The word ‘scene’ is used to describe many things: a location; part of a film or play; in popular culture, the overall vibe or energy of a place.
For this year’s Rochester 10 cohort, scene is a throughline.
In the August pages, you’ll meet folks you have perhaps heard of in passing more than seeing them around the community. Maybe it will provide a face to a name. This is a cohort not chosen based on their visibility, but for the visibility they bring to others and to the region as a whole, letting Rochester and beyond steal the scene.
As in years past, the cohort was chosen through nominations from both staff and contributors for their impact on and contributions to the Greater Rochester community.
Read on to meet the 2026 Rochester 10 — those behind-the-scenes, and setting the scene.
Photos by Rafael Rodriguez
Art direction and design by Jacob Walsh
Profiles by Austin Albanese, Sydney Burrows, Brendan Dabkowski, Jon Heath, Patrick Hosken, Justin Murphy, Leah Stacy, Maria Stojanova-Montoya, Katherine Varga and Veronica Volk.
Have a nomination for the 2027 cohort? Email leah@roccitymag.com for future consideration.
