So, Jonathan Bailey is officially the guy. It’s 2026, and while we’re all still reeling from the Wicked press tour that basically never ended, the dust has finally settled on the latest "Sexiest Man Alive" crown. People magazine handed the mantle to him late last year, following John Krasinski’s 2024 run. But honestly? The internet is still arguing about it.
Every year, like clockwork, the announcement drops and everyone loses their minds. You’ve seen the tweets. "Was every other man on Earth busy?" or "Finally, they got it right." It’s a wild cycle. But if you think this is just about who looks best in a suit or who has the most symmetrical jawline, you’re missing the point. There is a whole machine behind this title that has nothing to do with being "the hottest" and everything to do with how Hollywood actually works.
Why Jonathan Bailey Actually Won
The choice of Jonathan Bailey wasn't just about his face. Though, let’s be real, the face helps. Bailey became the first openly gay man to take the top spot in the 40-year history of the franchise. That's a massive shift. For decades, this award was a very specific type of "straight leading man" bait. Think Mel Gibson in '85 or Harrison Ford in the late '90s.
Bailey’s win was a calculated move that reflected 2025's cultural vibe. He wasn't just the guy from Bridgerton anymore. By the time he won, he had Wicked part two coming out, he’d just done Jurassic World Rebirth with Scarlett Johansson, and he was coming off an Emmy nomination for Fellow Travelers. He was everywhere.
Usually, People picks someone who is:
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- Likable. They need a guy who doesn't have a PR nightmare attached to his name.
- Promoting something. You almost never see a winner who doesn't have a $200 million movie or a hit TV show hitting screens within weeks of the announcement.
- Willing to play ball. The winner has to agree to the photoshoot and the "humbled" interview.
Bailey played it perfectly. He told Jimmy Fallon it was "completely absurd" while also bringing his dog, Benson, into the photoshoot. That's the secret sauce: being incredibly attractive but acting like you don't know it.
The Benny Blanco "Controversy" and the Death of the Alpha
Before Bailey took the 2025 title, we had the Great Benny Blanco Meltdown of late 2024. If you weren't on social media then, count yourself lucky. People included the music producer in the "Sexiest" issue—not as the winner, but as a featured "sexy gentleman."
The backlash was brutal.
People were asking if Selena Gomez paid for the feature. Critics like Meredith Evans wrote about how this was a "war on masculinity," arguing that the magazine was trying to replace the "warrior" archetype with guys who wear floral pajamas and talk about making "Taco Bell meat" at home. It sounds silly because it is, but it also shows how much weight we put on this silly list.
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The magazine has been slowly moving away from the "tough guy" image for years. They’re leaning into "boyfriend material." They want the guy who listens, the guy who cooks, and the guy who isn't afraid to be a bit goofy. Paul Rudd winning in 2021 was the turning point for this. He basically spent his whole interview apologizing for winning.
The Selection Process Nobody Talks About
There isn't a secret committee of supermodels voting in a basement. It’s mostly a boardroom of editors and PR agents.
The magazine looks at the "zeitgeist." That’s a fancy way of saying they look at who people are googling and who is actually available to do a cover story. If Ryan Gosling says "no thanks" to the shoot, they move down the list. Rumor has it that some of the biggest names in Hollywood have turned it down because the "Sexiest Man" title is actually a bit of a curse for "serious" actors. It’s hard to win an Oscar when you’ve spent the last six months being marketed as a piece of eye candy.
Did you know Keanu Reeves didn't technically win in 1994? The magazine just skipped that year. They didn't officially crown him until 2015 when they realized, "Wait, how did we miss the Speed era?"
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Historical Trends of Winners:
- The Double Winners: Only three guys have ever won twice. Richard Gere (once as part of a couple), Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp. It’s a very exclusive, very "90s/early 2000s" club.
- The Age Factor: Sean Connery won at 59. He’s still the oldest. Most winners land in that 35-to-45 sweet spot where they still have a hairline but also some "distinguished" wrinkles.
- The Diversity Gap: It took until 1996 for a Black man (Denzel Washington) to win. Since then, the list has been slowly—very slowly—diversifying with Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, and John Legend.
What Actually Makes Someone "Sexy" in 2026?
If you look at the research, it’s not just the abs. A study out of California State University actually tracked how people perceive attractiveness. They found that "humor production"—basically, being able to make a joke—ranked higher than physical symmetry for long-term desirability.
Confidence is the other big one. Sebastian Stan once told People that "ownership of self" is the only thing that matters. If you look at the recent winners, that’s the common thread. Whether it’s Patrick Dempsey leaning into being a "silver fox" or Jonathan Bailey being his authentic self, they aren't trying to be someone else.
Honestly, the "Sexiest Man" title is basically a "Most Likely to Succeed" award for grown men. It’s a snapshot of who Hollywood wants us to like right now.
How to Apply This to Your Own Life
You aren't going to be on the cover of People (probably). But the shift in what we call "sexy" is actually good news for regular guys.
- Lean into your hobbies. Whether it's cooking "disgusting but delicious" food like Benny Blanco or being a dog dad like Jonathan Bailey, being passionate about something is a magnet.
- Stop taking yourself so seriously. Every single winner since 2020 has led with humility and self-deprecating humor. The "brooding mystery man" is out. The "guy you can actually talk to" is in.
- Consistency beats perfection. You don't need a movie-star jawline, but you do need to own your look.
The era of the untouchable, perfect Hollywood god is over. We want humans now. We want the guys who are "completely absurd" and thrilled to be there.
To stay ahead of the next cultural shift, start paying attention to the actors who are winning over "the internet's collective girlfriend" on TikTok and Letterboxd. That’s usually where the next Sexiest Man Alive is hiding months before the magazine hits the stands. Check the upcoming movie release schedules for late 2026; the next winner is almost certainly the lead of a November blockbuster.