This chapter explores populism as a change strategy in education. It describes how a resurgence of populism since the early 2000s has reshaped educational governance, policy, curriculum, and pedagogy across all levels of the education sector and national contexts. The text argues that populism is not a single, consistent political phenomenon. Instead, manifestations of populism should be understood as blends of political ideologies, communication styles (discourses), and strategies for mobilizing political support. These mixes tend not to adhere to traditional left-wing or right-wing divisions; instead, they reshape conventional political boundaries. However, common features include emotionally charged rhetoric, the intense criticism of elites, and, in certain forms, the scapegoating of specific social groups. The chapter shows how populism arises from structural inequalities, democratic deficits, and political disaffection associated with decades of neoliberal globalization and paradoxes internal to liberal democracy. Through empirical examples and thematic analysis, it highlights how populist dynamics intersect with education sectors and institutions to influence changes that range from (ethno)nationalist and authoritarian to progressivist and democratic. Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, the chapter presents populism as a unique mode of political contestation, prompting readers to critically engage with its implications for pluralism, civic learning, and democratic resilience in and through education.