Kai Cenat’s Streamer University is back, and the 2026 class is stacked
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Kai Cenat is once again taking the internet back to school, and this year's class is stacked.
On Monday, July 6, Cenat returned to livestreaming to reveal the 2026 roster for Streamer University, his creator-focused bootcamp that brings aspiring streamers, rising online personalities, and some of the biggest names on the internet together in one space for workshops, collaborations, and live content.
The reveal streamed on Twitch and YouTube on Monday night, where Cenat announced this year's professors, club directors, and students. That list starts with some of the most recognizable names in streaming and creator culture. Agent00, Cinna, The Sushi Dragon, Ludwig, Kaiya Cenat, Poudii, Pokimane, Faze Adapt, Lizzo, YourRAGE, and Mashable 101 honorees Maya Higa and Duke Dennis are all set to serve as professors for the 2026 class.
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Cenat also revealed this year’s club directors. Nick Nayersina will lead the fraternity; Lethal Shooter will run basketball; Markell Washington will lead cheerleading; Oliver Cannon and Gibson Hazard will head the film club; Proto will oversee science and engineering; T-Pain will lead musical arts; Markus King will run debate; and Yonna Jay will lead drama.
Yes, Streamer University has a drama club.
The student roster includes Queen Naija, Skai Jackson, Stable Ronaldo, Sketch, DreamDoll, Sara Saffari, PlaqueBoyMax, Jasontheween, Kanel Joseph, Bonnie, Tatum Bittick, Marlon, Braeden, OnlyLarryKing, and dozens of other creators.
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Streamer University first launched in May 2025, when Cenat hosted the inaugural four-day event at the University of Akron. The program gives growing creators access to major names in the streaming world while helping them build audiences across platforms. Selected students take part in a multi-day experience focused on networking, content creation, mentorship, and collaboration. Everything from attendance to meals and accommodations is covered for accepted participants.
This year's return began in June, when Cenat announced Streamer University 2026 with a cinematic trailer posted to his social media accounts. The video leaned into the school theme, showing Cenat approaching an abandoned, Hogwarts-like version of Streamer University that had been overtaken by owls carrying dusty applications.
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Applications opened online for three tracks: students, professors, and club directors. Prospective students had to be at least 18 years old, able to travel within the United States, and submit at least one social media account for review. Applicants were also asked to send in a short video showing their personality, content style, and why they wanted to attend.
The 2026 rollout had already shown how big Streamer University had become before Cenat even revealed the final roster. In June, he also held in-person audition events in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, drawing crowds of hopeful creators who wanted a shot at joining the class.
On Wednesday, June 17, thousands of people gathered outside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, and the auditions were eventually shut down due to safety concerns related to the turnout.
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That demand did not come out of nowhere. A 2023 Morning Consult survey found that 57 percent of Gen Zers said they would become an influencer if given the opportunity, with money, flexibility, and fun among the biggest reasons the career path appealed to them. The problem is that as creator careers become more appealing, it becomes harder to stand out. Streamer University gives selected creators what is difficult to build alone: access to major names, built-in collaboration, and the chance to be seen by an audience much larger than their own.
With more than 20 million followers on Twitch, Cenat is currently the platform's most-followed streamer, but his influence now reaches well beyond his own channel. Streamer University has become one of the clearest examples of that reach — a creator-led event big enough to draw massive crowds, major names, and a student class hoping the right collaboration can change everything.
Olivia Tauber is the deputy editor of digital culture, covering creators, media, movies, beauty, and more. Based in New York, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Complex, and Interview Magazine. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from NYU and a Bachelor's from the University of Michigan. She also runs Fan Mail, a weekly pop-culture newsletter.
