT.
  3. HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) – Golden
  4. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) – Soda Pop
  5. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) – Your Idol
  6. Victor Valverde, Jr Torres – El Mayor de los Ranas
  7. HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) – How It’s Done
  8. Alex Warren – Ordinary
  9. Kendrick Lamar, SZA – Luther
  10. Kendrick Lamar – tv off

Top Songs on YouTube Shorts in the US 2025

Interestingly, none of YouTube’s top songs crossed over into the top songs for YouTube Shorts this year. Instead, 2025’s Shorts soundtrack was dominated by tracks popular across short-video formats such as Connie Francis’ “Pretty Little Baby”. 

Here are YouTube’s top Shorts songs in the US for 2025:

  1. Forrest Frank – YOUR WAY’S BETTER
  2. ATLXS – Passo Bem Solto (Slowed)
  3. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
  4. Connie Francis – Pretty Little Baby
  5. Joyful – Chess
  6. Doechii – Anxiety
  7. Skrilla – Doot Doot (6 7)
  8. Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) – Soda Pop
  9. Jiandro (feat. ola.wav) – Confess your love
  10. Billie Eilish – Ocean Eyes

Top Podcasts on YouTube in the US 2025

After YouTube rolled out a podcast chart earlier in the year, the end-of-year roundup highlights which shows were popular across the year. Unsurprisingly, The Joe Rogan Experience tops the list, and is followed by the Kill Tony podcast, and Good Mythical Morning.

Here are YouTube’s top podcasts in the US for 2025:

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. Kill Tony
  3. Good Mythical Morning
  4. Rotten Mango
  5. The MeidasTouch Podcast
  6. 48 Hours
  7. Shawn Ryan Show
  8. Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
  9. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
  10. The Diary Of A CEO

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