The Fayetteville 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 introduced 40 young professionals selected for their achievements, leadership and service to the Greater Fayetteville community.

The honorees will represent fields including business, education, health care, government, military service, nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship and the arts. They will be formally recognized during a masquerade-themed awards celebration Saturday, Aug. 1, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 1601 Raeford Rd. in Fayetteville.

A cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. The public event will include specialty cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and a networking reception.

Book Black Women founder Ayana Washington, herself a Fayetteville 40 Under 40 alumna, is leading the program in partnership with the Fayetteville Observer. Washington has become a prominent voice in Fayetteville through her work in the arts, cultural programming and community engagement.

Washington said the recognition program is important because communities should celebrate the people who are actively shaping their future.

“Fayetteville’s 40 Under 40 shines a light on young professionals who are leading businesses, serving nonprofits, creating art, mentoring others and finding solutions to challenges in our community,” Washington said. “It also gives young people someone to look up to and reminds us that leadership isn’t something you wait until you’re older to demonstrate.”

The program was established to recognize rising leaders across the Fayetteville region. Washington said each new class helps tell a broader story about the region and its direction.

“Every year we tell 40 new stories, and each one helps paint a picture of where Fayetteville is headed,” she said.

The program arrives during an era when younger professionals are often discussed through generational stereotypes. Washington said jokes about millennials and Generation Z can be harmless, but they can also distract from the contributions each generation makes.

“Every generation has something valuable to contribute,” Washington said. “Millennials and Gen Z have challenged old ways of thinking and embraced technology, while older generations bring wisdom and experience we still need. The strongest communities are built when those generations work together.”

The honorees are selected not only for their professional accomplishments but also for how they serve others. Washington said many nominees balance careers and businesses with family responsibilities, military service, volunteer work and nonprofit leadership.

“Every year, I read nominations about people who quietly mentor others, create jobs, advocate for their communities, or overcome tremendous obstacles without ever asking for recognition,” she said. “That’s what makes this program so special. It reminds us that leadership often happens behind the scenes.”

Washington said some of her favorite moments come when honorees receive their congratulatory emails. Their reactions often range from confusion to shock and emotion because many did not know they had been nominated.

“Those moments remind me that the best leaders aren’t chasing awards; they’re simply focused on serving others,” Washington said. “I really believe the best leader is a humble one.”

That idea inspired the theme for the 2026 awards ceremony. Rather than holding a traditional formal banquet, Washington chose a masquerade to create an event that would be elegant, memorable and symbolic.

“The masks also symbolize something meaningful,” Washington said. “We often don’t realize the incredible things people are accomplishing behind the scenes, and as I mentioned before, impactful leaders rarely seek recognition. They simply do the work.”

The ceremony will provide an opportunity to “unmask” the honorees' stories and bring greater visibility to their contributions.

Washington said she also wanted the celebration to feel like an experience rather than another awards banquet. Although she is known for producing public events, she said she considers herself more of a homebody than a partygoer.

“What I actually love is the logistics behind creating meaningful experiences,” she said. “Whether that’s producing theatre, launching an educational initiative, building a brand experience, or designing an event, I love the puzzle of figuring out how to make people feel something.”

Washington credits Cape Fear Regional Theatre with helping her understand the work required to create memorable audience experiences. Her background includes work both onstage and behind the scenes, experience she now brings to cultural events, educational initiatives and community programs.

Her partnerships over the years have included the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Cameo Art House Theatre, Cool Spring Downtown District, local governments, artists, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Washington said successful partnerships develop when those involved approach their work with empathy, integrity, initiative and compassion.

Book Black Women was established to create opportunities for Black women in the arts while preserving and celebrating stories that deserve greater recognition. Washington said the organization’s work is ultimately about investing in people and using art and culture to strengthen the community.

That mission made continuing 40 Under 40 a natural extension of the organization’s work.

“For me, both reflect a commitment to celebrating people whose contributions make our community stronger and ensuring their stories are recognized,” Washington said.

Public tickets are available for the Aug. 1 celebration and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3TF7v3M. Community members are encouraged to attend and support the Class of 2026 as Fayetteville recognizes a new generation of professionals helping shape the region’s future.

For Washington, the evening is about more than awards. It is an opportunity to create a moment of color, celebration and connection in the lives of the honorees and their supporters.

“Life can be so grayscale sometimes,” Washington said. “If I can give people a little technicolor, even for just a little while, that’s incredibly fulfilling to me.”