The 9 Latino power players dominating the TIME100 list in 2026

Benicio Del Toro kicks off the list. The Puerto Rican actor continues to command respect in film, landing on the list amid major award-season recognition. His accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Goya Award, and more.

Zoe Saldaña, who appears on the list, is also one of the global cover stars of the 2026 issue, thanks to her dominance in blockbuster cinema and cultural storytelling.

The Dominican-American star is the highest-grossing actor in history. Her accolades include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award, and a Cannes Film Festival Award.

 This is her second time on the list after Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

Meanwhile, Rauw Alejandro, also from Puerto Rico, represents the evolution of Latin music. His inclusion shows how reggaeton and Latin pop are shaping mainstream culture far beyond Spanish-speaking audiences. His accolades include two Latin Grammy Awards, two Billboard Latin Music Awards, and an iHeartRadio Music Award.

At 96, Dolores Huerta might be the oldest person on the list, but her long-term activism still shapes today’s social justice movements. 

Huerta, known for her lifelong fight for farmworkers’ rights, is still an inspiration for the new generations who recognize how influence isn’t tied to age or amount of followers on Instagram and TikTok, but how it’s tied to impact.

Alongside her is Kica Matos, who represents a newer wave of advocacy. Matos Kica Matos is the president of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF). She has extensive experience as a community organizer, advocate, and lawyer.

Mariangela Hungria, recognized for her work in soil microbiology, is part of a field critical to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. The agronomist is the first Brazilian woman to earn a World Food Prize. 

And then there’s Luciano Moreira, also from Brazil, who is linked to the World Mosquito Program. He is recognized for pushing forward innovations that could redefine how the world tackles mosquito-borne diseases.

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, stands out as a defining global leader. Her role in navigating international tensions and domestic policy puts her among the most closely watched figures in global politics.

Right on the other side of the border is Marco Rubio, recognized for his expanding influence in foreign policy. The Cuban American politician is an attorney and diplomat serving since 2025 as the 72nd United States Secretary of State. President Donald Trump also appointed him as the acting national security advisor.