It’s time to turn the page on 2025. A new year awaits. With it comes the chance to pen a new story, highlight fresh intentions and underline what’s really worthy of our time.
To find inspiration for this new chapter, Arizona Republic reporters tapped artists, a baker, musicians, a pro baseball player, DJs and the Valley’s most meme-able lawyer to ask them a simple question: What’s your greatest wish for 2026? A chef wants to savor the small moments. A hip-hop icon hopes we can see the good in each other. And a poet prays words still matter.
We know they do. Happy New Year, Phoenix.
— Becky Bartkowski
Alberto Rios, Arizona’s first Poet Laureate
Alberto Rios is the director of the Virgina G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and Arizona’s inaugural poet laureate.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is that words still matter in a world where power too often mistakes itself for truth. I hope stories outlast the noise—holding light to what’s human, ordinary, and worth keeping. When leaders overstep, may language step forward: patient, clear, and unafraid. I wish for art that refuses erasure, for communities that remember their shared voice, for writers who keep building bridges across the ruins. The marvelous, after all, has always belonged to the people—it begins wherever we choose to listen, to imagine, and to speak with care.”
Dana Armstrong of the Dirty Drummer
Valley Fever DJ Dana Armstrong co-owns the Dirty Drummer Eatin’ and Drinkin’ Place, which hosts live music, in Phoenix.
“I’d say my biggest wish for 2026 is for democracy to prevail. I hope education is valued enough to impart factual historical context, perspective and appreciation for what we have and what we could lose. And I hope it becomes culturally popular to respect natural land over endless development.”
Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Corbin Carroll, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, was the first player in franchise history to be named National League Rookie of the Year in 2023. In 2025, he earned his first National League Silver Slugger Award.
“My wish for 2026 is to spend more time appreciating and celebrating the good in people, moments and life.”
Jenna Leurquin of JL Patisserie
Jenna Leurquin is a French-trained chef-owner of JL Patisserie and was a 2023 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery.
“My hope for next year is a healthy and inspired team, a strong and supportive community and an open door to new opportunities.”
Brandon Rafi of Rafi Law Group
Brandon Rafi is a lawyer perhaps most famous for becoming a local meme with his “Call Rafi!” jingle and advertisements in Arizona.
“My wish for 2026 is that we continue to lift each other up as a community. Arizona is growing quickly, and my hope is that our growth is matched with excitement and enthusiasm. I want to see more opportunities for families, more investment in our youth, and more kindness in how we do business and live our lives.”
Adam Allison, chef
Two-time Food Network champion, Adam Allison is the chef and owner of Brightside Catering and a private chef for Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns. Allison hosts events to benefit cancer research and works with organizations to support parents and children with cancer.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is that people choose to set aside the beliefs, divisions, and assumptions that separate us and instead recognize one another simply as human beings. We face countless factors that create tension and distance, yet none are greater than our shared capacity for compassion. In the year ahead, I hope we collectively move toward understanding, empathy and genuine connection — loving one another not because we agree, but because our shared humanity deserves it, and life is so much bigger than that “
Carlos Valencia of Yaqui Pride
Carlos Valencia is the creator of Yaqui Pride, a movement and brand that celebrates Yaqui culture, heritage and identity through education and community storytelling.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is for people to continue self-discovering more about their indigenous roots. As well as for people to honor their ancestors and take pride in their health and wellness, while embracing their warrior mindset.”
Catrina Kahler of Artlink
Catrina Kahler is the president and CEO of Artlink, a nonprofit organization founded by artists in 1989 that works to keep the arts integral to Phoenix’s community.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is to begin each day with gratitude for living in a place where artists and innovators weave creativity into the fabric of everyday life. As America celebrates 250 years, I hope Arizonans, including business and civic leaders, will come together to celebrate and champion the arts, culture, history, and heritage that make our state so unique.”
Justin Nasralla of Mister Pio
Justin Nasralla is the chef and owner of Mister Pio, where he remains intentional about the quality of the ingredients and the way he prepares his food, using one of the few Josper rotisserie grills in the country.
“I want us all to have a prosperous year and take the time to enjoy the small moments in life with family and friends. Let’s slow down enough to truly value our time together, because it matters more than we realize.”
Marvin Young a.k.a. Young MC
Marvin Young is a hip-hop legend best known for the Grammy-winning classic “Bust a Move,” a Top 10 hit he recorded as Young MC after collaborating with Tone-Loc on two huge hit singles (“Wild Thing,” “Funky Cold Medina”). He’s lived in Scottsdale since 2006.
“My biggest wish for people in the world is to realize how much we all have in common. We experience a lot of the same things, just separately. My biggest wish for myself is to share more of my new music with people. To touch people with fresh ideas. I like the feeling of that.”
Jorge A. Gutierrez of Mariscos Todo Mar
Jorge A. Gutierrez is the chef and owner of Mariscos A Todo Mar. He’s dedicated to elevating traditional mariscos and sharing the vibrant, coastal flavors of Mexican seafood with a wider audience.
“As I reflect on 2025 and think towards 2026, my wish is to take the culinary art of ‘marisco’ to a five-star experience. The amount of time, dedication and energy that it takes to prepare 1 plate deserves that recognition. I want to share the love that I have for this cuisine with this amazing state of Arizona. To accomplish this, my goal is to open a new location in central Phoenix in order to make it more accessible to the public, as well as to have the opportunity to offer more options such as Pescado Zarandeado grilled over mesquite, which is one of my favorite original dishes.”
Angelique Kane of Phoenix Center for the Arts
Angelique Kane is the executive director at Phoenix Center for the Arts.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is that everyone in the City of Phoenix (and beyond) has access to the Phoenix Center for the Arts as a powerful tool for personal mental health, healing, and community connection to create spaces where creativity uplifts, empowers and unites us all.”
Joshua Coddington of Arizona Office of Tourism
Joshua Coddington is the spokesman for the Arizona Office of Tourism, the state’s tourism marketer.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is for a year defined by personal growth, love, laughter and learning. My core goal every year is always to level up as a father, husband, friend and colleague — a task made much more accomplishable by my endlessly inquisitive six-year-old daughter and phenomenal wife. I’m truly the luckiest guy around! Professionally, alongside my incredible colleagues in Arizona’s tourism industry, I hope for the continued wildfire recovery of the Grand Canyon North Rim and sustained success in attracting more international visitors to our amazing state.”
Feng-Feng Yeh, artist
Feng Feng Yeh is an artist and the founder of Chinese Chorizo Project, which celebrates Chinese chorizo as a symbol of solidarity between Mexican and Chinese communities in Tucson and Phoenix.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is for more Chinese Chorizo, more recipes for solidarity across the world!”
Lauryn Mangum Reed of TMG Hospitality
Lauryn Mangum Reed is the executive vice president of TMG Hospitality, which manages a portfolio of restaurants at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is less about me and more about the greater good, seeing more opportunities, more equity, more peace and more love across the board for everyone. We are very blessed and fortunate to be partners with an amazing airport with an amazing city. I just want every traveler to experience the sense of care and connection and hospitality that reminds them why Phoenix is America’s friendliest airport. We’re able to represent some of the best of the Valley. And we want to continue to grow and continue to operate in excellence.”
Daniel Castro of Sana Sana Cervecería
Daniel Castro is the co-owner of Sana Sana Cervecería in Phoenix.
“I think if 2025 taught me anything it’s that it really takes a village to build something special. We’re not able to do the things we do to support our community without the tremendous help from our friends, family, neighbors and our team at Sana Sana. So, my wish for 2026 would be the continued personal success, blessings and happiness for everyone who has helped and continues to help us to achieve greatness for ourselves and the community.”
Francisco Diaz, artist
Francisco Diaz is an artist and a founder of thems., which hosts events for queer artists, like a monthly Fruity Poetry Night.
“My biggest wish for 2026 is more community forward, DIY safe spaces where artists and community members can come together to create, connect and learn from one another. Spaces where people feel genuinely welcome, supported, and inspired to change the world around them. I’m dreaming of more volunteering, more helping one another, more building together. Of communities choosing care, creativity and collective action as a way forward.”