VIXEN Awards is tidying up its categories ahead of the next ceremony. Several prizes are being merged, health is being split across two categories, and “Folkets favoritt” (People’s Favourite) gets a whole new format. Nominations opened on 1 October and run until 15 October.
The aim is less overlap between categories, making it clearer who is competing against whom – and more prestige in each individual prize. The changes are based on focus groups, surveys and conversations with the industry.
These are the changes
Sport, fitness and outdoor life. Three fields that in practice overlap a lot become one category.
Last year, the Influencer of the Year award in Travel and Outdoor Life went to Karen Kyllesø, while Kasper Kvello took the win in Sport and Fitness. This year, the travel category is gone. Outdoor life has moved under sport and fitness, meaning fitness profiles now have to compete with the mountain and forest crowd for the same prize.
Knowledge and society. Knowledge, Sustainability and Strong Opinions are combined into one new category. It highlights profiles who contribute to understanding and reflection through credible communication of knowledge, expertise and social engagement. Health profiles who communicate research and professional knowledge belong here.
Last year, the knowledge prize went to Ingvild Tennfjord, who this year will probably face even tougher competition from food-loving influencers.
Buns or wine?
Food becomes Food and drink. The category is expanded to cover the joy of food, food culture, recipes, nutrition and drinks content.
Ingvild Tennfjord won the Vixen prize for knowledge in January. This time, the wine writer will probably have to fight for a podium place with Mathea Bjørndalen’s cinnamon buns.
Travel moves into Lifestyle. Travel disappears as a separate category and becomes part of a broader lifestyle category.
A new format for People’s Favourite
For the first time, the jury will select a top 15 from the public nominations. The public then votes for five finalists, and finally the winner.
The business prize is postponed. The prize is moved to later in the year, so the jury can access the 2026 accounts and assess documented results, growth and value creation.
Influencer of the Year. Commercial professionalism and value creation become key criteria. The jury is looking for profiles who combine reach with professional and commercial development, and who have made their mark on the industry.
– Easier to nominate correctly
Camilla Kim Kielland is leading the jury for the third time, and believes in the new structure.
– We hope that most people and profiles agree with the choices that have been made. I think many will find it easier to nominate in the right category, says Kielland.
The jury is already in place. The public can nominate several profiles in the same category, and the same profile can be nominated in several categories.
Do you know someone who deserves a prize?
Vixen has opened nominations. Nominations close on 15 October 2026.