Now in its second year, The Curious 100 is a celebration of one hundred courageous leaders and creative minds across the US who are harnessing the transformative power of curiosity to address today’s most pressing problems⁠ and shape the cultural conversations that define our moment⁠⁠—whether it’s redesigning democracy to include everyone, advocating for school-supported agriculture, or editing groundbreaking music videos for Kendrick Lamar. This list includes a wide range of designers, creatives, and advocates, from an Indigenous artist’s work reclaimed in the Met’s American Wing in an unsanctioned augmented reality project, to an ambient musician creating new soundscapes in hospitals that facilitate care and well-being.

Presented by the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, the 2026 Curious 100 once again builds on the legacy of Ray and Charles Eames, whose insatiable curiosity and interdisciplinary approach to design and problems in the world continue to inspire innovation and creative problem-solving. Curiosity is not merely an intellectual pursuit⁠⁠—as co-curator and author Scott Shigeoka writes in his book Seek⁠—it’s a powerful tool for human connection and social change. The Curious 100 is a testament to the boundless potential of curiosity to shape a brighter, more creative, and more hopeful future⁠⁠—at a time when we need that vision more than ever.