K-pop & gaming lead YouTube trends for Canadians in 2025
YouTube has named its top Canadian trends, songs, and creators for 2025, revealing a year shaped by K-pop influences, gaming communities, and the rise of new voices in content creation. The platform, which marked its 20th anniversary this year, remains a prominent driver of cultural moments in Canada.
K-pop momentum
The popularity of K-pop remained prominent among Canadian users in 2025. Animated series KPop Demon Hunters featured as one of the year's top trending topics, alongside related songs such as "Soda Pop," "Golden," "How it's Done," and "Your Idol" appearing on both trending songs and Shorts lists.
Music collaborations were also central to YouTube's Canadian charts. "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars topped the list of most popular songs in Canada, becoming the fifth-fastest music video to reach 1 billion views on the platform and the fastest K-pop track to achieve this milestone, surpassing previous record-holder "Gangnam Style."
Music and Shorts
YouTube Shorts continued to shape the platform's music trends. Older tracks, such as "Pretty Little Baby" by Connie Francis and "Rock That Body" by the Black Eyed Peas, experienced renewed attention through dance and viral content on Shorts. Simultaneously, newer releases like Doechii's "Anxiety" used the format to gain wider recognition among Canadian viewers.
In addition to K-pop, Canadian audiences engaged with songs across genres. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars's "Die With A Smile," Alex Warren's "Ordinary," and Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" featured prominently in the top songs chart. Collaborations and soundtracks linked to trending shows and creators contributed to a diverse musical landscape.
Trending topics
Beyond music, Canadian YouTube viewers gravitated toward a variety of subjects in 2025. Squid Game continued its relevance, while user-generated Roblox experiences such as Grow a Garden and Dandy's World attracted significant engagement. Other popular topics included the term "Brainrot," references to tariffs, and cultural phenomena like Labubu and the expected Nintendo Switch 2 release.
Sports content also played a role, with Katseye and Blue Lock featuring among trending themes. Notable public figures such as Mark Carney were among the year's most-searched topics, reflecting Canadians' sustained interest in global and national affairs.
Creators to watch
The list of Canadian Creators to Watch highlights a mix of genres and backgrounds. Ontario-based SleepyCrafter, who launched her YouTube channel in 2025, amassed nearly 3 million subscribers by focusing on crafting content intertwined with gaming and K-pop fandoms.
Mia Plays, alongside Kouman, has built a combined subscriber base exceeding 1 million. Their content, delivered entirely in Farsi, spans gaming, food, and challenges, and the pair recently opened a 4,000 square foot studio in North Vancouver.
BookTuber Morgannbook has grown to over 1 million subscribers by producing literary commentary, author interviews, and lifestyle content. 2025 marked the launch of her YouTube podcast "Off The Shelf," featuring interviews with published and emerging authors.
Sports-focused Blue Jays Today grew rapidly during the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series run, serving as a hub for timely analysis and community engagement among Canadian baseball fans.
TheCrochetCrowd, led by Nova Scotia-based Mikey, continued to foster a community around crochet and mindful crafting, which he links to mental well-being.
Community and culture
YouTube's Canadian landscape in 2025 demonstrates a blend of long-standing family favourites and newer cultural influences. Interest in K-pop and gaming communities continues to intersect with local content creation and community-building, reflecting ongoing shifts in digital media consumption within Canada.
"Canadians are coming to YouTube for content that represents everything from K-pop and sports fandom to gaming, showing just how diverse online communities are today," said Alexandra Hunnings Klein, Head of Communications, YouTube Canada.
