YouTube launches Recap feature and releases 2025 end-of-year creator and trends lists

YouTube has introduced a new personalised year-end feature called YouTube Recap, released on December 2.

The Google-owned platform described Recap as a “personalised and shareable highlight reel” summarising each user’s 2025 watch history. The feature follows similar year-end summaries offered by Spotify and Apple Music.

According to YouTube, Recap provides an overview of users’ top channels, interests and viewing patterns, including a “personality type” based on watch habits. Users can access their Recap on the YouTube homepage or under the “You” tab on both mobile and desktop.

Alongside the new feature, YouTube also released its annual End of Year lists for 2025, covering trending topics, creators, podcasts and music. YouTube said its Trending Topics of 2025 list reflects the moments in film, memes, music and wider culture that gained significant traction on the platform.

The rankings were compiled by the YouTube Culture & Trends team using metrics such as views, uploads and creator activity. Items appearing on the list were those showing notable rises in audience interest during 2025.

The platform published its Top Creators list, based on in-country subscribers gained during the year. YouTube noted that the list excludes artists, brands, media companies and children’s channels, with only one channel permitted per creator.

YouTube also shared its Top Podcasts list, ranked by total watch time in the United States. The Top Songs on Shorts list reflected songs that debuted in 2025 or experienced major year-over-year growth through Shorts creations. The Top Songs list was based on in-country views of music content including official videos and lyric videos.

The launch of YouTube Recap positions the platform alongside other major services offering personalised year-end summaries, while its 2025 lists highlight the creators, topics and music that shaped the platform’s cultural landscape throughout the year.