Other names include New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman. Newly elected leaders, Balendra Shah of Nepal and Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh, are also on the list.
TIME said the people on the list are “changing culture in unprecedented ways” and added that “influence comes in many forms,” including “a character imagined by novelist Tayari Jones; a meal prepared by chef Vikas Khanna; a moment captured by photographer Lynsey Addario.”It also said, “Influence, as we often say, has no age requirement. The list includes both 96-year-old Huerta and 35-year-old Balendra Shah, elected Nepal’s Prime Minister following the country’s Gen Z protests.”
The 2026 list includes individuals across politics, business, technology, science, entertainment and culture.
Three Indians on the list
Three individuals of Indian origin are included: Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, actor Ranbir Kapoor and chef Vikas Khanna. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan is also named.
On Sundar Pichai, TIME said, “Few leaders have brought artificial intelligence to more people.” It noted that since becoming Google CEO in 2015, he has overseen the translation of research into products used by billions. It added that Google continues to expand AI tools such as Google AI Studio, Notebook LM, Gemini CLI and Antigravity, and remains a major AI company shaping how information is created and used.
For Vikas Khanna, TIME described him as a “man of extraordinary heart.” It said his work connects people across backgrounds using food. It added, “With Bungalow, he has created more than a restaurant—it is a living expression of storytelling.”
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana wrote Ranbir Kapoor’s profile. He said, “there are actors who chase legacy and there are actors who become one through their craft. Ranbir Kapoor is the latter.” TIME said Kapoor’s performances reflect a quieter style and that he acts as a cultural bridge. It added, “Ranbir isn’t just a movie star—he’s a storyteller talking to a global audience.”
On Neal Mohan, TIME said he has “supercharged” YouTube’s growth. It said the platform now hosts a wide range of content. Michelle Khare said, “Approachability is one of Neal’s superpowers.”
TIME said Zohran Mamdani has given the Democratic Party a “new source of momentum.” It noted concerns about his housing plans, political relationships and the city’s finances.
It also said the expected exit of businesses and wealthy residents has not occurred, and that he has worked with Governor Kathy Hochul on childcare, secured federal housing funds and received praise from President Donald Trump.
Full list by category1. Global Leaders & Policymakers: Pope Leo XIV, Mark Carney, Mette Frederiksen, Claudia Sheinbaum, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Xi Jinping, Tarique Rahman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Sanae Takaichi, Balendra Shah, Henna Virkkunen.
2. US Political Figures: Donald Trump, Gavin Newsom, Marco Rubio, Mark Kelly, Zohran Mamdani, Jacob Frey, Steve Witkoff, Susie Wiles, Dan Caine.
3. Business, Tech & AI: Gwynne Shotwell, Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, Sundar Pichai, Neal Mohan, Michael Dell, Susan Dell, MrBeast, C.C. Wei, Jeremy Allaire, Sarah Friar, John Furner, David Ellison, Josh D’Amaro, Aliko Dangote, Lip-Bu Tan, Fatih Birol.
4. Science, Space & Health: Reid Wiseman, Tony Tyson, Kiran Musunuru, Precious Matsoso, Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, Mariangela Hungary, Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, Luciano Moreira, Anne-Claire Amprou.
5. Advocates & Changemakers: Shirin Ebadi, Dolores Huerta, Heather Gerken, Kica Matos, Shannon Minter, Lauren Hersh, Mamadou Amadou Ly, Zabib Musa Loro, Rachel Foster, Sabrina Walter.
6. Entertainers: Ben Stiller, Benicio del Toro, Zoe Saldana, Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Dakota Johnson, Ranbir Kapoor, Claire Danes, Keke Palmer, Sterling K Brown, Alan Cumming, Noah Wyle, Anderson Paak, Jonathan Groff, Wagner Moura, Rhea Seehorn, Jafar Panahi, Nikki Glaser.
7. Musicians: Luke Combs, Coco Jones, Jennie, Hilary Duff, Rauw Alejandro, Noah Kahan.
8. Athletes: Scottie Scheffler, Chloe Kim, Lando Norris, Noah Lyles, Hilary Knight, Alysa Liu.
9. Arts, Fashion & Culture: Ralph Lauren, Victoria Beckham, Matthieu Blazy, Anok Yai, Nancy Silverton, Vikas Khanna, Mashama Bailey, Lynsey Addario, Cao Fei, Tayari Jones, Yiyun Li, Freida McFadden, Walter Hood.
