A standout group of artists, innovators, politicians, athletes, and more came together at a gala in Manhattan on Oct. 29 to celebrate the 2026 TIME100 Next list. The evening included a performance from Grammy-nominated singer Raye, whose recent hit singles, including “Where Is My Husband!’” have rocketed her into stardom after more than a decade of making music. The evening also allowed a space for honorees to toast to what gives them hope for the future, and who helped them achieve success.
Among those who spoke were Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, actor Himesh Patel, singer-songwriter and content creator Alex Warren, Food4Education founder Wawira Njiru, and Saturday Night Live star Ashley Padilla. Here’s a rundown of what each honoree said: Tyrese Maxey gave the evening’s first toast, beginning his remarks by recognizing all the other 2026 TIME100 Next honorees in attendance. The NBA All-Star closed out his toast by applauding all the honorees in the room.
Patel went on to talk about his own story. He grew up in a village in Cambridgeshire, England, where his parents ran a corner shop, and he delivered newspapers. When he landed his first acting gig at the age of 16, he continued, his parents “made sure” that he kept up his paper route each day.
He said that his story feels “unlikely because it’s sometimes been hard to believe I ever belong in rooms like this.” Patel observed that when TIME was founded in 1923, his ancestors were living in a village in Gujarat, India, where they “were still subjects of colonialism.” “103 years later, here I am, standing amongst you. I have those ancestors to thank,” he said. In the face of fear, they chose to hope.
Because my parents crossed oceans, defied the odds to build a new life in an unknown land. In the face of uncertainty, they chose to hope.” Patel called hope “an act of defiance,” and ended his remarks by encouraging everyone in the room to “choose to hope.” “All of us here are being told that we hold power and influence,” Patel said. Because imagine the power and the influence that act could hold.” Alex Warren opened his toast by sharing a story: when he was 7 years old, he climbed a tall tree and shouted down to his father, who was at the bottom and was prepared to catch him: “What if I fall?” “Without hesitation, he responds, ‘What if you fly?’” Warren recalled.
He was always so quick to instill hope and question what you thought was impossible. My dad was a superhero, and I wanted to impress him. I performed talent shows in our living room, singing my heart out.
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