Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion, Keke Palmer, Gina Prince-Bythewood and the New York Knicks champs Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges lead the 2026 Ebony Power 100 list. For more than 80 years, Ebony has recognized innovators, advocates, creatives and leaders paving the way impactfully and with distinction across industries, from entertainment and sports to STEM, politics, activism and community outreach. Previous Power 100 recipients include Academy Award-winning director Ryan Coogler, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, award-winning screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil and media personality Scott Evans.
Recognizing them isn’t only about honoring what they’ve achieved – it’s about recording the history they’re making so the generations behind them can see what’s possible.” The theme for this year’s list is “The Stories We Shape,” which centers the idea of “narrative ownership” and honors those leaders who are shaping culture, driving economic impact and expanding representation in real time. New this year is the Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard, named in honor of the late Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, founder of Ebony’s parent company and Bridgeman’s father. The 2026 class will be saluted at Ebony’s annual Power 100 Gala, held on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
The private, invite-only ceremony will be produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), the Emmy-winning company behind the BET Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with the red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by the 7:30 p.m. awards ceremony and a 10:30 p.m. post-reception. It is the annual convening of the people shaping the story of what’s next.” The complete list of 2026 Ebony Power 100 honorees is available on the magazine’s website.
This year’s class includes: Artists in Residence: Visionaries reshaping the cultural landscape through groundbreaking artistic expressionAlicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Grammy-winning artists, producers and cultural entrepreneursDebbie Allen, actress, choreographer and directorColson Whitehead, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning novelistCharm La’Donna, choreographer and creative directorRashid Johnson, contemporary visual artist Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard: Executives and entrepreneurs redefining what’s possible in businessLatriece Watkins, president and CEO, Sam’s Club U.S.Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO, Allen Media GroupStacy Brown-Philpot, founder and managing partner of Cherryrock CapitalTope Awotona, founder and CEO, Calendly Community Crusaders: Champions driving social change and community empowermentCommon, rapper, actor and activistBrent Leggs, president and CEO, National Trust for Historic PreservationArtis Stevens, president and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericaRev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO, National Council of Negro WomenVic Mensa, rapper and activist Entertainment Powerhouses: Cultural catalysts defining the future of media and entertainmentChanning Dungey, chairman, Warner Bros. Television GroupQuestlove, musician, filmmaker and authorKeke Palmer, actress, producer and media PersonalityGina Prince-Bythewood, director and screenwriterPearlena Igbokwe, chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted Generation Next: Rising stars breaking barriers and setting new standardsVictor Wembanyama, NBA player, San Antonio SpursQuenlin Blackwell, digital creator and actressNia Sioux, dancer, actress and authorJazlyn Guerra (“Jazzy’s World TV”), journalist and content creatorSean “The Science Kid” Atitogbe, STEM content creator Influential Creators: Digital pioneers shaping conversations and building communitiesiShowSpeed, livestreamer and YouTuberMarques Brownlee, technology reviewer and YouTuberWisdom Kaye, model and fashion content creatorGrace Wales Bonner, fashion designerMichael Seibel, partner emeritus, Y Combinator Leaders in Sports: Athletes and executives transforming the world of sportsNaomi Osaka, professional tennis playerNneka Ogwumike, WNBA player and president, WNBA Players AssociationRenee Montgomery, broadcaster and former WNBA championJalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, New York KnicksElana Meyers Taylor, Olympic bobsledder Media Mavens: Thought leaders revolutionizing how stories are told and sharedSheinelle 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 UnlockedJosh Johnson, Comedian and Writer Music Innovators: Art
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