Entrepreneurs, Public Leaders and Innovators Join the Young Global Leaders Class of 2026

日本語

Geneva, Switzerland, 16 April 2026 - The World Economic Forum today announces the 2026 class of Young Global Leaders, a cohort of 118 leaders under the age of 40, from 55 countries, spanning public service, innovation, research, civil society, entrepreneurship and culture.

This year's class is announced at a time when leaders are being tested by rapid technological advances, economic uncertainty and evolving expectations of institutions. The cohort brings together individuals who are not only excelling in their fields but also redefining leadership, demonstrating greater foresight, stronger public purpose and a deeper capacity to turn innovation into meaningful progress.

The new class brings together leaders at the highest levels of public life, founders building frontier companies, and professors, researchers and cultural figures driving progress in today's world. From Tomas Okmanas of Lithuania, Co-Founder and CEO of Nord Security, Dominican-American Olympic gold medallist Thea LaFond to Jennifer Zhang of Singapore, Co-Founder and CEO of WIZ.AI, and Ghanaian-American Professor Sally Nuamah of Northwestern University, the class reflects a generation of leaders who are global in outlook, interdisciplinary in approach and increasingly defined by innovation, excellence and impact.

"The most effective leaders today are those who combine vision with responsibility, innovation with prosperity and success with service," said Ida Jeng Christensen, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. "The Class of 2026 reflects a remarkable generation of people who are already expanding what leadership can look like across government, business, academia, civil society and culture."

Since its founding in 2004, the Forum of Young Global Leaders Foundation has brought together outstanding leaders who share a commitment to improving the state of the world, following a rigorous one-year selection process. Through a three-year leadership journey, members engage in executive learning, peer exchange, and cross-sector collaboration, while contributing perspectives and solutions to the World Economic Forum's broader work.

At a time when the world needs fresh thinking, credible role models and institutions that can adapt, the Young Global Leaders community remains a powerful source of ideas, energy, and leadership for a more innovative, resilient, and inclusive future.

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