This is a list of the people, companies or websites that won the annual Webby Awards presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The Webby Awards have been dubbed the "internet's highest honor".
1996
In 1996 the Association for Computing Machinery awarded an "ACM Student Webbie Prize"; this was expected to be repeated in subsequent years but was not. This ACM Webbie Prize is not related to the Webby Awards which began the following year but may be easily confused with them. The 1996 prize was awarded for the concept of a "web mediator".
1997
1997 was the first year of the annual Webby Award event, which was the first-ever nationally televised awards ceremony devoted to the Internet. 700 people attended the event on March 6, 1997 at Bimbo's Night Club in San Francisco, California Whereas in later years the panelists were official members of International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, in 1997 the awards were chosen and given by IDG's The Web Magazine, which appointed a panel to judge the competition.
1998
The 1998 Webby Awards were held on March 6, 1998 at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts, and were the first event ever to be broadcast live via the Web in 3D. The "People's Voice" awards, chosen by online poll, received 100,000 cumulative votes that year. The 1998 awards were sponsored by PC World Communications, the San Francisco Chronicle and other organizations. ABC News was the official website to "cybercast" the awards.
The Web magazine, which was hosting the awards, was closed down by its parent company IDG shortly before the awards, and the ceremony continued thereafter under the management of Tiffany Shlain, who IDG had hired in 1996 to coordinate the awards. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences was constituted that year as the judging panel for the awards, continues to do so as of the 2007 awards.
1999
The 1999 Webby Awards were held on March 18, 1999 at the Herbst Theater (War memorial Opera House) in San Francisco, with a post-award party at City Hall. That year, Mayor Rudy Giuliani lobbied to move the ceremony to New York City, but San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown convinced the organization to remain in San Francisco by promising city support. Brown gave a speech at the ceremony and Marc Maron was the master of ceremonies. The event was noted for the famous incident in which a representative of Jodi.org, which had won in the arts category, called the event participants "Ugly corporate sons-of-bitches" in his acceptance speech and tossed his trophy to the audience. In 1999 the Webby Awards asked PricewaterhouseCoopers to help it tabulate and ensure security for the "People's Voice" winners, chosen by online voting.
2000
The 2000 awards were the first time that organization requested submissions. Previously, nominees had been selected by an internal committee. The organization gave out awards in 27 categories voted on by a 350 member judges.
2001
2002
2003
This year marked the first year the awards show was broadcast online, and it lasted 20 minutes. The organization provided 30 awards. NASA and eBay won the most honors.
2004
2005
Honorees at 9th Annual Webby Awards included:
- Webby Lifetime Achievement Award: Former Vice President Al Gore in recognition of the role he played in the development of the Internet over the past three decades
- Webby Person of the Year: Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist
- Webby Artist of the Year: The Kleptones
- Webby Breakout of the Year: Caterina Fake and Stewart Butterfield, the founders of Flickr
Webby Awards winners included Mercedes-Benz USA (Automotive), Google (Best Practices), Merck (Health), and Skype (Telecommunications).
2006
Honorees at 10th Annual Webby Awards included:
- Webby Breakout of the Year: MySpace.com and its founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe
- Webby Artist of the Year: Gorillaz
- Webby Entrepreneur of the Year: Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and HDNet
- Webby Person of the Year: Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The World is Flat: A Brief History of The 21st Century
- Webby Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Kahn, co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocols, the technology used to transmit information on today's Internet
- Webby Lifetime Achievement Award: Prince, for "visionary" use of the internet, and being the first major artist to release an album over the internet, Crystal Ball.
2007
Honorees at 11th Annual Webby Awards included:
- Webby Lifetime Achievement: David Bowie was honored for his career which has pushed the boundaries of art and technology â from Ziggy Stardust to BowieNet, the Internet service provider he launched in 1998, to BowieArt, a Web site that connects the new visual artists with art collectors worldwide.
- Webby Lifetime Achievement: eBay President and CEO Meg Whitman accepted the award on behalf of the 150 million registered eBay buyers and sellers
- Webby People of the Year: YouTube Co-Founders Steve Chen and Chad Hurley
- Webby Artist of the Year: Beastie Boys were recognized for their 2006 concert film, "Awesome, I Fucking Shot That", which was filmed entirely by dozens of audience members using hand-held cameras provided by the group.
- Two Special Achievement Awards for Acting were presented at the 1st Annual Webby Film and Video Awards:
- Best Actor: "Ninja", the star of the online comedy series "Ask a Ninja"
- Best Actress: Jessica Rose, star of the fictional video diary "lonelygirl15"
2008
The 2008 Webby Awards took place on June 11, 2008 at the Citriani Restaurant event space on Wall Street in New York City. Honorees at 12th Annual Webby Awards included:
2009
Winners were honored at a ceremony hosted by Seth Meyers in New York City on June 8.
2010
Honorees at 14th Annual Webby Awards included:
2011
Winners were honored at a ceremony hosted by Lisa Kudrow in New York City on June 13 at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
- Webby for Best Drama in the Webby PeopleâÂÂs Voice Awards of the Year: Urban Wolf.
- Welcome to Pine Point received two Webbys, for Documentary: Individual Episode in the Online Film & Video category and Netart in the Websites category.
- Watson, the computer which competed on Jeopardy!, was named Person of the Year.
- Webby for Best Individual Performance of the Year: Vincent Sze in Urban Wolf
2012
Honorees at 16th Annual Webby Awards included:
2013
Honorees at 17th Annual Webby Awards included:
2014
Honorees at 18th Annual Webby Awards included:
2015
Honorees at 19th Annual Webby Awards included:
2016
Honorees at 20th Annual Webby Awards included:
2017
Honorees at 21st Annual Webby Awards included:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Honorees for the 2024 Webby Awards include:
Websites & Mobile Sites
- MetaMask Learn â Best Practices â Webby Winner
- ChainZoku â Entertainment â Webby Winner
- Runway â Financial Services & Banking â Webby Winner
- Equality AI â Responsible AI â Webby Winner
- Curb Free with Cory Lee â Personal Blog/Website â Webby Winner
- Metallica (Pattern) â Music â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- The DONUT â Independent Publishers â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
Video & Film
- How a Master ChefâÂÂs Brooklyn Restaurant Earned a Michelin Star â Mise En Place â Food & Drink â Webby Winner
- The Colors of Cuba with Ira Block â How-To / Explainer / DIY â Webby Winner
- PBS KIDS â City Island â Kids & Family â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- O Pioneer â Trailer â Webby Winner
- AlzheimerâÂÂs Research UK â Change The Ending â Public Service & Activism (Branded); Animation (Branded) â Webby Winner
- Spring Break Iceland â Weird â Webby Winner
- SPLIT SECOND â Student â Webby Winner
- DONâÂÂT WORRY BARBIE â Viral / Remixes & Mashups â Webby Winner
- Asher Grodman â Jacksonville Jaguars Schedule Release Video â Comedy; Short Form; Scripted (Branded) â Webby Winner
- Heat Eaters (First We Feast) â Food & Drink â Webby Winner
- RuPaulâÂÂs Drag Race: The Pit Stop â Long Form; Variety & Reality â Webby Winner; Honoree
- VICE World News â Breaking the Vote â News & Politics â Webby Winner
Advertising, Media & PR
- AIZOME WASTECARE⢠â Best B2B Campaign; Launch or Drop â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Backstage with Adam Driver (Squarespace) â Best Copywriting; Best Video Editing â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
Apps & Software
- PBS KIDS Games App â Kids & Family â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Upwork â HR & Employee Experience â Webby Winner
- Eurofarma â Scrolling Therapy â Experimental & Innovation â Webby Winner
Social
- Play By The Rules â Events & Live Streams â Webby Winner
- The Impossible NIL Deal (Solve) â Best Community or Fan Engagement; Best Influencer â Webby Winner
- GrimaceâÂÂs Birthday (Wieden+Kennedy) â Food & Drink â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Fenty Beauty Shade Matching Filters â Best Use of Filters/Lenses â Webby Winner
- AmericaâÂÂs Test Kitchen â Food & Drink â Webby Winner
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service â ESA50 â Best Social Campaign â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- The Washington Post â TikTok â News & Politics â Webby Winner
- New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce â Sports â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- How Are You Still In Business (Morning Brew) â Education & Science â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
Podcasts
- Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon â Public Service & Activism; Best Host â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Grown (The Moth & PRX) â Lifestyle â Webby Winner
- What YouâÂÂre Eating (FoodPrint) â Sustainability & Environment â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Diaries of the War on Gaza (Al Jazeera â The Take) â News & Politics (Ind. Episode) â Webby Winner
- TwentyOne 21: A Black AF Scripted Audio Comedy â Indie Podcast â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Scamanda (Lionsgate Sound) â Crime & Justice â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- HBOâÂÂs Succession Podcast â Television & Film; Best Host â Webby Winner
- HBOâÂÂs The Last of Us Podcast â Television & Film â Webby Winner
- Are You Afraid of the Dark? (CBS News) â Scripted Fiction â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Questlove Supreme (iHeartPodcasts) â Music; Best Co-Hosts â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast â Advice & How-To; Health & Wellness; Best Series â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Possible (Reid Hoffman) â Bryan Stevenson on Criminal Justice â Crime & Justice â Webby Winner
- Possible (Reid Hoffman) â Trevor Noah on AI â Best Individual Episode â Webby Winner
Creators
- BaldurâÂÂs Gate 3 (Larian Studios) â Action & Adventure; Best Game Design; Independent Creator â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner; Honoree
AI, Immersive & Games
- Building History â Best Community Engagement; Best Partnership â Webby Winner
- The iii Museum â Immersive Art for Iranian Artists â Arts, Fashion & Culture â Webby Winner
- BaldurâÂÂs Gate 3 â Action & Adventure; Best Game Design â Webby Winner; PeopleâÂÂs Voice Winner
- Scrabble GO â Puzzle / Trivia / Word Games â Webby Winner
Special Achievement
(No Special Achievement winners were listed)
Features
- Equality AI â Responsible AI â Webby Winner
- State of AI Report (Vention) â Best Individual Editorial Feature (Ind/Brand/Org) â Webby Winner
2025
Honorees for the 2025 Webby Awards include:
Creators
- Laufey - Webby Winner for People's Voice for Art, Culture & Music
- Kellie Gerardi: An Astronaut's IVF Journey - People's Voice Winner for Best Community Engagement
- Kelley Heyer - Creator of the "Apple Dance" - Webby Winner for Best Dance & Performanxe
- Zach King - Webby Winner; People's Voice Winner for Best Editing and Webby Winner for Best Shortform Video
Video and film
External links
Notes
In keeping with the awards themselves, winners are designated according to the website winning the award, although the winner is, technically, the web design firm that created the winning site and in the case of corporate websites, the designer's client. Web links are provided for informational purposes where the winning website or a follow-on remains available and can be found; the text used for the hyperlink is as listed on the past winner pages at https://web.archive.org/web/20081208183958/http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/winners-1997.php and so on. Many older websites, however, no longer exist or are redirected to replacements and are so noted.
References