To mark International Women’s Day, The Independent is highlighting the most influential female figures shaping British society today with its annual Independent Women 2026: The Influence List.
To augment the list, The Independent will return to Outernet London with an exhibition featuring nine of the featured women, amplifying the rallying call to support charity partner Refuge. The free exhibition will be viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors to Outernet’s screens in the heart of London.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’, is reflected in the collective commitment behind the campaign: The Independent is giving its platform, Outernet London is giving its space, photographer Sane Seven is giving her expertise, and the women featured are giving their time. The public is invited to give their support to Refuge via a QR code or text number during the portrait presentation, helping turn visibility into real-world impact.
The Independent’s International Women’s Day activity brings together extensive editorial, a public exhibition and the Independent Women Influence List to spotlight women shaping Britain today. Through journalism, storytelling and public engagement, the project highlights women from across culture, politics, business, sport, media and campaigning, while drawing attention to the experiences of those whose stories are often less visible, including women affected by domestic abuse.
Together, the initiative reflects the belief that progress for women is built through shared contribution and that when support is given, everyone benefits.
Independent Women 2026: The Influence List
The top ten most influential women featured on this year’s list are:
Exhibition in partnership with Outernet London, Refuge and Sane Seven
Captured by Sane Seven, an internationally recognised portrait photographer known for capturing many of today’s most influential women across business, culture, and politics, the nine women featured in the exhibition are:
Each woman has been asked about their experiences and thoughts around the female experience; these video interviews will be screened alongside the portraits at Outernet, the most-visited cultural attraction in the UK, until 31 March.
Aligning with The Independent’s mission to make change happen, the exhibition will help to generate awareness for its charity partner Refuge, with attendees learning about the organisation’s vital work and encouraged to support its lifesaving services.
Demanding action for women
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, The Independent will publish a series of articles from guest writers, several of whom are featured in the exhibition, including Megan Jones, Maggie O’Farrell, and Indhu Rubasingham. Their articles will include a range of views and experiences of womanhood, sexism and the pursuit of equality.
Alongside the Influence List and exhibition, The Independent’s Well Enough podcast will run a special series of conversations with leading female voices across March and April to mark International Women’s Day. Episodes will be released weekly.
The series begins with Emma Barnett (Wednesday 11 March) discussing messy motherhood in a Mother’s Day special, followed by Cherry Healey (Wednesday 18 March) exploring early perimenopause and women’s health experiences, and Rhiannon Lambert (Wednesday 25 March) discussing nutrition and wellbeing in relation to the UK’s fibre gap.
The series will continue in April with Rosie Viva (Wednesday 1 April) sharing her lived experience of bipolar disorder ahead of World Bipolar Day, Vicky Pattison (Wednesday 8 April) discussing PMDD and women’s wellbeing, and Ashley James (Wednesday 15 April, TBC) reflecting on menstruation, body confidence and motherhood.
Chloe Hubbard, UK Editor of The Independent, said: “Now in its fourth year, our influence list has become a beloved annual staple that we are all so incredibly proud of. Once again, the women included in the list were hotly debated by our panel for weeks before eventually agreeing on the order. We feel our list represents what was an extraordinary year for women’s achievement – particularly on the global sporting stage. There was very little argument when it came to our number one, Chloe Kelly – a truly remarkable and resilient character who captured the hearts of the nation when she netted that final penalty in Euro 2025.”
“We have once again partnered with Sane Seven, whose art captures some of the trailblazers on our list. We’ve always known how good she is, but it’s becoming increasingly easy to persuade our listees to be photographed thanks to Sane’s truly unique talent. We are excited to see her work displayed on the screens at Outernet London in support of Refuge throughout March.”
Jessica Dracup-Holland, Chief Marketing Officer at Outernet added:“We’re incredibly proud to welcome this powerful collaboration with The Independent back to Outernet for a third consecutive year. Together, we’ve created a platform where storytelling, journalism and creativity meet at scale, transforming our screens into a space where women’s voices, achievements and lived experiences can be seen by thousands of visitors every day.”
“Each year this partnership has grown in ambition and impact, and continues to amplify representation, champion cultural leadership and creates meaningful moments of connection with our audiences. International Women’s Day is an opportunity not only to celebrate extraordinary women, but to spark conversations that inspire progress. At Outernet, we are honoured to help bring these stories to life in the heart of central London.”
Laura Burnell, Head of Communications and Marketing at Refuge remarked: “Refuge is delighted to once again be part of The Independent’s Influential Women exhibition for International Women’s Day. This platform helps shine a light on women driving change, and it comes at a crucial moment. With one in four women facing domestic abuse in her lifetime, Refuge’s work has never been more vital. Our longstanding partnership with The Independent keeps domestic abuse visible and shines a light on our life‑saving work.”
Sane Seven, Photographer said: “For this project with The Independent, I wanted the portraits to feel measured and real. These are women who hold serious influence, and the photographs needed to reflect both their achievement and the fact that equality is still being worked through across the world.”
