Rising leaders from across the globe converged in Manhattan on Thursday, Oct. 29, for the 2026 TIME100 Next Gala, an annual gathering designed to bring together influential figures spanning health, climate, business, sports, entertainment, and public service.
Among the evening’s most striking arrivals was Luis Carlos Rúa, who won election in Colombia this year following an unconventional anti-corruption Senate campaign. Rúa arrived wearing a full white elephant costume before shedding it for an all-black suit, carrying a stuffed white elephant as a symbolic reminder of incomplete public infrastructure projects in his home country.
The Manhattan venue buzzed with cross-industry networking as rising stars crossed paths between courses. Actor Himesh Patel connected with Food4Education founder Wawira Njiru, musician Sombr greeted actress Joey King, NBA player Tyrese Maxey shared a laugh with comedian and content creator Druski, and breakout horror film director Curry Barker stopped to chat with actor Paapa Essiedu.
The evening’s program featured a live musical performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Raye, who delivered a soulful rendition of Julie London’s “Cry Me a River” alongside “Happier Times Ahead” from her sophomore album, This Music May Contain Hope. Addressing the crowd, Raye touched on the central sentiment of the night’s toasts, telling attendees, “Hope is a cheesy, but necessary emotion.”
Attendees also participated in a portrait studio experience sponsored by Toyota, posing against a hand-crafted celestial set designed by art director Jana Frost. Photography from the studio captured numerous other prominent figures in attendance, including actors Marisa Abela, Jamie Bogyo, Dominic Sessa, Sarah Pidgeon, Isa Briones, Jalyn Hall, Eiza González, and Molly Gordon, alongside musicians Troye Sivan, Ravyn Lenae, Conan Gray, and Alex Warren.
Additional notable guests included television personality Donna Farizan, human rights lawyer and writer Julian Aguon, scientist Gretchen Goldman, photographer Sophie Elgort, entrepreneur Beca Michie, and Summer Fridays co-founders Lauren Ireland and Marianna Hewitt.
The 2026 gala received corporate support from presenting sponsors including Rolex, Toyota, American Airlines, Danantara, the Project Management Institute, and Target.
