CNN-News18 opens voting for 16th edition of Indian of the Year

MUMBAI: The race to define India’s tomorrow is on, and this time, the audience gets a say in who takes the spotlight. CNN-News18 has opened voting for the 16th edition of its flagship Indian of the Year awards, inviting viewers to back their favourites across eight categories at www.indianoftheyear.com.

Under the theme ‘The Ones Defining Tomorrow’, the 2026 edition recognises individuals making their mark across entertainment, sports, business, youth culture and climate action. Since its launch in 2006, the awards have sought to spotlight achievements that reach beyond professional milestones and reflect the changing aspirations of the country.

The nominees span established names, emerging talent and people working on challenges that extend beyond their immediate fields. The eight categories are Entertainment, Sports, Youth Icon, Business, Rising Sports Star, Global Indian, Iconic Woman Achiever and Climate Warrior.

In Entertainment, the nominees are Jim Sarbh for Made in India: A Titan Story, Imtiaz Ali for Main Vaapas Aaunga, Dhanush as actor and director, singer Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Chaturvedi for Hanuman Ansh.

The Sports category features cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, chess player R Vaishali, the women’s 4×400 relay team comprising Kiran Pahal, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and shooter Neeru Dhanda.

The Youth Icon shortlist brings together comedian Samay Raina, actor Mamitha Baiju, music composer Sai Abhyankkar, rapper and singer Reble, and digital creator Dharna Durga.

In Business, the contenders are Lenskart’s Peyush Bansal; Emergent co-founders Mukund Jha and Madhav Jha; Uday Kotak of Kotak Securities; Renew’s Vaishali Nigam Sinha; and Aman Sanger of SpaceX AI.

The Rising Sports Star category features cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi, badminton player Aayush Shetty, cricketer Yastika Bhatia, squash player Anahat Singh and boxer Sakshi Chaudhary.

The Global Indian nominees are celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, couturier Gaurav Gupta, Kunal Shah, identified in the announcement as CEO of WhatsApp Inc., actor and entrepreneur Priyanka Chopra, and economist Srikant M Datar, dean of Harvard Business School.

In Iconic Woman Achiever, the shortlist includes ultra-distance runner Sufiya Sufi, race car driver Diana Pundole, fighter pilot Bhawana Kanth, Upstox co-founder Kavitha Subramanian and Michelin-starred chef Garima Arora.

The Climate Warrior category turns the spotlight on Pooja Pal for work against air pollution, Sharanya Mehta for water-saving innovation, Bijiyashanti Tongbram for turning waste into textiles, Bittu Tabahi for reviving polluted rivers and Sumer Bhati for protecting the Thar grasslands.

Indian of the Year has previously honoured figures and institutions including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah Rukh Khan, Neeraj Chopra, Virat Kohli, Viswanathan Anand, A R Rahman and ISRO. Its 16th edition continues that tradition while opening the selection process to audience participation through online voting.

CNN-News18 Editorial Affairs Director Rahul Shivshankar said the audience plays an integral role in recognising people who have made a meaningful impact. He added that the awards continue to evolve with each edition, aiming to reflect India’s changing aspirations, interests and achievements while retaining the credibility associated with the property.

Network18 CEO – English and Business News Smriti Mehra said the awards celebrate personalities making India proud at home and abroad, while inspiring generations, including Gen Z. She highlighted the importance of recognising their journeys, the challenges they have overcome and the impact they have made beyond their respective fields.

Mehra also acknowledged the continued association of RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, which has partnered with the awards over the years.

With voting now open, viewers can choose the nominees they believe deserve recognition at the 2026 edition. The presenting partner is RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, while JK Tyre and Reliance Industries Ltd. are associate partners.

Votes can be cast at www.indianoftheyear.com.