21 Under 21 is an annual ranking by American music magazine Billboard that began in 2010. It honors young musicians under the age of 21 in the music industry for impact over the previous year and their potential to "rule pop culture zeitgeist over the next 12 months".
Taylor Swift topped the first ranking in 2010 at age 20. Justin Bieber (2011), Lorde (2014), Billie Eilish (2019) and Yoonchae from Katseye (2025) are the youngest artists to be at number one (all aged 17). Willow Smith is the youngest artist to appear on any ranking (aged 9 in 2010). Smith also has the longest period of inclusion, appearing on five rankings across eleven years (2010, 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2021). The Linda Lindas have the most appearances on the list with six consecutive placements (2021–2026). Bieber, Camila Cabello, Eilish, Shawn Mendes, Lorde, Cody Simpson, Smith, Grace VanderWaal and The Kid Laroi are tied with five each with the second most appearances. Bieber, Mendes, Ángela Aguilar and Katseye are the only artists to top the ranking both twice and consecutively.
Poll results by year
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Place 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1 Taylor Swift Justin Bieber One Direction Lorde 2 Justin Bieber Tyler, the Creator One Direction Justin Bieber 5 Seconds of Summer 3 Selena Gomez Demi Lovato Miley Cyrus Justin Bieber 4 Jake Zyrus Scotty McCreery Ariana Grande Martin Garrix 5 Soulja Boy Jackie Evancho Mac Miller Earl Sweatshirt Fifth Harmony 6 Nick Jonas Mac Miller Selena Gomez Lorde Austin Mahone 7 Willow Smith Demi Lovato Porter Robinson Austin Mahone Earl Sweatshirt 8 Demi Lovato Nick Jonas Cher Lloyd Scotty McCreery Shawn Mendes 9 Greyson Chance Rye Rye Earl Sweatshirt Cody Simpson Becky G 10 Miley Cyrus Victoria Justice Nick Jonas Emblem3 Chief Keef 11 Lex Lugler Jackie Evancho Cher Lloyd Luis Coronel 12 Taylor Momsen Il Volo Cody Simpson Chief Keef Meghan Trainor 13 Chris Colfer Cody Simpson Mindless Behaviour Bridgit Mendler Cody Simpson 14 Miranda Cosgrove Willow Smith Megan and Liz Miguelito Madeon 15 Diggy Simmons Greyson Chance IU Joey Badass Bobby Shmurda 16 Wonder Girls Mindless Behaviour Bridgit Mendler Tori Kelly Scotty McCreery 17 Never Shout Never HyunA 3Ball MTY Martin Garrix Troye Sivan 18 New Boyz Porter Robinson Miley Cyrus Mindless Behaviour Rae Sremmurd 19 Nikki Yanofsky One Direction Madeon Matty B Akdong Musician 20 Cody Simpson Miguelito Ross Lynch Lee Hi The Vamps 21 Sean Kingston Miley Cyrus Victoria Justice Fifth Harmony Unlocking the Truth
Place 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 1 5 Seconds of Summer Fifth Harmony Shawn Mendes Billie Eilish 2 Fifth Harmony Shawn Mendes Lorde Khalid Lil Nas X 3 Lorde Desiigner Khalid Lil Pump Juice Wrld 4 Shawn Mendes Martin Garrix Lil Yachty Billie Eilish Lil Pump 5 Rae Sremmurd Daya Camila Cabello Juice Wrld Chloe x Halle 6 Troye Sivan Alessia Cara Kodak Black Bhad Bhabie Lil Tecca 7 Martin Garrix 5 Seconds of Summer Hailee Steinfeld Daya Mason Ramsey 8 Maddie & Tae Lorde Grace VanderWaal Sabrina Carpenter Bhad Bhabie 9 Joey Badass Hailee Steinfeld CNCO Jaden Smith Christian Nodal 10 Hailee Steinfeld Zendaya Desiigner Why Don't We Daya 11 Alessia Cara Jaden Smith Noah Cyrus CNCO Why Don't We 12 Becky G Lil Yachty Daya Chief Keef Noah Cyrus 13 Zendaya Sabrina Carpenter Alan Walker Grace VanderWaal NCT Dream 14 Austin Mahone Zara Larsson Becky G PrettyMuch Sabrina Carpenter 15 Jack and Jack Austin Mahone Jake Paul Whethan King Princess 16 Luis Coronel Kodak Black Why Don't We Mason Ramsey PrettyMuch 17 Silento Kungs Zara Larsson Christian Nodal Grace VanderWaal 18 Seventeen CNCO Twice Willow 19 Echosmith Chloe x Halle PrettyMuch Madison Beer Manuel Turizo 20 Kehlani Lennon & Maisy Chloe x Halle NCT Dream Snail Mail 21 Shamir Grace VanderWaal Sabrina Carpenter Snail Mail Paloma Mami
Place 20202021 2022 2023 2024 1 24kGoldn The Kid Laroi Olivia Rodrigo Ángela Aguilar 2 Beabadoobee Billie Eilish BoyWithUkeAyra Starr Brenn! 3 Billie Eilish 24kGoldn Eslabon ArmadoChloe Moriondo Chino Pacas 4 Benee PinkPantheress Lil Tecca D4vd 5 Carlie Hanson Willow Ángela AguilarDannyLux FloyyMenor 6 Chloe x Halle Olivia Rodrigo The Kid LaroiFlo Gayle 7 Gabby Barrett NLE Choppa Callista Clark Gayle Iván Cornejo 8 Jxdn Lil Huddy Billie EilishIván Cornejo Jessie Murph 9 The Kid Laroi The Linda Lindas 347aidanKidd G The Kid Laroi 10 Koffee Eslabon Armado Tiago PZKThe Kid Laroi Lauren Spencer-Smith 11 Lil Mosey Lil Tjay Lauren Spencer-Smith Lay Bankz 12 Lil Tecca Griff NLE ChoppaLil Tecca The Linda Lindas 13 Lil Tjay Jxdn Moore KismetThe Linda Lindas Luh Tyler 14 Lunay Callista Clark Tate McRaeLuh Tyler Mason Ramsey 15 Manuel Turizo Nessa Barrett GayleNessa Barrett New Jeans 16 Mason Ramsey Baby Keem Kidd GNLE Choppa Qing Madi 17 Moore Kismet Joshua Bassett DannyLuxOlivia Rodrigo Roivaz 18 Natanael Cano Moore Kismet The Linda LindasRiovaz Tate McRae 19 NCT Dream Grace VanderWaal Yahritza y Su EsenciaStephen Sanchez Xavi 20 NLE Choppa Luis Vazquez LamornTate McRae 4batz 21 Noah Cyrus Tate McRae Chloe MoriondoYunè Pinku 310babii
Place 20252026 2027 2028 2029 1 Katseye 2 Jessie Murph North West 3 D4vd Sienna Spiro 4 Qing Madi Freya Skye 5 Ian Wyatt Ellis 6 Iván Cornejo Milo J 7 Bayker Blankenship Ty Myers 8 Chino Pacas Bella Kay 9 Ty Myers Girlset 10 Sombr Laila! 11 Lil Mosey FloyyMenor 12 310babii Trim 13 Waylon Wyatt Violet Grohl 14 FloyyMenor JayDon 15 Remy Bond Najeeriii 16 The Linda Lindas Maddox Batson 17 Luh Tyler Cortis 18 Laila! BabyChiefDoIt 19 NewJeans Waylon Wyatt 20 Najeeriii The Linda Lindas 21 Maddox Batson Chino Pacas
Musicians with multiple number ones
2 placements Justin Bieber (consecutive) Shawn Mendes (consecutive) Ángela Aguilar (consecutive) Katseye (consecutive)
Musicians with multiple appearances
6 placements
The Linda Lindas (2021–2026)
5 placements
Justin Bieber (2010–2014) Billie Eilish (2018–2022) Lorde (2013–2017) Shawn Mendes (2014–2018) Willow (2010–2011, 2018–2019, 2021) Grace VanderWaal (2016–2019, 2021) Cody Simpson (2010–2014) The Kid Laroi (2020–2024) Camila Cabello (one solo placement in 2017 and four times with Fifth Harmony)
4 placements
Chloe x Halle (2016–2017, 2019–2020) Fifth Harmony (2013–2016) Mindless Behavior (2011–2013, 2017) NLE Choppa (2020–2023) Sabrina Carpenter (2016–2019) Mason Ramsey (2018–2020, 2024) Miley Cyrus (2010–2013) Austin Mahone (2013–2016) Daya (2016–2019) Scott McCreery (2011–2014) Tate McRae (2021–2024)
3 placements
CNCO (2016–2018) Moore Kismet (2020–2022) NCT Dream (2018–2020) Olivia Rodrigo (2021–2023) One Direction (2011–2013) PrettyMuch (2017–2019) Gayle (2022–2024) Nick Jonas (2010–2012) Lauren Spencer-Smith (2022–2024) Selena Gomez (2010–2012) Noah Cyrus (2017, 2019–2020) Why Don't We (2017–2019) Demi Lovato (2010–2012) Chief Keef (2013–2014, 2018) Becky G (2014–2015, 2017) 5 Seconds Of Summer (2014–2016) Ángela Aguilar (2022–2024) D4vd (2023–2025) Iván Cornejo (2023–2025) Luh Tyler (2023–2025) FloyyMenor (2024–2026) Chino Pacas (2024–2026)
2 placements
Qing Madi (2024–2025) Chloe Moriondo (2022–2023) DannyLux (2022–2023) Riovaz (2023–2024) Jxdn (2020–2021) Kidd G (2022–2023) Lex Luger (2010–2011) Lil Tecca (2022–2023) Manuel Turizo (2019–2020) Snail Mail (2018–2019) Eslabon Armado (2021–2022) Callista Clark (2021–2022) Juice Wrld (2018–2019) Victoria Justice (2011–2012) Zendaya (2015–2016) Cher Lloyd (2012–2013) Troye Sivan (2014–2015) Lil Pump (2018–2019) Bhad Bhabie (2018–2019) Lil Tjay (2020–2021) Mac Miller (2011–2012) Bridgit Mendler (2012–2013) 310babii (2024-2025) Katseye (2025–2026) Ty Myers (2025–2026) Laila! (2025–2026) Maddox Batson (2025–2026) Waylon Wyatt (2025–2026) Najeeriii (2025–2026)
Notes
References