TIME 100 Next

TIME 100 Next

TIME 100 Next is an annual list and special report published by Time that highlights emerging leaders and influential figures across America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other regions. Launched as a companion to the Time 100 list, the series aims to identify rising talents and trendsetters from fields including technology, politics, arts, science, and sports. Recipients often include entrepreneurs, activists, artists, researchers, and public figures who intersect with organizations such as United Nations, World Health Organization, Apple Inc., Google, and Microsoft.

Overview

TIME 100 Next showcases individuals expected to shape the near future, drawing attention to names ranging from established figures like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Angela Merkel to newer voices associated with movements and institutions such as Black Lives Matter, Fridays for Future, NHS, Harvard University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The list connects cultural creators like Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, BTS, and Rihanna with innovators tied to Tesla, Inc., SpaceX, Amazon, Pfizer, and Moderna. Features often include commentary from editors and profiles referencing events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 United States presidential election, the Paris Agreement, and the Me Too movement.

Selection Criteria and Process

Selection for the list is curated by editors at Time in consultation with contributors including journalists from outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, and The Guardian. Candidates are evaluated for influence, innovation, and momentum, with consideration of achievements tied to entities such as Stanford University, Oxford University, Columbia University, Goldman Sachs, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. The process combines nominations, editorial meetings, and fact-checking involving sources such as Reuters, Associated Press, Bloomberg L.P., and academic journals from publishers like Nature and Science Magazine. Profiles often highlight ties to foundations and awards including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellows Program, Tony Award, and Grammy Awards.

Notable Honorees by Year

The inaugural 2019 cohort featured individuals connected to institutions like Ava DuVernay's film work, collaborations with Netflix, and activism linked to groups such as March for Our Lives; other early honorees included innovators associated with Stripe, Robinhood Markets, and research at Johns Hopkins University. Subsequent lists included figures from the 2020s who intersected with crises and breakthroughs: scientists involved with Pfizer–BioNTech, Moderna, and laboratories at University of Oxford; politicians and organizers related to the European Union, African Union, PSDB, and Bharatiya Janata Party; cultural figures who released works through Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and film festivals like Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Honorees have also been founders of startups later acquired by Google LLC, Facebook/Meta, and Amazon, or leaders affiliated with UNICEF, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.

Impact and Reception

Inclusion on the list has amplified profiles of entrepreneurs linked to incubators such as Y Combinator and venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, boosted funding rounds from SoftBank, and increased media coverage across CNN, NBC News, CBS News, and international outlets including Al Jazeera and NHK. Cultural recognition has affected chart performance for artists on lists by Billboard and streaming metrics on Spotify, while academic and scientific honorees have seen collaboration offers from institutions such as MIT Media Lab and partnerships with corporations like IBM and Intel. Policymakers and activists named in the list have leveraged visibility in forums like the World Economic Forum and bilateral talks between United States and China.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics from publications including Slate, The Intercept, and opinion sections of The New York Times and The Guardian have questioned selections tied to corporate funding from entities like BlackRock, Berkshire Hathaway, and SoftBank. Debates have focused on perceived biases toward figures affiliated with Silicon Valley, Wall Street, or major media conglomerates such as Disney, Comcast, and Paramount Global, and on omissions of grassroots organizers from movements like Extinction Rebellion and labor unions represented by AFL–CIO. Other controversies concerned fact-checking and editorial transparency involving legal teams and publicists connected to honorees represented by agencies like CAA and WME, prompting discussions in outlets such as Politico and Axios.

Category:Lists of people