Mumbai, January 22, 2026 — There are certain nights that feel less like events and more like moments, where creativity, conversation, and culture intersect effortlessly. ELLE List Awards 2026, driven by BYD, was one such evening. Set against the glittering skyline of Mumbai at the Taj Lands End, the celebration brought together some of India’s most influential voices across fashion, entertainment, design, and culture for a night that felt both intimate and impactful.
From the moment guests arrived, the mood was unmistakably ELLE confident, expressive, and rooted in individuality. The red carpet unfolded as a visual celebration of personal style, with each appearance reflecting the spirit of courage and originality that the platform has long championed. Among those in attendance were Tamannaah Bhatia, Dia Mirza, Shanaya Kapoor, Shaan, Manish Malhotra, Pulkit Samrat, Sahher Bambba, Sayani Gupta, Atul Kasbekar, Avinash Tiwary, Designers Falguni Shane Peacock, Ritika Mirchandani, Aarti Vijay Gupta, Ranna Gill, Rianta Chakraborty, Kubbra Sait, Karan Tacker, Rocky Star, Fern Mallis, Kallol Datta, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma and Dhaval Udeshi. The evening was seamlessly hosted by Prateik Smita Patil and Priya Banerjee Patil, whose presence added warmth and ease to the proceedings, making the celebration feel both polished and personal. Together, the guest list reflected the diversity and depth of India’s creative landscape.
“The ELLE List driven by BYD sits at the intersection of editorial credibility and cultural opportunity. It reflects our commitment to building a strong platform that delivers influence, impact, and long-term value for both audiences and brand partners” added Mahesh Nambiar, CEO, Ogaan Media Pvt Ltd.
Inside, the evening unfolded as a celebration of people who move culture forward not just through visibility, but through intent. The ELLE List Awards 2026 honoured trailblazers and tastemakers whose work continues to shape conversations across fashion, entertainment, business, and social impact. It was a room filled with established icons and contemporary voices alike, each contributing to a larger narrative of creativity, influence, and purpose.
Reflecting on the platform’s growing cultural relevance, Nydia Dias, Publishing Director, ELLE India, shared, “At its core, The ELLE List Driven by BYD is a strategic platform that connects influence with opportunity, enabling brands to be part of conversations that matter while driving visibility, credibility, and growth.”
Fashion naturally played a starring role, but the night went far beyond surface glamour. Between awards and applause were moments of connection, conversations across tables, shared reflections, and exchanges between creators from different worlds. Designers spoke to actors, media leaders connected with innovators, and ideas flowed as freely as celebration, reinforcing the sense that this was a meeting of minds as much as it was a celebration of achievement.
Adding to the evening’s cultural perspective, Ainee Nizami Ahmedi, Editorial Director, ELLE India, noted, “The ELLE List Driven by BYD reflects what truly matters right now, originality, purpose, and the ability to shape culture in ways that feel authentic and lasting.”
What truly set the evening apart was its underlying sense of intention. The ELLE List Driven by BYD Awards have always stood for recognising talent with a point of view, and the 2026 edition continued that legacy by spotlighting individuals committed to cultural impact and social responsibility. Whether through storytelling, design, performance, or leadership, the honourees represented a generation of changemakers shaping what influence looks like today.
The energy of the night extended far beyond the ballroom. With strong digital and social media presence, the conversations, fashion moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses found resonance well beyond the venue, turning the awards into a cultural talking point across platforms.
As the evening drew to a close, the ELLE List Awards 2026 left behind more than memories of a glamorous night. It reaffirmed ELLE’s role as a curator of culture, a platform that celebrates individuality, amplifies meaningful voices, and continues to create spaces where creativity, influence, and purpose coexist effortlessly. In every sense, it was a night that captured the spirit of now and pointed towards what comes next.
