30X30: Meet the Class of 2026
Our 2026 guide sits at the intersection of culture and capital, where influence is no longer confined to a single industry, and momentum matters as much as legacy. Across music, sport, film, technology, science, and entrepreneurship, this year’s cohort reflects a generation that is building in public, scaling quickly, and reshaping the terms of success as they go.
Some are converting digital attention into global touring careers. Others are redefining what Canadian sport looks like on the world stage. Founders here are not simply launching companies. Rather, they are building infrastructure for how we live, invest, eat, and access care. In film and television, new voices are widening the aperture of representation and authorship, while athletes are expanding the commercial and cultural reach of their disciplines.
What connects them is less a shared path than a shared velocity: early achievement paired with outsized ambition, and a willingness to operate beyond traditional gatekeepers. This is a snapshot of the people actively shaping markets, culture, and meaning in real time.
Meet the Class of 2026.
Alessia Cara
Ten years is enough time for almost anything to change. Entire industries can reinvent themselves. Technologies can reshape culture. Careers can peak and fade. Audiences can move on.
And yet, speaking with Alessia Cara, one gets the sense that while much around her has changed, the essential qualities that first connected her to millions of listeners remain remarkably intact.
The voice is still there, carrying the same warmth and introspection that made “Here” one of the defining songs of the last decade. The curiosity is still there, too. So is the thoughtful self-awareness that has always separated her from many of her contemporaries. What has changed is something less tangible but perhaps more important: the pressure.
Continue reading our full cover story on Alessia Cara.
Preston Pablo
At just 25 years old, Preston Pablo has already accomplished what many artists spend a lifetime pursuing. With more than 799 million global streams, a JUNO Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, multiple chart-topping singles, and a growing international audience, the Timmins, Ontario native has established himself as one of Canada’s most successful young pop artists.
Discovered after self-releasing music as a teenager, Pablo quickly turned early momentum into mainstream success. His quadruple-platinum breakthrough single “Flowers Need Rain” became a defining Canadian pop hit, reaching No. 1 on radio and helping introduce his emotionally resonant songwriting to audiences across the country.
For aspiring creators growing up outside major cultural centres, Pablo’s journey carries added significance. Raised in Northern Ontario, he has proven that global success can emerge from anywhere. As one of our nation’s most streamed artists of his generation, he is helping shape the future of Canadian pop music.
MICO
At 23, MICO has become one of Canada’s fastest-rising music talents, transforming a loyal online following into a global career. The Toronto-born Filipino-Canadian singer-songwriter leveraged platforms like Discord and TikTok to build a devoted fan base before landing a major-label deal with Columbia Records and headlining sold-out international tours. Through his genre-blending sound and deeply personal songwriting, MICO has emerged as a defining voice for a generation navigating identity, connection, and growing up in the digital age.
Sofia Camara
There’s a certain gravity to Sofia Camara’s rise; one that feels less like a sudden breakout and more like a steady pull toward something already undeniable. The Toronto-born artist has quietly become one of pop’s most resonant new voices, amassing over 226 million streams and translating early viral momentum into sustained global reach. A 2026 JUNO Awards performer and Breakthrough Artist nominee, Camara continues to build a career defined by emotional clarity, scale, and staying power.
Elysia Biro
Raised between the forests of Vancouver Island and the rigor of classical conservatory training, Elysia Biro has built a career defined by technical command and stylistic fluidity. A Royal Conservatory of Toronto graduate who went on to earn both a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Master’s at the University of York, she has already been signed to both Universal Music Canada and Deutsche Grammophon, an uncommon duality that signals crossover ambition at a global level. Biro’s growing digital reach, shaped by viral performances and jazz transcription content, has positioned her among a new generation redefining how virtuosic musicianship circulates online.
Aqyila
Emerging from Toronto’s next wave of soul storytellers, Aqyila first broke through in 2021 with “Vibe for Me (Bob for Me),” earning a JUNO nomination and signaling a songwriter with early precision. Her debut EP For the Better expanded that momentum, anchored by “Hello,” a track that won a JUNO Award and cemented her reputation for emotionally direct, melody-driven R&B. In the years since, Aqyila has moved with steady acceleration, turning viral moments into sustained cultural impact, with over 186 million worldwide streams and 6 billion short-form video views. Touring North America, Aqyila drew critical acclaim from Billboard, BET, Vibe, and The New Yorker, each noting her arrival among the genre’s most assured voices. With global sync placements, festival stages, and growing international recognition, Aqyila is actively expanding R&B’s boundaries.
Alphonso Davies
Few Canadian athletes have reshaped the global perception of the country’s soccer identity quite like Alphonso Davies. From a refugee camp upbringing to becoming one of the most electrifying full-backs in world football, Davies has turned speed into a signature and opportunity into impact. As he steps onto the World Cup stage representing Canada this summer, his presence signals more than elite performance; it marks a generational shift in Canadian sport. Across club and country, he continues to expand what visibility, ambition, and excellence look like for young athletes nationwide.
Kia Nurse
Long before the Toronto Tempo tipped off their inaugural season, Kia Nurse had already spent years helping build the foundation for this moment.
One of the most accomplished athletes in Canadian basketball history, Nurse has become synonymous with the rise of the women’s game in Canada. A two-time NCAA champion at UConn, WNBA All-Star, three-time Olympian, and longtime leader of Canada’s national team, she has spent more than a decade proving that Canadian talent belongs on the sport’s biggest stages. Her impact, however, extends well beyond the stat sheet.
In 2026, Nurse added another historic milestone to her résumé when she signed with the Toronto Tempo, becoming the first Canadian player to join the roster of the WNBA’s first franchise outside the United States. The move felt less like a homecoming and more like the culmination of years of advocacy, excellence, and visibility that helped make a Canadian WNBA team possible in the first place.
Throughout her career, Nurse has consistently embraced the responsibility of being a role model for the next generation. Whether representing Canada on the Olympic stage, competing in professional leagues around the world, or serving as a prominent media voice for the sport, she has helped elevate women’s basketball into the national conversation. Her influence has inspired a generation of young athletes who now see professional pathways that were far less visible when she began her journey.
Jonathan David
Long before global stages fully caught up to the scale of Canadian soccer ambition, Jonathan David quietly became one of its most reliable exports. The 26-year-old, Ottawa-raised athlete has evolved into a defining figure for Canada’s national team, carrying expectation across domestic and European competition. As Canada competes on the World Cup stage this summer, his blend of precision finishing and composure underscores a broader rise in the country’s football identity. His career reflects sustained excellence, leadership, and the growing global footprint of Canadian talent.
Kiki Rice
A rookie season rarely arrives with this much certainty attached to it. Kiki Rice has stepped into the professional game with Toronto Tempo (the WNBA’s first international franchise) and already feels less like a newcomer than a cornerstone. At UCLA, she was defined by control, composure, and an ability to elevate everyone around her. In Toronto, that same steadiness is translating into immediate impact: creating advantages under pressure, embracing physicality, and setting a competitive tone on both ends of the floor. Not even a full season in, Rice is already part of a larger story: one about expansion, ambition, and a franchise building its identity in real time.
Bennedict Mathurin
At just 24 years old, Bennedict Mathurin has already accomplished what many aspiring athletes spend a lifetime chasing. From Montreal playgrounds to the NBA, the former sixth overall draft pick has emerged as one of basketball’s most promising young stars, building his career through relentless discipline, self-belief, and a determination to create opportunities for others along the way.
For Mathurin, success has never been about shortcuts. Growing up in a city (Montreal) that produced relatively few NBA players (six, to be specific), Mathurin learned early that reaching the highest level would require an uncommon level of commitment. “I think my greatest gift is just my mindset and my work ethic,” he says. “People get to see the end results, but they don’t get to see the hard-working part.”
That mentality has fueled every stage of his journey, from earning a scholarship to the University of Arizona to hearing his name called on NBA Draft night, a moment he describes as the culmination of years of sacrifice and preparation. Yet reaching the league was never the finish line. “You don’t want to just be a sixth pick in the draft,” he says. “You want more.”
What distinguishes Mathurin, however, is his understanding that achievement is deeply connected to opportunity. Throughout his career, he has reflected on how access (or the lack of it) shapes young people’s futures. Having grown up without many of the elite camps and development opportunities available to athletes today, he knows firsthand how transformative a single chance can be.
That perspective has inspired his growing commitment to community work through the Arthur and Family Foundation, which he launched alongside his sister. While rooted in sport, the foundation’s mission extends far beyond basketball, helping young people build confidence, ambition, and the mindset needed to succeed in any field.
“This is more than basketball,” Mathurin says. “Whether it’s becoming a chef or an engineer, it’s about understanding that things are earned and that you can go out there and make your life the way you want it to be.”
As his influence continues to grow, Mathurin remains focused on the same principles that brought him here: patience, hard work, and continuous growth. His definition of success has evolved beyond accolades alone. “Success for me is more about being happy in life,” he says. “Becoming who you’ve always wanted to be.”
For a new generation of athletes and leaders, Mathurin is proving that greatness is measured not only by what you achieve, but by the opportunities you create for others.
Jesse Luketa
Jesse Luketa has carved out a place in professional football defined less by expectation and more by intent. From Ottawa to the NFL, his trajectory reflects a player who has never waited for access, only created it. One of the few Canadians ever drafted into the league, Luketa represents a growing cohort of athletes reshaping what global football pipelines look like, and who gets to be in them.
On the field, he has evolved into a modern defensive asset: adaptable, detail-oriented, and trusted across multiple roles. That versatility is the product of a mindset that prioritizes consistency over recognition. For Luketa, value is built in the unseen moments: the preparation, the accountability, the ability to be relied upon every single day. Talent opened the door. Discipline keeps him inside the building.
Read Jesse’s full cover story here.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
For a generation of Canadian basketball fans, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become the benchmark. The Hamilton-born superstar has risen from promising prospect to one of the NBA’s defining players. Yet his influence extends well beyond the hardwood. As the face of Team Canada and a global ambassador for the game, Gilgeous-Alexander has helped elevate Canadian basketball’s reputation on the world stage while inspiring the next wave of talent at home. His growing impact across fashion, culture, and brand partnerships underscores a broader truth: Shai is an active player in shaping the future of basketball in Canada.
Saroya Tinker
Change in hockey rarely happens by accident, and few people have done more to drive it than Saroya Tinker. A former Yale standout, professional player, Isobel Cup champion, broadcaster, and advocate, Tinker has built a career that extends far beyond the ice. As Manager of Culture Impact at the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), she is helping shape the league’s approach to equity, inclusion, and community engagement while influencing what the future of women’s sports can look like. Through Black Girl Hockey Club Canada she has also opened doors for young athletes who have historically been underrepresented in the game. Her impact is measured not only by her accomplishments, but by the opportunities she is creating for others to follow.
Victoria Mboko
Measured in poise rather than years, Victoria Mboko has emerged as one of Canada’s young forces in tennis, turning early promise into consistent results across the pro circuits. Her rapid rise through ITF events, appearances on the WTA stage, and breakthrough partnerships (including a memorable doubles moment alongside Serena Williams) signal a player operating with veteran composure. Beyond results, Mboko represents a new generation of Canadian talent reshaping expectations of longevity, excellence, and global competitiveness in the sport.
Jack Innanen
Before he ever stepped onto a television set, Jack Innanen was building an audience from a bedroom in Cambridge, Ontario, armed with little more than a camera, a sharp sense of humour, and an instinctive understanding of how people connect online.
Part of a new generation of multi-hyphenate entertainers, Innanen has successfully bridged the gap between digital influence and mainstream entertainment. While studying astrophysics at the University of Toronto, he began posting one-man comedy sketches to TikTok, transforming everyday observations and distinctly Canadian characters into viral moments that resonated with millions. What started as an online creative outlet quickly evolved into one of the country’s most compelling emerging entertainment careers, earning him more than three million followers and establishing him as a standout comedic voice.
Rather than remaining confined to social media, Innanen leveraged that momentum into a professional acting career, relocating to New York and proving that internet fame could be a launchpad rather than a destination. His breakout role in FX’s Adults showcased his ability to translate digital charisma into compelling screen performances and introduced him to audiences far beyond the platforms where he first built his following. That success led to another major milestone when Dan Levy cast him in Netflix’s Big Mistakes, signalling Innanen’s arrival as one of Canada’s most promising young acting talents.
By turning self-made digital storytelling into a thriving career in film and television, he has become a blueprint for a new generation of creators. In doing so, he’s helping redefine what Canadian talent can look like on a global stage.
Anna Lambe
At a time when conversations around representation in film and television are evolving, Anna Lambe is helping redefine what Indigenous storytelling can look like on screen. The Iqaluit-born Inuk actor has emerged as one of the most important young voices in Canadian entertainment; not only for the roles she chooses, but for what her growing success signals about the future of the industry.
Since her breakout performance in The Grizzlies, Lambe has built an impressive body of work that spans acclaimed productions including Trickster, Three Pines, and HBO’s True Detective: Night Country. Across each project, she has demonstrated a rare ability to balance emotional depth with authenticity, bringing nuance and humanity to characters that challenge long-standing stereotypes about Indigenous communities.
Her star reached new heights with North of North, the groundbreaking Arctic comedy that became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most celebrated Canadian series of the year. Set and filmed in Nunavut, the series placed contemporary Inuit life at the center of the story, resonating with audiences across Canada and internationally. In 2026, the show captured nine Canadian Screen Awards, while Lambe earned the award for Best Lead Performer in a Comedy, cementing her status as one of the country’s breakout talents.
Yet Lambe’s impact extends far beyond accolades. Through her work, she has become a powerful advocate for Indigenous visibility, helping create space for Inuit stories to be told by Inuit voices. Her performances consistently challenge audiences to see the North not as a distant backdrop, but as a living, contemporary community rich with culture, humour, ambition, and complexity.
Miku Martineau
Some careers announce themselves gradually; Miku Martineau’s has arrived at full speed. The Japanese-Canadian actor has quickly established herself as one of the most promising young talents working across film and television today, building an impressive résumé that spans action blockbusters, prestige dramas, and genre-defining franchises. After breaking out in Kate alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson, Martineau has continued to elevate her profile through standout roles in projects including Honor Society, Star Trek: Section 31, BET, and the upcoming Netflix series Crew Girl. As a young Asian Canadian performer leading major international productions, Martineau is helping broaden representation on screen while proving that Canadian talent can compete (and lead) on a global stage.
Rohan Campbell
In an era when audiences are drawn to actors who can move effortlessly between genres, Rohan Campbell has become one of Canada’s most exciting breakout talents. The Calgary-born actor has built an impressive body of work spanning television, film, and pop culture, earning recognition for performances that showcase both range and depth. With a growing slate of exciting projects like a leading role in The Hardy Boys and an upcoming Newfoundland-based Netflix project with Josh Hartnett, Campbell is helping redefine what a modern Canadian actor can achieve.
Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova
At just 23, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova is quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting breakout talents. The Toronto-born actor and model first garnered industry attention with her performance in Robyn Hood, earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Performer in a Drama Series. It was a remarkable achievement early in her career. She has since expanded her profile with a standout role in the hit series Heated Rivalry, which became one of the most celebrated Canadian television productions of the year and earned her another Canadian Screen Award nomination.
But Kharlamova’s ascent extends beyond acting. Equally at home in fashion, she made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week for designer Christian Cowan and has become a growing presence in editorial and luxury fashion circles, reflecting a new generation of talent that moves seamlessly between entertainment and culture.
With her creative versatility and rapidly expanding body of work, Kharlamova represents an exciting future for Canada’s burgeoning star ecosystem: globally minded, creatively ambitious, and poised to make an impact far beyond the country’s borders.
Steff Eleoff
Launched in the early uncertainty of 2020, Steff Eleoff has turned a contemporary jewelry label into a case study in modern founder-led brand building. In under five years, the Toronto-based designer has secured global collaborations with Kylie Cosmetics and Porsche, earned CAFA’s Emerging Designer of the Year, and seen her sculptural pieces worn by Olivia Rodrigo, Kali Uchis, TEMS, and Willow Smith. Beyond celebrity reach, Eleoff is reshaping product categories entirely, most recently redefining the tech ring space with a viral sculptural cover that propelled the brand to global search dominance.
Madison Tevlin
Before she became a familiar name in conversations about modern media representation, Madison Tevlin was already reshaping audience perceptions. Often framing her Down syndrome as the “least interesting thing about her,” Tevlin has forged an expansive and boundary-breaking career as an actor, creator, and media figure. Her trajectory reflects a broader shift in how media personalities are formed today. That is, less through traditional gatekeeping and more through sustained, authentic engagement with audiences. Her work spans film and television appearances, digital content, and high-profile collaborations with global brands, each reinforcing a larger body of work centred on challenging outdated assumptions about disability and mainstream visibility.
That perspective carries into her growing footprint in audio storytelling. Through her partnership with Accor on her 21 Questions podcast series, Tevlin steps into a conversational format that blends travel, identity, and personal narrative, positioning her as both interviewer and cultural connector. The series has brought her into dialogue with a range of notable guests, including Nicole Scherzinger, Seth Rogen, Nelly Furtado, and more.
Her reach within entertainment ecosystems has also expanded through a broader collaboration with 11:11 Media, the production company co-founded by Paris Hilton. The partnership, which will see Hilton as an executive producer of 21 Questions, underscores Tevlin’s continued evolution from viral recognition into a global media brand.
Across each of these touchpoints, Tevlin’s impact is cumulative. She’s building a career where impact is measured not only in visibility but in the ability to expand how audiences understand identity, humour, and humanity in contemporary culture.
Diana Virgovicova
What began as a teenage breakthrough in molecular chemistry has since scaled into a global pursuit to reimagine how the world accesses clean water. At 17, Diana Virgovicova identified a molecule capable of breaking down pollutants when activated by sunlight—an early discovery that would become the foundation for Xatoms, the Toronto-based cleantech startup she went on to build.
Today, Xatoms operates at the intersection of AI, quantum chemistry, and materials science, developing photocatalytic technologies designed to address one of the world’s most urgent challenges: safe drinking water. Under Diana’s leadership as founder and CEO, the company has moved rapidly from concept to commercialization, advancing pilot projects across North America, Kenya, and South Africa while securing $3 million in pre-seed funding and support from the World Economic Forum.
Her work has consistently been recognized for both technical innovation and broader social impact. Most recently, she became the youngest recipient of the Global Citizen Cisco Youth Leadership Award, underscoring her role in applying frontier science to global development challenges.
Across each milestone, Virgovicova’s trajectory reflects a rare convergence of scientific curiosity and executional ambition, positioning her not just as a founder building a company, but as part of a generation reshaping how deep tech can serve human need at scale.
Ameen Fadel
If entrepreneurship often begins with an idea, Ameen Fadel’s began as something far more unassuming: observation, curiosity, and a willingness to treat everyday gaps as opportunities worth solving.
Fadel has built his career around that instinct. What started as a high school initiative has evolved into a nationally-recognized food brand, with Cedar Valley growing from a family-rooted concept (notably, his co-founder is also his mother, Surria) into a widely distributed product found in major retail and grocery channels across Canada and beyond.
His trajectory has included early validation on national platforms like CBC’s Dragons’ Den, alongside strategic retail expansion and partnerships that positioned Cedar Valley within mainstream North American food distribution networks. Beyond product, Fadel represents a broader shift in Canadian entrepreneurship: founders who are building with both commercial ambition and cultural intent. His work reflects a generation less interested in siloed success and more focused on creating companies that travel across markets, communities, and meaning.
Adnan Sharif
From elite weightlifting platforms in Japan to climate-tech labs in Toronto, Adnan Sharif has translated discipline into innovation at scale. Founder of Lyrata Inc, he is commercializing 3D-printed soil systems for controlled-environment agriculture, securing over $1.7M in support from leading Canadian institutions. Sharif is building a growing ecosystem of engineers, researchers, and young talent advancing sustainable food production and strengthening Canada’s agri-tech innovation pipeline.
Kino Song
Before patients ever see a clinician, most of them meet the healthcare system on hold. Kino Song is working to change that reality through TalkToMedi, a voice AI platform designed to streamline patient calls, intake, and follow-ups inside overstretched clinics. Emerging from the University of Toronto ecosystem, the company is already operating in live care settings, reducing administrative burden and improving access pathways. Song’s work sits at the intersection of efficiency and equity, strengthening the infrastructure that determines whether patients actually reach care.
Annika Ng and Maxwell Nicholson
Annika Ng and Maxwell Nicholson are reshaping how a new generation discovers and participates in the markets. As co-founders of Blossom Social, they have built a social investing platform that blends portfolio tracking with a community feed where users can follow investors, share trades, and learn from real-time market activity. The Vancouver-based startup has attracted over $2 million in funding through a FrontFundr campaign, reflecting strong early investor conviction and rapid community traction. Together, Ng and Nicholson (alongside co-founders Brandon Beavis and Khartik Bhutani) have scaled Blossom from concept to an expanding fintech ecosystem focused on transparency, accessibility, and peer-driven financial learning, reflecting a broader shift toward a more democratized investing culture.
Eric Pan
From senior sommelier roles with the Gordon Ramsay Group and the Savoy Hotel to bar leadership at KOL London, Eric Pan has carved out his expertise at the highest levels of service and innovation. Back in Toronto, he launched Slice of Life, earning recognition with North America’s Top 50 Bars extended list and Canada’s Best 100 Bars. All this while advancing a sustainability-driven, community-first approach.
Kareem Abdur-Rashid
As co-founder and COO of Kare Chemical Technologies, Kareem Abdur-Rashid has scaled a portfolio of 40+ patents, with several commercialized through multi-million-dollar agreements. Motivated by personal experience, his work is focused on non-narcotic therapeutics for epilepsy, pain, and metabolic disease, with the aim of improving treatment outcomes, expanding access to safer medicines, and addressing long-standing gaps in how complex neurological and chronic conditions are managed.
