Amsterdam, Netherlands | April–May 2026 — Geospatial World honored the 50 Rising Stars 2026 contributing in the geospatial and space industry — one of the industry’s most coveted recognitions for young geospatial professionals, during a dedicated ceremony at the Geospatial World Forum (GWF) 2026, held at the RAI Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Now in its sixth year, the Rising Stars initiative celebrates extraordinary individuals under the age of 40 who are reshaping the geospatial landscape through innovation, leadership, research, and community impact. The 2026 cohort, drawn from more than 300 global nominations, represents a generation that is not simply applying geospatial tools but actively redefining what those tools can do for economies, societies, and the planet.
A Generation Defining the Next Era of Spatial Intelligence
The 2026 cohort reflects the defining currents of the modern geospatial moment: the fusion of artificial intelligence with location data, democratization of Earth observation, growing role of geospatial science in climate resilience and public health, and an urgent push for inclusivity across an industry historically dominated by a narrow demographic.
Selected by an independent, internationally constituted jury panel from over 300 nominations, the 2026 cohort spans more than 30 countries across six continents. Honorees represent the full breadth of the geospatial and space ecosystem, from GIS analysts and remote sensing scientists to geospatial AI researchers, surveyors, space researchers, cartographers, entrepreneurs, and policy advocates.
Sectors represented in the 2026 class include public health and epidemiology, climate and disaster risk management, urban planning and smart cities, precision agriculture, defense and intelligence, infrastructure and utilities, and Earth observation.
Several honorees work at the intersection of geospatial science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, embedding spatial thinking into the fight against food insecurity, vector-borne disease, and environmental degradation.
The initiative’s sustained commitment to gender equity and geographic diversity is reflected in this year’s list, with a significant proportion of honorees from the Global South and a strong representation of women in technical, research, and leadership roles.
“What drives us at Geospatial World is a simple belief that recognition, at the right moment, can change the trajectory of a career and, through that career, impact entire communities. The 50 Rising Stars are not just exceptional young professionals; they are connectors, collaborators, and changemakers who are redefining how we understand and shape our world through geospatial thinking. As a jury member, it is truly inspiring to witness the passion, diversity of ideas, and sense of purpose these emerging leaders bring to the industry. At Geospatial World, we are committed to championing their journey, creating opportunities, and opening every door we possibly can for the next generation of geospatial leaders,” explained Annu Negi, COO, Geospatial World.
Presented at the World’s Premier Geospatial Gathering
The Rising Stars awards ceremony was held as part of the Geospatial World Forum 2026, which convened from 27 April to 1 May at the RAI Congress Centre, Amsterdam. GWF 2026 — themed Sovereignty, Economy & Society, brought together heads of national mapping agencies, ministers, CEOs, academics, technologists, and policy makers to address the most pressing questions at the intersection of geospatial infrastructure, digital sovereignty, and global resilience.
The Rising Stars award ceremony formed one of the Forum’s signature moments, celebrating the individuals who will carry the industry’s ambitions forward into the next decade.
About the Geospatial World 50 Rising Stars Initiative
Launched in 2021, the Geospatial World 50 Rising Stars is an annual initiative recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of individuals under the age of 40 who are proactively demonstrating the transformative value of geospatial technology to society, the environment, and the global economy. Honorees are selected through a rigorous, independent jury process from nominations submitted across the global geospatial community. The initiative is firmly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with global representation as a core criterion.
The full 2026 Rising Stars list and individual honoree profiles are available at: geospatialworld.net/rising-stars/2026
About Geospatial World Forum
Geospatial World Forum (GWF) is the world’s foremost annual gathering of the geospatial community — a transformative platform convening global leaders, policy makers, technology innovators, and sectoral champions to build a shared vision for a geospatially empowered world. From data sovereignty to digital infrastructure, and from climate action to AI-driven location intelligence, GWF has helped shape how societies perceive, value, and utilize spatial knowledge for over a decade.
