Shannon Minter, Alan Cumming and Hilary Knight among LGBTQ+ change makers to make TIME magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People of 2026

TIME magazine has unveiled its 100 Most Influential People of 2026, with the newly released list reflecting a growing recognition of LGBTQ+ and trans leaders shaping law, culture, fashion and public life at a global level.

Published on 15 April, the annual TIME100 highlights individuals across politics, entertainment, activism, science and business whose actions are defining the year ahead. Notably, openly LGBTQ+ people - including several prominent trans figures - feature across multiple categories, underscoring how queer and trans influence is increasingly embedded in mainstream power structures rather than confined to the margins.

Among the most significant inclusions is Shannon Minter, the trans legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, recognised in the Pioneers category. A veteran civil rights attorney, Minter has spent decades at the forefront of landmark cases expanding protections for LGBTQ+ people in the United States, including litigation challenging bans on trans military service and discriminatory state laws.

The 2026 list also reflects LGBTQ+ influence in culture and entertainment, where visibility continues to play a powerful role in shaping public attitudes.

Actor and singer Jonathan Groff, who has spoken openly about navigating Hollywood as a gay man, is recognised for work that has crossed Broadway, television and film while challenging conventional portrayals of masculinity. Meanwhile, Alan Cumming, named among TIME’s Icons, is celebrated not only for his long-running career but for decades of outspoken advocacy on LGBTQ+ rights in the UK, the US and beyond.

In fashion, Matthieu Blazy, creative director at Chanel, appears on the list for redefining luxury design with a sensibility that blends innovation, craftsmanship and a more inclusive vision of beauty. His influence highlights how LGBTQ+ creatives continue to shape global taste, branding and cultural narratives far beyond the runway.

Hilary Knight, the USA hockey captain and Olympic gold medallist, is one of the most high‑profile openly lesbian athletes in the world. She appears on the 2026 TIME100 in the Innovators category, recognised not only for her sporting career but for transforming women’s professional ice hockey and championing equality in sport 

Editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs noted that there is “no single metric that defines influence”, emphasising that many of those included may not be household names, yet are changing systems, laws and cultural norms in lasting ways.

TIME will celebrate this year’s honourees at the TIME100 Summit and Gala in New York later this spring.