The Year on YouTube Canada: The Topics, Creators, and Music that Defined 2025
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, Creators to Watch, Top Songs, and Top Songs on Shorts lists in Canada.
Many of the most-talked about games of the year weren’t made by a major studio — they were produced by creators within Roblox, including Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot. Speaking of brainrot, the broad term used to describe a mix of online media and memes took on a life of its own in 2025 as creators invented an entire Italian Brainrot universe, producing AI-generated characters with Italian-inspired names.
Even phenomena that didn’t start on YouTube, such as Squid Game and KPop Demon Hunters, evolved into larger cultural moments because of the ways creators expanded their worlds online. Squid Game-focused skits and challenge recreations put the show in a new lens, while fans recognized KPop Demon Hunters with videos that treated girl group HUNTR/X as if it was a real KPop group, fancams and all.
This year was a major one for Canadian politics and the economy, with tariffs and Mark Carney standing out as two of the most-searched trending topics.
Representing interests across K-pop, sports fandom, and more, this year’s Creators to Watch in Canada reflect the diversity of content that Canadians are coming to YouTube for today. New voices like SleepyCrafter who, through aligning with massive trending topics from KPop Demon Hunters to Italian Brainrot, grew their channel to 3 million subscribers in one year, while Blue Jays Today became a real-time hub for a passionate Canadian sports community during the World Series. This year’s list also spotlights the continued growth of the creator economy and thriving creator businesses on YouTube, as exemplified by the likes of TheCrochetCrowd, who has grown a crocheting hobby into a highly engaged member community and educational platform; and Morgann Book, who launched her successful Off The Shelf video podcast to expand her passionate BookTube community.
Mia Plays and Kouman recently launched a state-of-the-art 4,000 square foot content studio in North Vancouver to help support their content creation, as they expand their growing business.
Meanwhile, creator takes on the catchy Rosé and Bruno Mars track “APT.” helped propel the song to become the fastest KPop music video to reach one billion views on YouTube, finally unseating the reigning champ, “Gangnam Style.” It’s the perfect way to usher in the next 20 years.
YouTube is a reflection of what’s happening in Canada, becoming the home where fandoms and communities are born, built, and brought to life. Whether you were watching re-runs of the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series or perfecting your dance moves to the latest Shorts trends, YouTube is the epicenter of culture, fueling the passions of every Canadian fandom.
As we close out this milestone year and look ahead to 2026, the Canadian YouTube community is poised to enter a new era of digital creativity. We saw the true power of fandom in 2025, and that energy will only grow, turning new trends into global movements and local heroes into worldwide sensations. Get ready for an even bigger year: the future isn’t just being watched on YouTube; it’s being built, passionately, by Canadian creators and their devoted audiences.
And to find out what topped your personal lists this year, check out the first ever YouTube Recap.
TRENDING TOPICS - note these are not ranked
- Squid Game
- User-Generated Roblox Experiences: Grow a Garden, Dandy's World, Forsaken, Steal a Brainrot
- KPop Demon Hunters
- Brainrot
- Tariff
- Labubu
- Mark Carney
- Katseye
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Blue Lock
Canadian Creators to Watch
Quebec Creators to Watch
Top Songs on Shorts
- ATLXS - Passo Bem Solto (Slowed)
- Connie Francis - Pretty Little Baby
- Joyful - Chess
- Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body
- yung kai - blue
- Forrest Frank - YOUR WAY’S BETTER
- Doechii - Anxiety
- Moliy, Skillibeng, Shenseea, Silent Addy - Shake It To The Max (Fly) (Remix)
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop
- Billie Eilish - Ocean Eyes
Top Songs
- Rosé, Bruno Mars - “APT.”
- Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars - “Die With A Smile”
- HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Golden
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Soda Pop
- Alex Warren - Ordinary
- HUNTR/X (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - How It’s Done
- Saja Boys (KPop Demon Hunters Cast) - Your Idol
- Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club
- Gigi Perez - Sailor Song
- The Weeknd, Playboi Carti - Timeless
