EBONY UNVEILS 2026 POWER 100 LIST

As EBONY marks more than 80 years as the definitive voice of the Black American experience, the iconic media company today unveiled its 2026 Power 100 list, recognizing the leaders, visionaries, and changemakers shaping culture across business, entertainment, sports, media, music, STEM and community leadership. This year's list underscores EBONY's continued commitment: honoring Black excellence not as legacy alone, but as present-day leadership with measurable influence.

See the full list: View all 2026 EBONY Power 100 honorees now at EBONY.com/Power100.

This year's honorees will be celebrated at the 2026 EBONY Power 100 Gala on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, produced in partnership with Emmy-winning Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), the production company behind the BET Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The private, invitation-only ceremony begins with a 5 p.m. red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by the 7:30 p.m. awards ceremony, and a 10:30 p.m. post-reception.

"The Power 100 has always documented the people moving our culture forward, and this year's class demonstrates the extraordinary breadth of that influence. 'The Stories We Shape' is about ensuring Black people remain at the center of telling our stories and defining our collective future," said Eden Bridgeman, CEO of EBONY.

The 2026 theme, "The Stories We Shape," centers narrative ownership, honoring the people shaping culture, driving economic impact, and expanding representation in real time. Among this year's categories is the Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard, named in honor of the late Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman, founder of EBONY's parent company and father of EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman.

This year's class includes:

Artists in Residence: Visionaries reshaping the cultural landscape through groundbreaking artistic expression

• Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Grammy-winning Artists, Producers, and Cultural Entrepreneurs
• Debbie Allen, Actress, Choreographer and Director
• Colson Whitehead, Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Novelist
• Charm La'Donna, Choreographer and Creative Director
• Rashid Johnson, Contemporary Visual Artist

Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard: Executives and entrepreneurs redefining what's possible in business

• Latriece Watkins, President and CEO, Sam's Club U.S.
• Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Allen Media Group
• Stacy Brown-Philpot, Founder and Managing Partner, Cherryrock Capital
• Tope Awotona, Founder and CEO, Calendly

Community Crusaders: Champions driving social change and community empowerment

• Common, Rapper, Actor, and Activist
• Brent Leggs, President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Artis Stevens, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO, National Council of Negro Women
• Vic Mensa, Rapper and Activist

Entertainment Powerhouses: Cultural catalysts defining the future of media and entertainment

• Channing Dungey, Chairman, Warner Bros. Television Group
• Questlove, Musician, Filmmaker and Author
• Keke Palmer, Actress, Producer and Media Personality
• Gina Prince-Bythewood, Director and Screenwriter
• Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted

Generation Next: Rising stars breaking barriers and setting new standards

• Victor Wembanyama, NBA Player, San Antonio Spurs
• Quenlin Blackwell, Digital Creator and Actress
• Nia Sioux, Dancer, Actress and Author
• Jazlyn Guerra ("Jazzy's World TV"), Journalist and Content Creator
• Sean "The Science Kid" Atitogbe, STEM Content Creator

Influential Creators: Digital pioneers shaping conversations and building communities

• iShowSpeed, Livestreamer and YouTuber
• Marques Brownlee, Technology Reviewer and YouTuber
• Wisdom Kaye, Model and Fashion Content Creator
• Grace Wales Bonner, Fashion Designer
• Michael Seibel, Partner Emeritus, Y Combinator

Leaders in Sports: Athletes and executives transforming the world of sports

• Naomi Osaka, Professional Tennis Player
• Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA Player and President, WNBA Players Association
• Renee Montgomery, Broadcaster and Former WNBA Champion
• Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
• Elana Meyers Taylor, Olympic Bobsledder

Media Mavens: Thought leaders revolutionizing how stories are told and shared

• Sheinelle Jones, Co-anchor, TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle
• Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels, Co-hosts, MS NOW's Clock It with Symone & Eugene
• Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan, Co-hosts, Higher Learning Podcast
• Jason Lee, Founder and CEO, Hollywood Unlocked
• Josh Johnson, Comedian and Writer

Music Innovators: Artists and executives pushing musical boundaries

• Jay-Z, Entrepreneur and Founder, Roc Nation
• Megan Thee Stallion, Grammy-winning Rapper
• T.I., Rapper and Entrepreneur
• Larry Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder, Gamma
• Sherrese Clarke, Founder and CEO, HarbourView Equity Partners

STEM Trailblazers: Pioneers advancing technology and scientific innovation

• Morgan DeBaun, Founder and CEO, Blavity Inc. and AfroTech
• Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution
• Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Founder and CEO, Goodr
• Dr. Ayanna Howard, President, Spelman College
• Dr. James Manyika, Senior Vice President, Google and Alphabet

The complete list of 2026 EBONY Power 100 honorees is available at EBONY.com/Power100. Follow EBONY on social media for additional Power 100 updates: @EBONYMagazine on Instagram, @ebony_magazine on TikTok, and @EBONY on X and Facebook.

The Return of EBONY Power 100: Honoring the Icons, Innovators and Leaders of Today and Tomorrow

EBONY proudly announces the return of EBONY Power 100, the iconic annual celebration recognizing the individuals who are redefining what leadership, influence and excellence look like across the global Black community. Building on a legacy that spans more than eight decades, EBONY Power 100 continues to spotlight the trailblazers whose work is transforming culture, business, sports, media, politics, the arts and beyond.

Now entering a new chapter, EBONY Power 100 2026 invites the public to help identify the leaders, creators, executives, advocates and disruptors whose contributions are moving communities forward and shaping tomorrow's possibilities. Nominations are open now and will close on May 8, 2026.

"EBONY Power 100 is more than a celebration of achievement — it is a reflection of the vision, leadership and cultural impact shaping our future in real time," said Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Chief Executive Officer of EBONY. "As we open nominations for 2026, we are proud to honor the innovators, changemakers and trailblazers whose influence is moving our communities, our culture and our legacy forward."

For generations, EBONY has chronicled the people and moments that define Black America and the broader diaspora. EBONY Power 100 continues that tradition by recognizing a dynamic cross-section of honorees whose leadership resonates across industries and generations. From established icons to emerging visionaries, this year's program will celebrate those whose work embodies innovation, purpose and cultural power.

The call for nominations is open to the public, encouraging communities, colleagues and supporters to submit the names of individuals whose influence deserves recognition on one of culture's most prestigious stages.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 EBONY POWER 100 List

Black excellence has a home, and for eight decades, that home has been EBONY. Today, as the iconic and beloved Black-owned media company prepares to celebrate 80 years of championing and elevating the Black identity through powerful storytelling, around the globe, we are now proud to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 EBONY Power 100 List.

The EBONY Power 100 captures lightning in a bottle—the dynamic forces who aren't just participating in culture, but transforming it. As part of our enduring mission to amplify and celebrate Black voices, we recognize the visionaries who turn obstacles into opportunities, the innovators whose dreams become our daily reality, and the voices that resonate from boardrooms to recording studios, research labs to movie sets. From activists to actors, innovative scientists to business leaders, these are individuals who not only break barriers, but are redefining what's possible for future generations, while embodying the spirit creative expression that has defined EBONY for decades.

Past honorees include Cynthia Erivo, USHER, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Deion Sanders, Gayle King, and Pat McGrath.

Submissions are now open for the 2025 EBONY Power 100 list. The full list of 2025 EBONY Power 100 categories include:

• Artists in Residence
• Business Disrupters
• Community Crusaders
• Entertainment Powerhouses
• Generation Next
• Influential Creators
• Leaders in Sports
• Media Mavens
• Music Innovators
• Stem Trailblazers

To learn more about EBONY Power 100 and to nominate visit:
https://www.ebony.com/ebony-power-100-nomination-form.

All nominations must be submitted by June 13, 2025. Final honorees will be celebrated at the highly anticipated EBONY Power 100 ceremony in Los Angeles November 2025.

For inquiries about the EBONY Power 100 contact:

• For EBONY Power 100 list inquires - EP100@ebony.com
• For sales and brand partnerships – Duryea Ruffins, druffins@ebony.com
• For PR & marketing - Deon Harris, dharris@ebony.com