What is a Subathon? (+ The 5 Longest Subathons on Twitch)

Did you know that, in 2021, American livestreamer Ludwig spent 31 days online? That’s right. While on stream, he played games, cooked, chatted with viewers, and slept. It was a defining moment in the world of livestreaming! But, as you can guess, he wasn’t the only one to attempt the feat.

In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of subathons - so you can see for yourself whether you should consider running one. We’ve got a few fascinating examples to cover, so let’s go!

What Is a Subathon? And Why Should You Run One?

Simply put, a subathon is a live streaming event on platforms like Twitch where the streamer sets a goal to extend their stream based on the number of subscriptions (subs) or other forms of support they receive from viewers.

During a subathon, the streamer typically sets a timer that increases or decreases based on various factors such as new subscriptions, resubscriptions, gifted subscriptions, or donations. As viewers contribute, the timer extends the duration of the stream, allowing for more content and interaction with the audience.

Subathons are often seen as a way for streamers to engage their community, incentivize support, and create an entertaining and interactive experience for viewers. For example, they can:

Encourage viewers to actively participate in the stream by subscribing, donating, or engaging with the content, leading to higher levels of interaction and community involvement.
Allow streamers to extend the duration of their streams beyond their usual schedule, providing more content for viewers to enjoy.
Incentivize viewers to support by subscribing or donating, as their contributions directly contribute to extending the stream and reaching milestones set by the streamer.
Foster a sense of community as people come together to support and celebrate shared interests (leading to stronger connections and relationships within the streaming community).
Serve as a revenue-generating opportunity for streamers through increased subscriptions, donations, and other forms of support from viewers.

The Different Types of Subathons

Subathons come in various forms, and each offers a unique twist on the concept while keeping the core idea of extending stream time based on viewer support. For instance:

Play Subathon

In a play subathon, the streamer basically commits to playing a game for a while, and the longer they play depends on how much support they get from viewers. As viewers subscribe, donate, or meet other milestones, the streamer continues to play the game, with the duration of the stream extending accordingly. It's like a gaming marathon fueled by the audience's love!

Play Subathons are an excellent opportunity for Twitch streamers to showcase their gaming skills or explore new games while engaging with their audience.

Challenge Subathon

With challenge subathons, things get interesting. Viewers throw out challenges, and as more folks join in or donate, the streamer takes on more challenges. It's all about having a blast and seeing what crazy stuff the streamer can pull off!

These challenges can range from gaming-related tasks, such as speed runs or completing specific in-game objectives, to real-life challenges, like eating spicy food or performing dares. As viewers meet milestones through subscriptions, donations, or other forms of support, the streamer takes on new challenges, too.

Marathon Subathon

Last but not least, the third most popular type is the marathon subathon. This is when the streamer goes all out and streams for hours, maybe even days, straight! It's like a streaming party where everyone hangs out, chats, and supports the streamer as they power through the marathon.

These events often include giveaways with cool prizes like gaming peripherals, gift cards, or even exclusive merchandise. So, it's a fun way for streamers to give back to their communities and add an extra layer of excitement to the Subathon experience!

Of course, though, this type of Subathon typically focuses on endurance and resilience, as the streamer commits to streaming continuously for the duration of the marathon.

Other Subathon Types

While play, challenge, and marathon subathons are some of the most common types, there are other creative variations as well. For example:

Variety subathon: In a variety subathon, the streamer mixes things up by playing different games or doing different activities during the stream. It's like flipping through channels on TV, but way more interactive and fun!
Creative subathon: The creative subathon is all about getting artsy. The streamer might draw, paint, craft, or make music, and viewers can jump in with ideas or just chill and watch the creative process unfold.
Charity subathon: Now, the charity subathon is all heart. Streamers team up with charities, and viewers can donate to support a good cause. As the donations roll in, the streamer keeps the party going, maybe with some special rewards or shoutouts for donors.
Community subathon: With the community subathon, it's all about hanging out and having a blast together. Viewers get to join in on games, ask questions, or maybe even take the spotlight for a bit. It's like a big online hangout where everyone's invited!

The Most Memorable Twitch Subathons

Subathons are a big deal on Twitch. Streamers go all out, playing games for hours on end, taking on wild challenges, and just chillin' with their community (Ludwig, Valkyrae, and xQc also did giveaways during their subathon events.)

The energy was off the charts. So, let’s take a look at some of the best (and longest!) Twitch stream subathons.

Ludwig’s Subathon

As we mentioned in the intro, Ludwig Ahgren, a prominent Twitch streamer, hosted a highly publicized subathon in March 2021. During the event, Ludwig committed to extending his stream by 10 seconds for every new subscriber or gifted subscription the gamer received.

The subathon garnered widespread attention and resulted in Ludwig streaming continuously for over 31 days, breaking Twitch viewership records in the process. It was the talk of the town, with everyone tuning in to see what Ludwig was up to next.

Kai Cenat’s Subathon

Kai Cenat, a Twitch streamer and content creator, hosted a subathon event that gained significant attention and praise within the streaming community. During Kai Cenat's subathon, which took place in April 2021, the esports expert embarked on an ambitious streaming marathon where the duration of the stream was extended based on viewer support.

What set Kai Cenat's Subathon apart was not only the engaging content he provided but also the charitable aspect of the event. Throughout the stream, Kai Cenat encouraged viewers to donate to support various charitable causes, including mental health awareness and organizations aiding marginalized communities.

Pokimane's Charity Subathon

Imane "Pokimane" Anys, one of Twitch's most popular streamers, organized a Charity Subathon in December 2020 to raise funds for various charitable causes.

During the event, Pokimane streamed for an extended period and encouraged viewers to donate to support organizations such as The Trevor Project and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The Charity Subathon was a huge success, raising thousands of dollars for charity.

xQc's Gaming Subathon

Félix "xQc" Lengyel, a prominent Twitch personality known for his gaming content, hosted a Gaming Subathon where he played various games based on viewer requests and donations.

During the event, xQc hopped on stream for... well, what felt like forever! Hanging out with viewers and diving into all sorts of gaming shenanigans. We're talkin' multiplayer madness, speed runs, and whatever crazy challenges came his way! The Gaming Subathon totally drew in a huge crowd and gave us a real peek at xQc's gaming skills and hilarious personality. It was like a marathon of gaming goodness, and we couldn't get enough!

Valkyrae's Community Subathon

Rachell "Valkyrae" Hofstetter, a popular Twitch streamer and content creator, organized a Community Subathon focused on fostering interaction and engagement among her viewers.

During the event, Valkyrae threw down some awesome viewer games, Q&A sessions, and team challenges, getting her community all hyped up and mingling together. The Community Subathon totally brought Valkyrae and her crew closer, making some epic memories and boosting that sense of community spirit big time!

Considering Running Your Own Subathon?

StreamYard can be a fantastic tool for hosting a Twitch subathon. It's super easy to use and makes your event look pro without all the fuss!

Here's how you can use StreamYard effectively:

Multi-platform streaming: With StreamYard, you can stream your subathon out to all your fave platforms at once—Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, you name it. This allows you to reach a much bigger audience and maximize your impact.
Guest interviews and collaborations: Wanna bring your besties or some cool peeps into the mix? StreamYard's got your back with its guest feature. You can chat, goof around, or even have deep talks with your crew—all while streaming live. It's like having a virtual hangout that's open to everyone!
Custom branding and overlays: Make your subathon streams pop with your own style using StreamYard's branding tools. Stick on your logo, throw in some fun graphics, and sprinkle in a few sponsor shout-outs.
Interactive features: Keep your viewers hooked and part of the action with StreamYard's interactive stuff. Show off their comments on screen, ask 'em questions with polls, and give shout-outs for donations or milestones.
Easy setup and management: StreamYard's user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your Subathon streams. Whether you're hosting solo or with a team, you can seamlessly switch between scenes, adjust audio and video settings, and monitor viewer engagement without missing a beat.

By leveraging StreamYard's powerful features, you can elevate your Twitch Subathon to new heights, creating an engaging and memorable experience for both you and your audience. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!