Byron Allen, Debbie Allen, Gina Prince-Bythewood, JAŸ-Z, New York Knicks starting 5 among 2026 EBONY POWER 100 honorees
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The annual gala recognizing the leaders, visionaries, and changemakers takes place on Nov. 9 in Los Angeles.
A who’s who of Black trailblazers in the fields of business, entertainment, sports, media, music, STEM and community leadership have been named to EBONY’s Power 100 list for 2026.
The full list, which was revealed on Monday (Oct. 5), honors the likes of Allen Media Group founder Byron Allen, author and professor Tayari Jones, JAŸ-Z, 50 Cent, Debbie Allen, Gracie’s Corner voice actress Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth, Quenlin Blackwell, iShowSpeed, Wisdom Kaye and more.
Since launching in 2012, the EBONY 100 has spotlighted numerous Black men, women, young adults and children who have reset what it means to dream, achieve, aspire and inspire, showcasing that Black genius evolves over generations and constantly endures.
“[The] EBONY Power 100 has always been more than a list; it is a cultural record of the people moving us forward,” Eden Bridgeman, EBONY Media’s CEO, said in a statement. “As EBONY continues to evolve, this franchise remains one of our most powerful platforms for recognizing the brilliance, leadership and creativity shaping our community and the world.”
The theme for the 2026 list is “The Stories We Shape,” centering on narrative ownership—the list in full aims to honor the individuals shaping culture, driving economic impact and expanding representation. Allen, the chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group, was recognized in the Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard, named after Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, the former NBA player-turned-businessman who founded EBONY’s parent company and is the father of EBONY’s current CEO, Eden.
Honorees will be publicly celebrated during the official awards ceremony on November 9 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. See a portion of the individuals named to this year’s EBONY Power 100 below.
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 & Managing Partner of 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. & AfroTech
Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies & 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 at Google and Alphabet