OTV INSIGHT 2026: Nominations open for Odisha’s premier digital creator awards

Following the massive success of its inaugural edition, the Odisha Television Network (OTV) is back with INSIGHT 2026, the state’s premier platform dedicated to honouring the icons of the digital age. 

As Odisha's digital landscape evolves, OTV INSIGHT 2026 aims to celebrate the creativity, influence, and cultural impact of creators who are redefining storytelling for a global audience.

This year, the stakes are higher and the stage is larger, with 21 diverse categories designed to recognize talent ranging from grassroots regional influencers to global Odia icons.

Celebrating Excellence: The 2026 Award Categories

OTV INSIGHT 2026 honours creators who bring authenticity and innovation to the forefront. The 21 categories include:

Storyteller of the Year: Honours a creator who consistently tells compelling, original, and rooted stories from Odisha across digital formats, video, reels, long-form, or mixed media.

Sambalpuri Icon of the Year: Celebrates a creator who has elevated Sambalpuri culture, including textiles, music, dance, language, foods, or traditions, on digital platforms.

Best Travel Influencer: Awarded to a creator who documents the landscapes of Odisha with originality, exploring people, culture, and unique hidden gems.

Best Food Creator: Recognises a creator who showcases the rich food culture of Odisha through recipes, reviews, or culinary storytelling with cultural context.

Podcast of the Year: Honours a podcast demonstrating strong concept clarity, consistent quality, high audience engagement, and meaningful conversations based out of Odisha.

Photographer of the Year: Celebrates a digital photographer whose work stands out for composition and technical excellence, elevating Odisha through their lens.

Best Sports / Fitness Influencer: Awarded to a creator promoting sports, fitness, or wellness through credible information and positive lifestyle influence.

Best Comedy Creator: Recognises a creator who uses humour intelligently, through sketches, satire, or observational comedy, while maintaining cultural relevance.

Best Lifestyle / Fashion Influencer: Honours a creator who defines the lifestyle or fashion trends of Odisha with authenticity and aesthetic consistency.

Best Music Creator: Celebrates a digital creator producing original Odia music, covers, or experimental sound content that demonstrates high musicality.

Best Digital Actor Creator: Awarded to a creator who uses digital platforms to showcase acting skills through reels or sketches within an Odia-centric environment.

Promoter of Heritage Award: Honours a creator actively preserving and promoting Odisha’s heritage, monuments, rituals, folklore, or crafts, through digital content.

Cultural Ambassador of the Year: Recognises a creator representing Odisha’s cultural identity beyond state boundaries, bridging local traditions and global audiences.

Best Online Gamer: Awarded to a gaming creator demonstrating skill, consistency, and responsible gaming content while growing Odisha’s gaming culture.

Rising Star of the Year: Honours an emerging creator who has shown exceptional growth and originality within a short span.

Impact Creator of the Year: Recognises a creator whose content has driven measurable social impact, awareness, or public discourse.

Global Ambassador of the Year: Celebrates an Odia creator based outside Odisha or India who represents Odia culture and identity on a global stage.

Best AI Creator: Awarded to a creator using artificial intelligence creatively in storytelling, art, or education while maintaining ethical standards.

Best Dancer Creator: Honours a creator who showcases the dance of Odisha, classical, folk, or fusion, with technical excellence and digital finesse.

Digital Voice of Odisha: Recognises a creator who consistently raises important issues or narratives shaping Odisha’s digital public discourse.

Meme Creator of the Year: Celebrates a creator who uses memes as a cultural language, sharp, timely, and intelligent, to capture public sentiment.

Click HERE for more details.

How to Nominate: Eligibility and Guidelines

OTV has streamlined the nomination process to ensure a fair and authentic ecosystem for all participants. 

Who Can Apply?

Digital creators across Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

Creators based in Odisha, Odia creators across India, and Global Odia creators.

Previous Year Policy: 2025 nominees can reapply, but previous winners are ineligible for the same category.

Nomination Rules:

Platform: Submissions are accepted only through the Official INSIGHT Website.

Category Limit: A creator can nominate themselves in a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 categories.

Nomination Fee: A fee of Rs 499 per category is applicable to ensure serious participation and verify authentic profiles.

The Road to Victory: Shortlisting and Voting

The journey to becoming a Digital Odia Icon follows a transparent three-step process:

Phase 1: Nomination (15 Days): Creators submit their profiles and links for internal evaluation.

Phase 2: Shortlisting: A maximum of the Top 10 nominees per category will be selected based on content relevance and eligibility.

Phase 3: Public Voting (15 Days): The final winners will be decided by the people. Voters must log in to ensure a secure, bot-free voting environment.

For more details, Click HERE

A Community-Driven Celebration

Beyond the trophies, OTV INSIGHT 2026 serves as a massive networking hub. Attendees and nominees will have the chance to interact with celebrities, industry thought leaders, and fellow creators, fostering collaborations that will shape the future of Odisha's digital narrative.

Credibility over noise. Quality over shortcuts. Culture over clicks.

This ethos sits at the heart of the INSIGHT mission, ensuring that the platform remains a beacon for authentic digital excellence in Odisha.

Note to Creators: Ensure your social media profiles are public during the submission period. Any misrepresentation or unethical voting practices will lead to immediate disqualification.

Don't miss your chance to be recognised! Visit the official OTV INSIGHT portal today to file your nomination.

OTV INSIGHT 2026 website: Click HERE

Instagram: Click Here

Digital trailblazers are encouraged to act fast, asregistrations are likely to end soon.