Who is People's Sexiest Man Alive 2026? How People magazine chooses its winner, the criteria it considers and what goes into the selection process

Noah Wyle is this year's Sexiest Man Alive. In an interview exclusive with People published on Tuesday, "The Pitt" star was in complete disbelief over the news and said that when he found out, it sounded like "a classic set-up for a prank." "Just not in a million years did I think this would be an honor bestowed on me in this lifetime," he was quoted as saying.

Noah Wyle being named People's Sexiest Man Alive comes a month after the actor won the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series and outstanding drama series for "The Pitt." The 55-year-old actor, who directs the series, plays the show's main character, Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavich.

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How to calculate World's sexiest man?

People Magazine's official Sexiest Man Alive isn't just an opinion, it's an institution. The magazine conducts polls to find out people's opinion. When explaining why John Legend took the title in 2019, People editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford said his team did give polls serious consideration. But it is not as simple as a vote. In 2012, People magazine's Julie Jordan told USA Today that the team paid attention to readers' reactions online.

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“We pay attention to comments on People.com,” she said. The magazine also seeks opinions from female celebrities when considering potential winners. “And we also ask female celebrities — we ask them who their vote would be for sexiest man alive,” Jordan said.

Do focus groups help decide the winner?

Focus groups are another part of the process and their feedback helps inform discussions among senior members of the magazine's editorial team. These discussions allow the magazine to consider how potential winners are perceived by audiences, alongside their public profiles and appeal.

However, the magazine's selection process should not be treated as a scientific calculation. There is no publicly established scoring formula that assigns a fixed number of points to appearance, popularity or career success.

Wyle's selection comes amid the success of The Pitt and his recent Emmy wins. While these achievements provide context for his growing public profile, the magazine's choice should not be attributed to any single factor without confirmation from its editors.

Noah Wyle's reaction on being sexiest man alive of 2026

“I thought that sounded like a prank — just not in a million years did I think that this would be an honor bestowed on me,” says the actor.Luckily Sara, 46, was able to convince him that he was, in fact, SMA material. “She thinks I’m a good guy and that the kind of person that I am and the kind of father I am, the kind of husband I am, is worth promoting.” he says. “I thought, ‘Okay, if you say so.’ ” Not to mention, “she was very pleased that this reflects well on her taste,” he adds.

Back in the ’90s, Noah stole many hearts as the handsome young Dr. Carter on ER, he and his costars George Clooney, Eriq La Salle and Anthony Edwards graced the cover of the magazine’s “Sexy Men of ER” issue