Instagram Names Vikas Khanna Rings Awards Judge
The celebrity chef joins a 14-member panel for the platform's second annual awards honoring creators who push culture forward.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Food and Drink
Instagram has named chef Vikas Khanna as a judge for its second annual Rings awards, which honor creators who push culture forward. Judges will both nominate and select the winners, and the winner pool doubles from 25 to 50 this year.
Why it matters
The selection of a chef to judge a creator awards program reflects the growing overlap between food culture and social media influence. Instagram says the Rings awards are not built around follower counts, shifting the emphasis toward creative impact.
The Rings awards panel has 14 judges, and the winner pool doubles from 25 to 50 this year. The announcement does not name the other judges or detail how selection criteria will be weighted.
The players
Vikas Khanna
An Amritsar-born chef and restaurateur known for his work on MasterChef India and his New York restaurant Bungalow, who was named to the TIME100 list in 2026.
The Meta-owned photo and video sharing platform that launched the Rings awards to recognize creators who push culture forward.
The details
Khanna, a MasterChef India judge for years and owner of the New York restaurant Bungalow, was named to the Rings panel. Each honoree receives a physical gold ring designed by Emily Adams Bode Aujla along with new digital tools for their profile.
Timeline
April 2026: Khanna was named to the TIME100 list of most influential people.
Week of November 5, 2026: Instagram confirmed Khanna as a Rings judge.
Later in November 2026: Rings honorees are expected to be announced.
Culture Shift
The expansion of Instagram's Rings awards from 25 to 50 winners in its second year extends the program's first cycle, which set out to honor creators by cultural impact rather than follower size. Adding a celebrity chef as judge signals the platform's continued push to tie food culture into its creator recognition efforts.
Creators recognized by the Rings awards receive a physical gold ring and new digital profile tools. Users following food content on Instagram may see additional recognition for chefs and creators as the winners are announced.
The takeaway
Recognition on Instagram is increasingly tied to creative impact rather than audience size, which may change how food creators approach building their presence on the platform. Following the November announcement will show which creators the platform chooses to highlight.
What happens next
Rings honorees are expected to be announced later in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on how chefs are shaping food culture online, explore Food and Drink coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
