From pop culture and sports to politics and technology, Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) figures are making a strong showing on TIME magazine’s 2026 list of the world’s most influential people.
In the artists category, familiar global names lead the way. K-pop star Jennie is recognized alongside Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi and Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor—a mix that reflects the growing reach of Asian creatives across different audiences.
-
- Sundar Pichai
-
- Lip-Bu Tan
On the business and technology front, C.C. Wei appears in the pioneers category, while industry heavyweights Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, and Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel are listed as titans.
-
- Alysa Liu
-
- Chloe Kim
The icons category brings together standout athletes and a longtime human rights advocate. Olympic champions Alysa Liu and Chloe Kim are honored alongside Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi.
-
- Zohran Mamdani
-
- Xi Jinping
-
- Sanae Takaichi
-
- Tarique Rahman
Meanwhile, the leaders category spans a wide political spectrum, featuring figures such as Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, and Bangladeshi politician Tarique Rahman.
-
- Yiyun Li
-
- Neal Mohan
Rounding out the list, the innovators category includes chef and humanitarian Vikas Khanna, writer Yiyun Li, artist Cao Fei, and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
See the full list here.