Himal Hub / Globally renowned magazine Time has released its list of the 100 most influential people for 2026, which includes Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister Balen Shah.
At just 35 years old, Shah has become the youngest prime minister in Nepal’s history. Time has portrayed him as a “symbol of youth rebellion and change.” His landslide victory in the general elections held earlier this year has been widely seen as the result of powerful Gen Z-led protests against the old political establishment and corruption that took place last autumn.
Time writes that Shah, once a hip-hop artist known for lyrics like “money grows on trees for those who sell their integrity,” is now leading a nation of nearly 30 million people.
A graduate in civil engineering, Shah previously served as mayor of Kathmandu, where he introduced notable reforms in waste management, education, and healthcare by cutting through bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The report describes Shah’s rise not only as a turning point for Nepal but also as a challenge to dynastic politics across South Asia, noting that it has sent shockwaves through established political forces in neighboring countries.
Influenced by American rappers Tupac Shakur and 50 Cent, Shah once wrote on social media that “all politicians, old and new, are thieves.”
Now, both the global community and the people of Nepal are closely watching him. Time notes that many Nepalis hope he can replicate his success from Kathmandu at the national level and ultimately prove his own past statement wrong.
Alongside Shah, this year’s list also features prominent global leaders, entrepreneurs, and artists, reflecting Nepal’s evolving political landscape and the growing influence of young leadership on the international stage.
