Forbes Riley named 2026 Woman of the Year by NOW Honors

Forbes Riley will be honored Friday in Las Vegas as the 2026 Woman of the Year by NOW Honors, recognizing a career that spans television, entrepreneurship, authorship and coaching. The award lands as Riley continues to build new businesses, publish bestsellers and champion reinvention for women at any age.

Why it matters: - The honor spotlights a long-running career built on reinvention, not one milestone. - Riley's recognition also reinforces a broader message she has centered publicly: women do not age out of ambition, visibility or growth. - The award comes after a new bestseller, a major sales milestone and fresh business work with her daughter.

What happened: - NOW Honors named Forbes Riley the 2026 Woman of the Year. - Riley will receive the honor Friday evening during IPS: Honors 2026 at Indie Film Factory in Las Vegas. - IPS: Honors is part of a studio-produced recognition weekend presented by TGo Presents. - The event combines the SV Trailblazer Awards and NOW Honors. - Riley is 66.

The details: - Riley is an entrepreneur, television personality, USA TODAY bestselling author, three-time TEDx speaker, product creator and pitch expert known as The Queen of Pitch. - Her television work spans QVC, HSN and nearly 200 infomercials. - Riley says that work helped generate more than $2.5 billion in product sales. - She created SpinGym and expanded into business education and coaching. - Riley also built a digital education company with her daughter, Makenna Riley. - Her book Pitch Secrets A to Z became a USA TODAY bestseller earlier this year. - Three days before the Woman of the Year honor, Riley and Makenna received the Two Comma Club X Award at Funnel Hacking LIVE in Las Vegas. - That award marked more than $10 million in sales generated through their digital business. - Riley has also competed on a bodybuilding stage for the first time in her 60s. - IPS: Honors 2026 runs September 24-26 and includes documentary-style storytelling around each honoree's defining experiences and turning points. - Riley is among the honorees in IPS: Chapters Honoree Edition, a documentary-style interview series tied to the celebration.

Between the lines: - Riley's recognition reflects how achievement is being framed beyond traditional career peaks. - The honor pairs past commercial success with current cultural relevance. - Her message about aging and ambition is clearly aimed at women weighing a career pivot, a new business or a second act. - The event format suggests organizers want to preserve not just outcomes, but the stories behind them.

What's next: - Riley will be recognized during the Sept. 25 celebration in Las Vegas. - The IPS: Honors weekend will continue through Sept. 26. - Riley is expected to keep using her platform to promote reinvention, communication and entrepreneurship. - She says her focus remains on what comes after the applause stops.

The bottom line: - Forbes Riley's latest honor marks both a career milestone and a public case for reinvention at any age.