This year's Creative Class celebrates the thinkers, builders, and dreamers who treat curiosity as calling.

CELEBRATING 83 CREATIVES
ACROSS 6 CATEGORIES

CLICK A FOLDER TO MEET THE 2026 HONOREES

2026 Creative
of The Year

2026 Creative of the Year - Ryan Coogler - Picture of him on a Polaroid..

OAKLAND, CA

CITY

FILMMAKER + PRODUCER

TITLE

Ryan Coogler builds his work through close observation — of people, places, history, and power — returning to the same questions with increasing precision across films that move between the intimate and the epic. In a cultural moment where speed often substitutes for depth, his career reflects the discipline of staying with the work long enough for it to say something lasting. It’s creative leadership shaped by study, not trend — and why he stands as our 2026 Creative of the Year.


Entrepreneurship & Tech - Disruptive innovators who use their platforms & talent to push the envelope with future-thinking initiatives.
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Content Creation - Innovative creatives who transform digital spaces into vibrant hubs of inspiration, through compelling storytelling and stunning visuals.
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Health + Wellness - Selfless leaders that guide wellness conversations and develop resources to meet people where they are in their journey.

Entertainment + Arts - Brilliant artisans that utilize their talents to drive impact through performance and artistry.
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Social Good & Community - Inspiring change makers that utilize their voice to be advocates of culture and impact.
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Fashion + Beauty. Prolific creatives with an eye for art and beauty, who use their craft to amplify Black stories.
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Meet The 2026

Creative Class Council

Each year, we collaborate with a rotating group of Creative Class
alumni to help identify the next cohort of creatives shaping culture
and ensure the list is thoughtful, representative, and intentional.

  • B. Hawk Snipes - BTFA COLLECTIVE ARTIVIST (2025)

    B. Hawk | Snipes

    BTFA COLLECTIVE ARTIVIST

  • Bimma Williams - MARKETING CONSULTANT (2024)

    Bimma | Williams

    MARKETING CONSULTANT

  • Elyse Fox - FOUNDER, SAD GIRLS CLUB (2023)

    Elyse | Fox

    FOUNDER, SAD GIRLS CLUB

  • Georgina Ogirri - FOUNDER, GRISÉ NYC (2025)

    Georgina | Ogirri

    FOUNDER, GRISÉ NYC

  • Jamiersen Green - FOUNDER, LEADER QUALITY (2025)

    Jamiersen | Green

    FOUNDER, LEADER QUALITY

  • Josef Adamu - CREATIVE DIRECTOR (2024)

    Josef | Adamu

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  • Justin Blanco - FOUNDER, NEW YORK PENN (2024)

    Justin | Blanco

    FOUNDER, NEW YORK PENN

  • Simi | Moonlight - WRITER + CONTENT CREATOR (2022)

    Simi | Moonlight

    WRITER + CONTENT CREATOR

  • Tatiana "Yan" Snead - MUSIC EDITOR, SIRIUSXM (2025)

    Tatiana "Yan" Snead

    MUSIC EDITOR, SIRIUSXM

  • Temi | Ibisanmi - CREATIVE DIRECTOR + PHOTOGRAPHER (2025)

    Temi | Ibisanmi

    CREATIVE DIRECTOR + PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Tola Lawal - FOUNDER, GYRL WONDER (2023)

    Tola | Lawal

    FOUNDER, GYRL WONDER