Karan Johar to Lead Sixth Edition of Elite Most Influential at Oxford University

Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar will host the sixth edition of the Elite Most Influential event at the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford in England on December 14, 2026. The ceremony is organised under the leadership of Puraskar Thadani, who is the founder and editor-in-chief of Elite Magazine and is known professionally as Mr. Impossible. The upcoming event aims to recognise Indian achievers and personalities from sectors such as business, entertainment, fashion, and media on a global platform.

Global Venues

This choice of venue follows a tradition of holding past editions at major international landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tower Bridge in London, the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the Museum of the Future. Previous events have also partnered with luxury brands like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Jacob and Co. Watches.

Past Honourees

Past editions of the platform have honoured a diverse group of figures across industries. The list of previous honourees and associates includes television journalist Rajat Sharma, business leader Indra Nooyi, designer Masaba Gupta, entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia, industrialist Adi Godrej, and actor Vivek Oberoi. Other notable names linked to past events include chefs Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar, along with Kanika Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Esha Deol, Lillete Dubey, and Safa Siddiqui.

Context

Platforms that honour international achievers at famous global landmarks often use historic settings to draw media attention to successful individuals from various industries. While Karan Johar's role as host is confirmed, organisers have not yet announced the full list of attendees, honourees, or the specific programme details for the upcoming Oxford ceremony.