TIME reveals the annual TIME100 Next list, highlighting the 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future of their fields and defining the next generation of influence.
This list is not a prediction of who will be a legend, but a recognition of who is already driving change across the globe, from the labs of brilliant scientists to the world’s largest concert stages and the front lines of activism. The individuals on the TIME100 Next are not simply waiting their turn—they are building a better future right now.
TIME selects guest contributors to write about members of the 2025 TIME100 Next list. The 2025 annual list includes: Ariana Grande on Jonathan Bailey, Selena Gomez on Becky G, Sarah Jessica Parker on Amanda Jones, Pedro Pascal on Nico Parker, Dakota Johnson on Tate McRae, Michael Keaton on Kaitlyn Dever, Cate Blanchett on Emi Mahmoud, Miranda Lambert on Lainey Wilson, Diana Taurasi on Paige Bueckers, Ted Cruz on Elliston Barry, Kygo on Taylor Fritz, Rose Byrne on Meghann Fahy, Teyana Taylor on GloRilla, Sara Bareilles on Helen J Shen, Colman Domingo on Tramell Tillman, Jodi Picoult on Ali Hazelwood, Jenny Han on Lola Tung, Kerry Kennedy on Efrén Olivares, and more.
There are over 50 women featured on this year’s list: Paige Bueckers, Sara Ziff, Erika Kirk, Layla Zaidane, Bertha Zúniga Cáceres, Rose Njeri, Catalina Martínez Coral, Hannah Fried, Amanda Jones, Maggie Kang, Kara Young, Katey Rusch, Casey Smith, and more.
Entertainers on this year’s list include: Jonathan Bailey, Tate McRae, Gracie Abrams, Damson Idris, Becky G, GloRilla, Meghann Fahy, Jack Quaid, Teyana Taylor, Kaitlyn Dever, Lainey Wilson, Fuerza Regida, Rema, Monica Barbaro, Nico Parker, David Corenswet, Manny Jacinto, Lola Tung, Miles Caton, Tramell Tillman, Megan Stalter, Sanaz Toossi, Nomzamo Mbatha, and more.
Athletes featured on this year’s list include: Lamine Yamal, Paige Bueckers, Taylor Fritz, Jeeno Thitikul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Fashion, visual, literary, and culinary figures on this year’s list include: Ocean Vuong, Ali Hazelwood, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Ashleigh Shanti, Arjav Ezekiel, Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Kartik Kumra, Tadáskía, and more.
Political figures on this year’s list include: Karoline Leavitt, Kristrun Frostadottir, Irfaan Ali, Gabriel Galípolo, Ruben Gallego, Byron Donalds, Vico Sotto, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, Emma Theofelus, Sabin Nsanzimana, Zack Polanski, Ryosuke Takashima, Brandon Scott, Alex Bruesewitz, and more.
Business, technology, and innovation leaders include: Wang Ning, Fatoumata Ba, Cristóbal Valenzuela, Phoebe Gates, Sophia Kianni, Allison Ellsworth, Ben Lamm, Shantanu Agarwal, Lalit Keshre, Thibaud Hug de Larauze, Shayne Coplan, Shreya Murthy, Jomana R. Alrashid, and more.
Health and science leaders on the list include: April Koh, Susan Bullman, Andrew Miller, David Fajgenbaum, Neil Vora, and more.
Leaders whose work is driving change on issues of equality and justice include: Dara Eskridge, Nina Gualinga, Emi Mahmoud, Viktoria Radvanyi, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Efrén Olivares, Alex Sheldon, Marshall Hatch Jr., and more.
Leaders whose work is making their communities and industries more sustainable include: Bob Mumgaard, Brandon Sorbom, Charles Hua, Thibaud Hug de Larauze, Shantanu Agarwal, and more.
While the TIME100 Next list has no age requirements, the youngest person on the 2025 list is Elliston Berry, age 16.
The TIME100 Next was created to recognize that influence no longer follows a traditional power structure. It is born from vision, creativity, and the courage to challenge the status quo.
The individuals on this year’s list—nominated by TIME’s global network of correspondents and former TIME100 alumni—are united by a profound sense of purpose. They are using their platform, their voice, or their unique skill set to answer the most urgent questions of our time. They remind us that the most significant transformations often begin not in the halls of established power, but with a singular idea or a brave act by an emerging leader.
