Once upon a time, we had YouTube Originals, where the platform partnered with creators and gave them production resources to make high-concept series and standalones. YouTube has since ceased offering this kind of partnership–but what if it could still bask in the glitz and glamour of an Originals premiere, and hype creators’ projects to potential advertisers, without materially participating in the production process?
That seems to be YouTube’s strat these days. At its recent Made On event, it said it wants to do more creator/content promotion events and matchmake them with brands. Now it’s making good on that promise.
Last week it booked the bougie Paramour Estate in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood to host a “coronation” (aka premiere) for season 3 of Brittany Broski‘s interview show Royal Court.
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And, today, it unveiled its first “Creator Premieres” showcase, which it called a “film festival style experience” that “provided a room full of advertisers and industry leaders a front-row seat to must-watch programming, directly from the creators who are defining a new era of media and entertainment on YouTube.”
The showcase was held at the Metrograph theater in New York City, and gave brands a close look at upcoming series and videos from well-known creators like Broski, Ms. Rachel, Dhar Mann, Deestroying, Recess Therapy‘s Julian Shapiro-Barnum, Brave Wilderness host Mark Vins, and Cleo Abram (pictured above). (Oh, and Trevor Noah was there too?)
YouTube of course used the opportunity to reiterate to advertisers that it has been the most-viewed subscription service in the U.S. for more than two years straight, according to Nielsen. That puts it ahead of Hollywood-backed competitors like Netflix and Disney+, which both have ad-supported tiers, but are becoming increasingly pricey for consumers while YouTube remains free, and take years to release new installments of popular content (ahem, Stranger Things) while digital creators pump out new videos weekly or even daily.
“YouTube creators are building global communities through content that is authentic, engaging, and premium. They’re not only driving culture–they’ve created an irreversible change in entertainment, which has redefined viewing behavior,” Sean Downey, Google’s President of Americas and Global Partners, said in a statement. “For advertisers, YouTube presents a unique opportunity to make an impact with their desired audiences, by aligning and deeply integrating their brands with the voices that they actively seek out.”
YouTube’s VP of Americas Tara Walpert Levy added, “There is an insatiable demand from both viewers and brands for the creator-led, discoverable programming that is shaping culture. These next-generation studios, where YouTube creators drive every aspect of production–vision, execution, on-air performance, fan connection–are what is driving must-see entertainment today.”
Here are YouTube’s detailed descriptions of each creator project announced at the showcase:
- Julian Shapiro-Barnum | “Outside Tonight” | New live weekly late night series premieres spring 2026 on the official Outside Tonight YouTube channel
Comedian, writer, and actor, Julian Shapiro-Barnum – known for his popular online shows “Recess Therapy” and “Celebrity Substitute” – launches a first of its kind late night weekly series built for the digital age. Set in public parks and on street corners, “Outside Tonight” with Julian Shapiro-Barnum revitalizes a classic format with weekly, live shows packed with star studded interviews, audience driven games, live music, and nonstop comedy.
- Trevor Noah | “Trevor Noah: The Lost SA Special” | New special premieres this December on the official Trevor Noah YouTube channel
Filmed in South Africa during Trevor Noah’s last world tour, this never-before-released 90-minute stand-up comedy special captures him performing entirely local material on the biggest stage of his career, back home. It’s a rare and powerful creative moment with Trevor at the height of his global success, reconnecting with his roots and his audience in a way the world has never seen.
- Mark Vins | “Reef to Ridge” | New documentary premieres spring 2026 on the official Brave Wilderness YouTube channel
Wildlife filmmaker, explorer, and host of Brave Wilderness, Mark Vins, and a daring expedition team undertake a first-of-its-kind journey across the Galápagos’ most extreme habitats – diving deep beneath the sea and scaling the highest volcanic summit – to document rare wildlife and confront mounting threats to one of Earth’s most wild frontiers. The new full-length documentary, “Reef to Ridge,” reveals the wonder, urgency, and fragility of protecting this iconic wilderness.
- Cleo Abram | HUGE* If True: “What If An Asteroid Is About To Hit The Earth?” | New episode premieres November 15 on the official HUGE* If True YouTube channel
HUGE* If True is an optimistic episodic series about using science and technology to make the future better. In a new episode featuring Mark Rober, host Cleo Abram imagines a fictional crisis: “If a real and massive asteroid were coming toward us… how would we know? And what would we actually do about it?” Cleo shows viewers the real science and technology we’re using right now to defend our planet.
- Deestroying | “America vs London 1v1” | New episode premieres November 30 on the official Deestroying YouTube channel
Deestroying “Dee” is taking his viral football 1on1’s series across the pond to London, where he gathers the top athletes across the country to compete for $5,000 in a new episode, “America vs London 1v1.” But it won’t be that easy for the London athletes as Dee has a secret opponent… all the way from the streets of Detroit – a competitor that’s hungry and ready to put his football reputation on the line.
- Dhar Mann | “7 Days of Christmas” | Premieres December 5-19 on the official Dhar Mann Studios YouTube channel
Dhar Mann Studios is launching “7 Days of Christmas,” a massive holiday programming event featuring 7 brand-new, 25-minute heart-driven scripted episodes. Featuring the return of favorite characters and new series formats, “7 days of Christmas” delivers a universal holiday message that the greatest gift is the glow of authenticity within.
- Brittany Broski | “Royal Court” with Paul Mescal | New episode premieres this fall on the official Royal Court YouTube channel
Brittany Broski’s “Royal Court” welcomes Paul Mescal to the medieval realm, in a brand-new Season 3 episode. The hit YouTube talk show from internet icon Brittany Broski brings audiences inside her hilariously over-the-top Royal Court, where chaos, comedy, and crown jewels collide. This season features a new lineup of celebrity guests including Noah Cyrus, Brie Larson, Kyle MacLachlan, Fred Armisen, and Finn Wolfhard as they join host Brittany for laugh-out-loud conversations, offbeat games, and unpredictable moments that only the Queen of the Internet could orchestrate.
- Ms. Rachel | “Friendship” | New episode premieres early 2026 on the official Ms. Rachel YouTube channel
Join Ms. Rachel and friends for a heartwarming celebration of connection – showing little ones that friends can come from anywhere. Through joyful interactions with a diverse group of kids, this new episode teaches valuable lessons about inclusivity and the magic of making new friends.
The showcase was also timed to highlight YouTube’s newest feature, which allows creators to manually sort their uploads into individual shows and seasons, helping them move away from the clunkier playlist tool and direct viewers to chronological binge watches.
YouTube specifically notes this new feature “optimizes and improves the viewing experience on the largest screens in your home”–making it crystal clear that the world’s largest video platform is still aggressively on the hunt for more and more living room television watch time…and more of those big TV ad dollars.
