January 15, 2026, NEW YORK & PHOENIX — Forbes today announced an open call for nominations for the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Local Arizona List, inviting the public to nominate the state’s top founders, creators, business leaders and changemakers under the age of 30. The list marks the first time Forbes will recognize young leaders statewide in Arizona as part of its expanding Under 30 Local franchise.
The inaugural statewide list will spotlight young leaders across Arizona who are shaping the future of business, culture and community. Spanning industries including technology, healthcare, consumer, sports, food, fashion and social impact, the list will recognize entrepreneurs and innovators making an outsized impact across the Grand Canyon State. The 2026 Forbes Under 30 Summit, taking place April 19-22, will bring together young leaders from Arizona and around the world for four days of programming, connection and collaboration in Phoenix.
“Forbes lists capture some of the most influential people and companies at the moment of publication, while also elevating emerging visionaries poised to become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Steven Bertoni, assistant managing editor of the Forbes Founders team. “Arizona’s rapid growth, entrepreneurial energy and creative ambition make it a compelling environment for young builders, and this local list allows us to shine a national spotlight on the talent calling the state home.”
The launch of the Local Arizona List builds on Forbes’ recent announcement naming Phoenix as the host city of the Forbes Under 30 Summit for 2026–2028. The 2026 Forbes Under 30 Summit, taking place April 19–22, 2026, will bring together young leaders from across Arizona and around the world for four days of connection, learning and collaboration in Phoenix.
“Arizona’s Under 30 founders and creators are driving our economic momentum—launching companies, building breakthrough products, and making a difference across our state,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We’re proud to partner with Forbes to spotlight our breakthrough talent and elevate their impact on a national stage.”
The Forbes 30 Under 30 Local Arizona List is part of Forbes’ broader Under 30 initiative, which identifies top young talent globally through its flagship global list, regional lists and local city and state lists. Honorees are selected by Forbes editors with input from expert judges, based on impact, innovation and entrepreneurial potential.
Nomination Details
- Who can be nominated: Individuals 29 or younger as of February 15, 2026, who have never appeared on an Under 30 list before and reside in or have their business based in Arizona.
- Deadline: Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 15, 2026.
- To source candidates for the list, Forbes editors comb through online submissions, as well as tap industry sources and list alumni for recommendations. Candidates are evaluated by Forbes reporters and a panel of independent, expert judges on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential. For more on how we make the 30 Under 30 lists, check out our full methodology here.
Nominations for the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Local Arizona List are now open and can be accessed at the following link.
Forbes has been publishing its Under 30 list for the past 15 years, and some notable Under 30 List Makers from Arizona have included Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker, Lectric ebike Co-Founders Levi Conlow and Robert Deziel, Venture Capitalist Yuechen Zhao, Advocate and Content Creator Deja Foxx, and Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews.
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