MIT Technology Review reveals 2026 Innovators Under 35: 35 young scientists shaping tech
550 nominations, 44 judges, 35 winners—here's how MIT picks the future's top tech talent.
MIT Technology Review will unveil its 2026 Innovators Under 35 list on September 8, spotlighting 35 early-career researchers and engineers from around the world who are tackling big problems with breakthrough science and clever technical fixes. The selection process was a months-long effort: the newsroom received 550 nominations from staff and the public, narrowed them down to 110 semifinalists, and then had 44 expert judges—many of them former honorees—evaluate applications, reference letters, videos, and résumés. Winners span four categories: biotechnology, artificial intelligence, computing and robotics, and climate and energy.
The list, a beloved annual tradition since 1999, has an impressive track record for predicting future leaders. Past honorees include Lisa Su (featured in 2002), who transformed AMD into a top global chipmaker, and Daniel Ek (featured in 2012), cofounder of Spotify, which the magazine then described as "a jukebox in the cloud." The 2026 list will be available to subscribers on the site on September 8 and in the September/October print issue, hitting newsstands worldwide on August 31. Nominations for the 2027 list open by early December, so this year's winners are just the latest wave of rising talent to watch.
- Selected from 550 nominations, narrowed to 110 semifinalists, with 44 expert judges choosing 35 winners
- Winners span four categories: biotech, AI, computing and robotics, and climate and energy
- Past honorees include Lisa Su (2002), who turned AMD into a top chipmaker, and Daniel Ek (2012), Spotify cofounder
Why It Matters
The list surfaces early-career innovators whose work will likely define the next decade of tech and science.