Before the winners are revealed, introducing the nominees builds anticipation and encourages people to vote. This vertical 1080 x 1920 pixel story is designed for Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, WhatsApp Status, and digital screens. A deep purple background is sprinkled with small white stars, and a gold star shines at the top above Year End Awards 2026 in pink spaced capitals. Meet the in gold script and NOMINEES in huge white Bowlby One letters introduce the category, MVP of the Year. Four round photo frames with gold rings show the nominees, each with a name in bold white and a department in pink italics. A gold rounded button reading Vote By December 4 finishes the story.
Why Share Nominees Before the Awards
Sharing nominees gives everyone on the shortlist recognition, not only the eventual winner. It also prompts colleagues and followers to vote, comment, and cheer, building excitement for the ceremony. Being nominated is an honour in itself, and a public post makes that honour visible.
Adding Nominee Photos
Click each round photo frame and choose Replace Image to upload the nominee’s photo. Head and shoulders photos work best. Use similar photo styles for all four nominees so the story looks balanced.
Editing Names and Departments
Replace the sample names and departments with your nominees’ details. Keep names to one line in the bold font. Departments can be replaced with job titles, teams, schools, or clubs depending on your awards.
Changing the Award Category
The category line reads MVP of the Year. Change it to any category and duplicate the story for each one, creating a series that introduces every shortlist in turn.
Fewer or More Nominees
The layout shows four nominees. For three, delete one frame and centre the bottom one. For six, reduce the frame size and add a third row. Each frame and label is separate, so rearranging them is straightforward.
The Vote By Button
The gold button at the bottom shows the voting deadline. Update the date, or change the text to Vote Now, Winners Revealed Friday, or Join Us Tonight. On Instagram, place a link sticker over the button to send viewers straight to your voting form.
Purple Starry Background
The deep purple sky with twinkling stars creates a magical awards night feel. The stars are grouped, so you can reduce their opacity or delete them. Change the background colour to navy or black to match your event branding.
Posting the Story on Social Media
Download the story as a PNG or JPG and upload it to Instagram or Facebook Stories. The 1080 x 1920 size fills a phone screen perfectly. Add interactive stickers like polls or countdowns for extra engagement.
Using the Story on Office Screens
The vertical format also suits portrait digital signage in lobbies and break rooms. Add the nominee stories to your screen rotation in the weeks before the awards night.
Sharing in Messaging Apps
Send the image in team chats or WhatsApp groups to remind colleagues to vote. A visual reminder is more eye-catching than a text message.
Nominee Stories for Schools and Clubs
Schools can introduce student council candidates or award nominees, and clubs can share member of the year shortlists. Always obtain permission before posting photos, especially of children.
Story Wording Ideas
Try: And the nominees are, Who gets your vote, or Four stars, one trophy for the headline. Fun phrases encourage people to engage with the story.
Timing Your Nominee Stories
Post a new category every day or two during the voting period. This keeps the awards in people’s feeds and gives each shortlist its own moment.
Matching Winner Announcement Posts
After the ceremony, use the square winner announcement post in this collection to share the results. Using matching colours and fonts creates a cohesive social media campaign.
Saving the Nominees Story
Save the story in your account and reuse it each year. Update the photos, names, and dates to create a fresh campaign in minutes.
Nominee Story File Formats
Download a PNG for the sharpest text or a JPG for faster uploads on mobile data. The story is sized exactly for vertical screens, so no cropping is needed.
Writing Short Nominee Introductions
A story is seen for only a few seconds, so keep text minimal. If you want to share more about each nominee, create a follow-up story slide with one nominee per screen and a single sentence about why they were nominated. Short, positive descriptions are easy to read quickly and help voters make informed choices without feeling overwhelmed by information.
Building Excitement With Story Countdowns
Instagram’s countdown sticker works perfectly with nominee stories. Add a countdown to the awards night or the voting deadline, and followers can tap to receive a reminder. Combined with the gold Vote By button, it turns a simple announcement into an interactive campaign that keeps your awards in people’s minds.
Nominee Stories for Internal Channels
Not every organisation wants to share nominees publicly. You can use the story internally on office screens, in company apps, or in staff newsletters. The vertical format looks great on phones, so employees can view it easily wherever they are.
Celebrating Every Nominee After the Awards
Once the winners are announced, remember the other nominees. A short post thanking all nominees for an outstanding year keeps everyone feeling valued and shows that the nomination itself was an achievement.
Using Consistent Nominee Photos
Photos taken in different places and lighting can make the story look uneven. If possible, take quick head-and-shoulders photos of all nominees against the same plain wall in natural light. Matching photos make the four gold rings look like a set and give the story a polished, professional feel that reflects well on your awards.
Story Highlights for the Awards Season
Save every nominee story to an Awards highlight on your profile, so new followers can browse all categories in one place until the ceremony.
Respecting Nominee Privacy
Ask nominees before sharing their photos publicly. If someone prefers not to appear, use an illustration or initials in their frame, keeping the shortlist complete without compromising privacy.
