Byron Allen named to EBONY’s 2026 Power 100 honoree court

The Allen Media Group founder and CEO joins five other honorees who will be celebrated at the Nov. 9 gala in Los Angeles.

Byron Allen, the founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group, has been named one of six special honorees who will be celebrated at EBONY’s 2026 Power 100 Gala, recognizing his influence in media ownership and business.

Allen, whose company is the parent company of theGrio, joins a distinguished group of entertainers, athletes and innovators selected for the publication’s annual celebration of Black excellence and achievement.

According to EBONY’s announcement published through PR Newswire, Allen will be among six members of the 2026 Power 100 honoree court, a group recognized onstage for their contributions across multiple industries.

The other honorees are Grammy-winning singer and actress Brandy; Seattle Storm WNBA player Flau’jae Johnson; digital influencer and culinary personality Keith Lee; Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and actor Lena Waithe; and NASA Astronaut Emeritus Victor Glover.

For Allen, the recognition comes as his media company continues to operate across television, film and digital platforms. Allen Media Group’s portfolio includes theGrio, which covers news, politics, entertainment and culture through a lens centered on the Black community.

Allen has built his career around media ownership and distribution, establishing himself as a prominent figure in an industry where Black ownership and representation remain important parts of the conversation about who controls the stories Americans see and hear.

This year’s Power 100 theme, “The Stories We Shape,” reflects that broader focus on narrative ownership, cultural influence and leadership. EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman said the publication has spent more than 80 years documenting the people moving Black America forward.

“For more than 80 years, EBONY has kept the record of the people moving Black America forward, and the Court is that record at its most vivid,” Bridgeman said in the announcement. “They wrote it themselves, and that is exactly what this year’s Power 100 celebrates.”

The 2026 EBONY Power 100 Gala will take place Monday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment, the invitation-only event will recognize honorees across 11 categories, spanning business, entertainment, media, sports, STEM and community leadership.