Billboard U.K. reveals first 40 Under 40 class for 2026

Billboard U.K. has revealed its inaugural 40 Under 40 list for 2026, naming 40 executives under the age of 40 across the British music business.

The list was published on 5 October, according to Billboard. It recognises rising staff rather than performers, the managers, label teams, agents, publishers and live specialists whose work decides how music reaches listeners.

Nominations opened in August through an open form that invited the industry to suggest candidates. The entries were then considered by Billboard U.K. editors, who selected the final 40. Billboard U.K. had first said in August that the inaugural list would arrive in the autumn, so the October reveal keeps to that timetable.

Open nominations mean anyone in the business can suggest a colleague, rather than leaving the choice to a closed panel from the start. Editors then weigh the suggestions and make the final call. That mix of open input and editorial judgment is widely used for trade lists, because it widens the pool while keeping one team responsible for the result.

Each executive can appear on the list only once. That single-appearance rule is common for 40-under-40 style rankings. It stops repeat entries and leaves room for new names next year.

The launch follows Billboard U.K.'s Power Players list, published in June, which recognises senior leadership at selected companies. That 2026 Power Players edition was the second annual version. Put simply, Power Players honours established leaders, while 40 Under 40 honours the next wave.

The new honourees will be celebrated at the Beyond The Music conference and festival in Salford, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday, 7 October. The celebration will debut as the gathering's Opening Lunch, according to Beyond The Music. It will be held at MediaCity in Salford.

Among those confirmed on the 2026 list are Michael Adex, founder and chief executive of NQ, and Bradlee Banbury, music brand partnership agent at Creative Artists Agency. A chief executive leads a company and sets its direction. A brand partnership agent links artists with brands for campaigns, endorsements and other commercial tie-ups.

Those roles sit inside a wider chain. Managers guide artists' careers. Label teams plan releases. Agents book shows and tours. Publishers administer songwriting rights, the ownership that pays writers when songs are played, streamed or covered.

What makes this stand out is the visibility. Listeners hear the finished song and see the live show. They rarely see the contracts, bookings, release plans and rights deals behind them. This list names some of the younger people doing that work in Britain right now.