Forty Under 40 Class of 2026 Announced

Amanda Foster • 24/07/2026 • 3 min read

Discover the 2026 Forty Under 40 list featuring top sports executives under 40. See who made the SBJ list and their achievements.

Forty Under 40 Class of 2026 Announced - forty under 40 — Forty Under 40 Class of 2026 Announced

The Sports Business Journal has revealed the Forty Under 40 Class of 2026, featuring 40 executives under the age of 40 who have demonstrated achievement and innovation in their careers. The announcement comes from the SBJ, alongside presenting sponsors Anheuser-Busch, Bank of America, Polymarket, TurnkeyZRG, and Verizon. Chara-Lynn Aguiar of ESPN is joining the Hall of Fame as a three-time honoree, bringing the total number of inductees in that specific category to 72.

This year’s class includes 16 women, which the report notes is the most ever selected for the SBJ’s Forty Under 40 program. The group features several repeat honorees and past winners of other SBJ awards. Ben Kennedy of NASCAR, a two-time Forty Under 40 winner and past New Voices Under 30 honoree, is part of the group. Also included are Kerry Scalora of Anheuser-Busch and Scott Zanghellini of WWE, both of whom are past New Voices Under 30 winners. Elizabeth Cohen of Major League Soccer joins as a 2022 Game Changers honoree.

The list spans a wide range of industries within the sports and media sectors. It includes leaders from Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association. Executives from the PGA Tour, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties, and various collegiate athletic programs are also represented. This diverse mix highlights the broad scope of modern sports business operations.

Honorees will be profiled in the Aug. 10 issue of the Sports Business Journal. The publication will detail the careers and successes of the 40 individuals. The winners will also be formally recognized during an annual gala scheduled for Nov. 20 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. For more information about the class, interested parties can visit FortyUnder40awards.com.

While the focus remains on the individual achievements of these professionals, the sheer volume of talent selected each year offers a snapshot of the current state of the industry. The increasing number of women in the group suggests a shift in leadership pipelines and hiring practices across major sports organizations. The presence of repeat winners also points to the depth of talent available to top-tier organizations. The variety of sectors represented—from collegiate athletics to global media—demonstrates the interconnected nature of the modern business of sports.