Twitch displays a small icon called a “badge” next to the username. It’s not just for decoration; it symbolizes the user’s position on Twitch, reflecting their relationship with streamers, special participation, or evidence of long-term support.

However, with so many different types, many people might wonder, “What do they mean?” or “How do I get one?”

This article categorizes Twitch badges into three groups (Global, Channel, and Event) and explains the meanings and conditions for each. Additionally, it provides an in-depth guide on how to get and change badges, what to do if they aren’t displaying, and information on new badges expected to be released in 2025.

Both streamers and viewers who want to understand their badges better and enjoy the platform more should definitely find this useful.

What are Twitch Badges?

Twitch badges are small icons displayed next to usernames in the chat. They serve as marks representing a person’s status or history of support, much like an ID badge.

Viewers can select their favorite badge from the “Chat Identity” section at the bottom of the chat screen. Streamers can award badges to specific viewers through the channel settings.

List of Twitch Badges [Global Badges]

Global badges on Twitch are those that are universally displayed across all channels. They are officially granted by Twitch and can be earned when viewers or streamers meet specific conditions. Here’s a list of notable badges:

Partner

The Partner badge is a special mark awarded to streamers recognized for their exceptional performance. A purple checkmark appears next to their name, indicating they are an officially certified streamer.

Becoming a Partner unlocks various benefits, including monetization opportunities and support from Twitch. Thus, this badge is trusted by many as “proof of being an official Twitch streamer.”

Ambassador

A badge awarded to streamers appointed by Twitch as brand ambassadors. Ambassadors contribute to community engagement and discovering new viewers, and only selected streamers can carry this badge.

As a viewer, following an ambassador’s streams can enhance your enjoyment of Twitch.

DJ

The “DJ Badge” is awarded to streamers officially recognized in the music or DJ categories. It signifies that they are active in the field of music streaming.

This badge is commonly worn by those performing live music or DJ sets, making it a reliable marker for music-loving viewers.

Viewing without Audio

The “Viewing without Audio” badge is an icon displayed for viewers who have muted their stream. It features a speaker icon with an “X,” indicating they are watching without sound.

This allows viewers to enjoy streams in environments where sound isn’t an option, enabling smoother communication in chat.

Viewing without Video

The “Viewing without Video” badge, represented with an eye icon crossed out, indicates that viewers are listening to the stream with the video turned off.

This badge helps streamers understand the viewing preferences of their audience, especially for those who enjoy audio-only experiences.

Turbo User

The “Turbo User” badge is given to those subscribed to the paid service “Twitch Turbo.” It appears as a purple lightning bolt icon in the chat.

By subscribing to Twitch Turbo, members can watch streams without ads and access additional stamps and custom chat colors.

Prime User

The “Prime User” badge is represented by a crown icon, awarded to those linking their Amazon Prime and Twitch accounts. It indicates that they are utilizing Prime Gaming benefits.

Prime users can subscribe to a channel for free once a month and access special stamps and additional chat colors.

Twitch Staff

The “Twitch Staff” badge is an official mark awarded to Twitch employees or staff members. This helps identify personnel responsible for user support and chat moderation.

When you see this badge in chat, you can trust that they are official representatives.

If you’re looking to earn a global badge as a streamer, check out the article below for tips on how to get started.

>>How to Start Streaming on Twitch: Necessary Tools and Monetization Requirements Explained!

List of Twitch Badges [Channel Badges]

Channel badges are unique to each streaming channel and represent the degree of support and contribution from viewers. Different badges are displayed for the same user across various channels, serving as a marker of affection towards their favorite streamers. Here are some notable badges:

Subscriber

The “Subscriber” badge (or sub badge) is an icon marked with a star awarded to viewers who subscribe to a Twitch channel for a fee. The design changes according to the duration of the subscription.

Streamers can freely set designs monthly or annually, visually conveying their long-term support.

Founder

The “Founder” badge is a special icon awarded to the initial subscribers of a channel (the first paid subscribers).

In partner channels, the first 25 people, and in non-partner channels, the first 10 can receive it. This badge is displayed as proof of early support for the channel and is a prestigious mark for those wanting to support streamers from the beginning.

Cheering Chat

The “Cheering Chat” badge is an icon that viewers can earn by sending bits (Twitch’s virtual currency). The badge level increases based on the total bits sent, changing to more elaborate designs.

This badge signifies a viewer’s contributions to the channel, providing a good starting point for engaging during events or special streams.

For more details on Twitch’s tipping system, refer to the article below.

>>How to Tip on Twitch? Purchase, Send Bits, and Examples of Disallowed Practices Explained

Subscription Gifter

The “Subscription Gifter” badge is awarded to those who gift subscriptions to other users. As the number of gifts increases, the color and design of the badge change.

Users who gift many subscriptions might be referred to as “gift gods” by streamers and listeners alike. The names of those who gift are also displayed in chat, creating a warm community atmosphere.

Ranking

The “Ranking” badge is an icon awarded to users who place high on a leaderboard set by the streamer. For example, it’s displayed to those who are among the “Top Bits” or “Top Gifted Subs” for the week.

This badge is temporary and resets according to leaderboard updates.

Artist

The “Artist” badge is awarded to creators who produce the channel’s stamps (emotes) or overlays.

This system was implemented for streamers to express gratitude to creators who have collaborated, and also allows for an “Attribution feature” to show credits for the creator’s work. It’s a special and proud badge for illustrators who want to showcase their created emotes.

For more information on Twitch’s stamp specifications, refer to the article below.

>>What Are the Requirements for Twitch Stamps? How Many Can You Use? Explanation of How to Create and Increase Them

VIP

The “VIP” badge is a special role that streamers can assign to select viewers. The diamond-shaped icon stands out prominently in the chat.

Being a VIP confers special privileges, such as not being affected by slow mode (settings that limit how often users can speak).

Chat Bot

The “Chat Bot” badge is assigned to automated bots that post messages. This badge cannot be manually assigned by streamers and is only displayed for those bots that have been verified by Twitch’s API.

Having the chatbot mark allows viewers to easily distinguish between human comments and bot interactions.

Hype Train

The “Hype Train” badge is an icon awarded to participants who send multiple subscriptions, gifts, or bits during the Hype Train event, which occurs in a short timeframe.

Participants can earn special emotes and presentations, and the top supporters during the event receive the “Conductor Badge.”

List of Twitch Badges [Event Badges]

Event badges can be obtained by participating in offline events like “TwitchCon” or online events. It may take up to 72 hours to receive a badge, and note that some events offer temporary badges while others provide permanent ones.

Here are some notable events:

TwitchCon 2017

The “TwitchCon 2017” badge was a limited icon distributed to those who attended the first TwitchCon held in Long Beach, California, in 2017. Participants needed to register in advance on the official site and pick up the badge at the on-site check-in desk.

Seeing this badge on users signifies that they have been longtime supporters of Twitch, sparking conversation opportunities.

GlitchCon 2020

The “GlitchCon 2020” badge was awarded to viewers who watched the special event “GlitchCon 2020,” held online by Twitch amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Viewers could earn it by watching streams from the official channel, and the badge featured a charming dinosaur design. As a commemorative badge from the event, many users cherish it as part of their collections.

TwitchCon 2022 San Diego

The “TwitchCon 2022 San Diego” badge was a limited icon distributed to attendees of the TwitchCon held in San Diego, California, in 2022. Similar to previous years, participants needed to register online and check in on-site to receive the chat badge.

Users with this badge are proof of their actual attendance, making it a highly commemorative badge for Twitch fans.

TwitchCon 2023 Las Vegas

The “TwitchCon 2023 Las Vegas” badge was a limited icon given to attendees of the TwitchCon held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2023. Participation followed the previous year’s format, requiring online registration and check-in to receive the chat badge.

The badge features a purple background with a golden logo, leaving a strong impression with its vibrant design.

r/place 2023 Cake

The “r/place 2023 Cake” badge was a limited icon distributed during the Twitch campaign linked with Reddit’s massive canvas event “r/place 2023.”

Viewers could earn a cute cake-shaped badge by watching eligible streams for more than five minutes. However, there were conditions for streamers as well; they needed to stream for a total of over 60 minutes during the event and tag it with “TwitchRivals” and “rplace.”

This badge is popular for its cute appearance and can still be shown and used in chat even after the event ends.

How to Display and Change Twitch Badges

To display badges as a viewer, click on the speech bubble icon at the bottom of the chat to open “Chat Identity” and select the badge you want to display. You can choose one from both the global badges and channel badges, allowing you to mix and match as needed.

As a streamer, you can set your original subscriber badges for your channel. The steps are as follows:

1. Open the “Creator Dashboard” on Twitch
2. Select “Monetization” → “Subscriptions”
3. Specify the duration you want to change on the “Subscriber Badge” page
4. Upload PNG images of 18×18, 36×36, and 72×72 pixels
5. Save and complete

Keep in mind that violent or sexual content, as well as other company logos, are prohibited according to the guidelines. Also, remember that the Founder badge cannot be changed.

What to Do If Twitch Badges Are Not Displaying

Event badges and VIP badges may take up to 72 hours to appear. First, try reopening “Chat Identity” or logging out and then back in; sometimes, this alone can refresh the display.

If the problem persists, try the following methods:

• Clear your browser cache
• Update the mobile app to the latest version
• Verify with the streamer that role assignments are correctly reflected

Additionally, there’s a limit on VIP slots, and unless streamers remove existing VIPs, they can’t assign new ones. It’s often the case that waiting a few days and checking back can resolve the display issue.

Upcoming Event Badges on Twitch in 2025

Various limited-time badges will appear in 2025. Here are the main event badges and their acquisition conditions:

Badge Name	Duration (PDT)	Acquisition Conditions
SUBtember 2025 Badge	2025/8/30 at 2:00 AM – 10/2 at 2:00 AM	Subscription, gifting, or bits purchasing during the event period
MSI 2025 Global Chat Badge	2025/6/27 – 7/12	Gain a badge by purchasing a new subscription or gift sub in the LoL category. Subscribing to the official lolesports channel includes in-game emotes along with the badge.
Evo 2025 Chat Badge	2025/8/1 – 8/4	Gain a badge by making a new subscription or gifting in channels streaming Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Guilty Gear – Strive.

For those looking to acquire event badges or start streaming and achieve monetization, please refer to the article below.

>>[Complete Guide] Conditions for Monetizing Twitch Streams | Introduction to Monetization Methods

Conclusion

This article explained the meanings and types of Twitch badges, how to display and change them, and what to do if they’re not appearing. Understanding the badge system will help you enjoy Twitch on a deeper level.

To summarize the main points:

• Global Badges: Common badges granted by Twitch
• Channel Badges: Marks indicating the level of support for each streaming channel
• Event Badges: Commemorative icons distributed during TwitchCon and exclusive campaigns

Each badge visualizes “how you have engaged with Twitch.” For those wanting to support streamers, the subscriber badge serves this purpose; while for event enthusiasts, the limited badges allow personal expression.