TikTok has published its Discover List 2026, an annual roundup highlighting 50 creators identified as shaping conversations, trends, and digital communities across the platform. Announced in Riyadh on 26 February 2026, the latest edition of the Discover List groups creators into five categories — Educators, Foodies, Icons, Innovators, and Originators — reflecting the range of content that now drives engagement on TikTok.
The Discover List 2026 arrives at a time when short-form video continues to influence how audiences consume information, entertainment, and commerce. With more than a billion users globally, TikTok has become a launchpad not only for viral moments but also for sustained digital careers. The curated list aims to spotlight creators who have demonstrated measurable growth and impact over the past six months, using metrics such as video output, views, follower growth, engagement rates, and participation in broader cultural conversations.
Two creators from the Middle East and North Africa feature in this year’s Discover List 2026, reflecting the region’s growing presence within the global creator economy. @ramysoli, based in Dubai, is included in the Foodies category for culinary storytelling that blends recipes with cultural context. In the Icons category, @yasmeen_alshafai from Riyadh is recognized for content that engages with lifestyle and cultural themes while building an active community around her work. Their inclusion signals how MENA-based creators are increasingly competing for visibility on an international stage.
Across categories, the Discover List 2026 highlights different pathways to influence. Educators range from science communicators to medical professionals translating complex topics into accessible short videos. Foodies continue to drive #FoodTok trends, an ecosystem that frequently spills over into restaurant demand and product sales. Icons represent creators who have built recognizable personal brands tied closely to platform culture, while Innovators experiment with format and storytelling. Originators, meanwhile, reflect TikTok’s expanding role in commerce, particularly through live shopping and direct-to-consumer business models.
The list also underscores how digital entrepreneurship has evolved. Many of the Originators are founders or small business owners who use TikTok Shop and live features to market products directly, blending content and commerce in ways that were less common on earlier social platforms. This hybrid model has become central to TikTok’s growth strategy, particularly in emerging markets.
TikTok states that nominations were community-driven, with internal teams reviewing data and cultural impact before final selection. While curated lists inevitably reflect editorial judgment, they also function as signals to brands, agencies, and media outlets about which creators may shape trends in the coming year.
As the creator economy matures, initiatives like the Discover List 2026 illustrate how platforms are formalizing recognition systems once driven purely by algorithmic virality. For audiences, the list serves as a discovery tool. For creators, it offers visibility that can translate into brand partnerships and expanded reach beyond the app.
