[FULL LIST] Dangote named only Nigerian on TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2026

The chairman of the Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has been included in TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2026.

The recognition marks his second appearance on the global list, having first been featured in 2014 when Bill Gates wrote about him on the magazine’s platform.

TIME released the 2026 list on Wednesday, highlighting individuals making significant impact across business, politics, culture, religion, and entertainment.

Among those listed this year are US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Also featured are Pope Leo XIV and top figures in technology and business, including Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and Alphabet, and Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube.

Dangote, recognised for his industrial contributions across Africa, is the only Nigerian on the list and appears in the titans and innovators category.

Others in that category include Reid Wiseman, commander of the Artemis II moon mission; Sundar Pichai; Neal Mohan; Michael and Susan Dell, founders of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation; and American fashion designer Ralph Lauren.

Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, commended Dangote on the TIME platform, describing him as “indefatigable, resilient, and foresighted,” and one of the greatest African entrepreneurs of the modern era.

He said Dangote’s investments in cement, sugar, and oil demonstrate the ability of Africans to create value using resources within the continent.

Elumelu also referenced the Dangote Refinery, describing it as Nigeria’s largest and a landmark achievement in advancing industrialisation in Africa.

Reflecting on Dangote’s personality and influence, Elumelu said he often draws inspiration from him during challenging times, noting that his achievements are matched by humility.

“He has inspired a generation of entrepreneurs, continues to inspire his friends, and can always be counted on to return a phone call,” Elumelu said.

“A great man, creating a great legacy,” he added.

Sam Jacobs, editor-in-chief of TIME magazine, said there is no single benchmark used to determine those who make the list.

“Our selections are led by the stories that are shaping the world each year and the people who write them,” he said.

He noted that while some of the individuals are widely known, others are recognised mainly within their respective fields, adding that this diversity contributes to the enduring appeal of the TIME100 list.

Jacobs further explained that the TIME100 community has expanded in recent years to focus on areas shaping the future, including artificial intelligence, climate, health, philanthropy, and emerging fields where digital creators are playing increasingly influential roles.

The 2026 list features 100 individuals across multiple categories, including Artists, Titans, Innovators, Icons, Leaders, and Pioneers, showcasing a wide range of global influence.

Below is the list of 100 people on the list.

Artists

• Luke Combs (by Ed Sheeran)
• Jennie (by Gracie Abrams)
• Keke Palmer (by Brian Grazer)
• Noah Wyle (by LeVar Burton)
• Dakota Johnson (by Taylor Swift)
• Jafar Panahi (by Nazanin Boniadi)
• Claire Danes (by Jesse Eisenberg)
• Benicio Del Toro (by Paul Thomas Anderson)
• Jonathan Groff (by Sutton Foster)
• Ranbir Kapoor (by Ayushmann Khurrana)
• Tayari Jones (by Imani Perry)
• Noah Kahan (by Marcus Mumford)
• Anderson Paak (by Natasha Lyonne)
• Rhea Seehorn (by Britt Lower)
• Coco Jones (by Jaylen Barron)
• Freida McFadden (by E.L. James)

Titans

• Zoe Saldaña (by James Cameron)
• Ben Stiller (by Bob Odenkirk)
• Aliko Dangote (by Tony Elumelu)
• Scottie Scheffler (by Tony Romo)
• Anok Yai (by Chanel Iman)
• Ralph Lauren (by Oprah Winfrey)
• Lynsey Addario (by Katie Couric)
• Susan Dell and Michael Dell (by Ray Dalio)
• Sundar Pichai (by Andrew Ng)
• David Ellison (by Jerry Bruckheimer)
• Precious Matsoso and Anne-Claire Amprou (by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)
• Lip-Bu Tan (by Harry Booth)

Innovators

• Nikki Glaser (by Chris Rock)
• Hilary Knight (by Malala Yousafzai)
• Vikas Khanna (by Eric Ripert)
• Lando Norris (by Paris Hilton)
• Mashama Bailey (by Kamala Harris)
• Matthieu Blazy (by Margaret Qualley)
• Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei (by Billy Perrigo)
• Noah Lyles (by Willy Chavarria)
• Yiyun Li (by Salman Rushdie)
• Tony Tyson (by Risa Wechsler)
• Cao Fei (by Miuccia Prada)
• John Furner (by Brian Niccol)
• Jeremy Allaire (by Denelle Dixon)
• Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari (by Kyla Mandel)
• Luciano Moreira (by Scott O’Neill)
• Neal Mohan (by Belinda Luscombe)
• Sabrina Walter (by Anna Mutavati)

Icons

• Wagner Moura (by Jeremy Strong)
• Kate Hudson (by Mindy Kaling)
• Alysa Liu (by Bowen Yang)
• Hilary Duff (by Nicole Richie)
• Alan Cumming (by Lisa Kudrow)
• Sterling Brown (By Kristen Bell)
• Ethan Hawke
• Chloe Kim
• Shirin Ebadi
• Walter Hood
• Victoria Beckham
• Rauw Alejandro
• Kica Matos

Leaders

• Pope Leo XIV
• Claudia Sheinbaun
• Marco Rubio
• Donald Trump
• Mark Carney
• Zohran Mamdani
• Xi Jinping
• Sanae Takaichi
• Benjamin Netanyahu
• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
• Steve Witkoff
• Gavin Newsom
• Gwynne Shotwell
• Balendra Shah
• Susie Wiles
• Tarique Rahman
• Mark Kelly
• Heather Gerken
• Dan Caine
• Henna Virkkunen
• Rafael Mariano Grossi
• Mette Frederiksen
• Jacob Frey
• Fatih Biro

Pioneers

• Dolores Huerta
• Reid Wiseman
• Josh D’Amaro
• Mamadou Amadou Ly
• Nancy Silverton
• MrBeast
• Mariangela Hungria
• C Wei
• Lauren Hersh
• Rachel Foster
• Shannon Minter
• Zabib Musa Loro
• Sarah Friar
• Kiran Musunuru
• Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas