Old Navy’s MrBeast deal boosts engagement amid bigger bet on creators

A back-to-school campaign with the top YouTuber is showing early promise, including a traffic bump, as the Gap Inc. retailer rewires its marketing.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 11, 2026

Snapchat promises advertisers faster conversions for the holidays

New ad products follow news that Chief Business Officer Ajit Mohan, who helped facilitate a revamp of Snap’s advertising business, has stepped down.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 10, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Marketing Dive

From the continued rise of artificial intelligence to the emergence of new digital channels, here's a look at key trends driving marketing in 2026.

By Marketing Dive staff

Caesars gives NFL legend a ‘looksmaxxing’ makeover in sportsbook ads

“We’ve Had Some Work Done” was created in partnership with minority-owned, full-service creative agency Fellow Kids and produced by Hungry Man.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 9, 2026

Why brand personality matters more than ever

Callaway Golf’s recent marketing stumble emphasizes the need for brands to establish clear personality guardrails, writes Gartner’s Julie Reeves.

By Julie Reeves • Sept. 9, 2026

Campbell’s heats up digital focus amid marketing reformulation

Channels including social, influencer and e-commerce will command 85% of working media budgets as the marketer tries to meet modern consumer tastes.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 8, 2026

Hoka builds Strava running stats into digital OOH campaign

The marketer is pitting New York’s five boroughs against one another for a “Run Your City” challenge and will leverage the results for campaign creative. 

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 3, 2026

Axe vies for more mature brand positioning while nodding to Y2K roots

New ads for the Unilever brand show men briefly turning back into their teen selves, popped collars and all, as Axe states, “You got better. So did we.”

By Peter Adams • Sept. 2, 2026

Why Dr. Squatch is investing in experiences — not ads — with IShowSpeed

Chief Brand Officer John Ludeke explains why the Unilever brand is betting that it can get Gen Z consumers to create content alongside the top streamer.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 31, 2026

Chipotle deploys 100 creators for latest ads spotlighting fresh food

This is the first national advertising push from Chief Brand Officer Fernando Machado and Chipotle’s first major work with new agency partner Kids.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 31, 2026

Snapchat’s bid to simplify mobile marketing measurement goes global

Mohegan Sun Online Casino improved its return on ad spend by nearly 90% during a test period for the Unified Attribution capability.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 31, 2026

Sociable: How will Meta’s settlement impact social media?

The company’s landmark $18 billion payout was only one part of a larger agreement that aims to force other apps to implement similar teen restrictions.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Aug. 28, 2026

Is Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte ‘basic’? Martha Stewart answers in new ads

Stewart and “Off Campus” actor Belmont Cameli feature in tongue-in-cheek social content that heralds the return of the beloved menu item.

By Peter Adams • Updated Aug. 27, 2026

Sociable: Meta removes option to exclude ad placements

The company will use an automated system to target display options, and brands will no longer be able to decide which apps receive promotions.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Aug. 27, 2026

How Dr Pepper’s ‘Fansville’ campaign stays relevant and drives outcomes

Keurig Dr Pepper analyzes consumer signals by working with Publicis and retail media partners and using its first-party capabilities and martech stack.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 27, 2026

Why United helped broadcast ESPN’s fantasy football show live from the sky

Social media serves as an entry point into ESPN for fans, especially Gen Z ones. The company had a record 1 billion social engagements in February.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 26, 2026

How Athleta is revamping its brand narrative with bolder purpose

A fall campaign features cinematic ads, bigger bets on social-first marketing and a sponsorship of Olivia Rodrigo’s first Daisy Chain Fields Festival. 

By Peter Adams • Aug. 25, 2026

Creator fit beats follower count for brands: Here’s what the numbers say

The creator economy is expected to hit nearly half a trillion dollars next year, but the disconnect between creators and brands persists.

By Sara Karlovitch • Aug. 21, 2026

Why Nuuly is betting on a microdrama for its social-first fall campaign

The Urban Outfitters-owned, high-growth clothing rental service wants to break through ad fatigue with a series that examines modern dating.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 20, 2026

Chipotle broadens Gen Alpha marketing with Salish Matter collab

A partnership with the 16-year-old YouTube and TikTok star marks the first time the brand has brought a custom creator order to its Kid’s Meal.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 19, 2026

Amazon, Nike reign supreme with Gen Alpha teens: report

Parents still hold sway over teen brand preferences, with moms in particular being more influential than any “social media platform, creator or celebrity.”

By Sara Karlovitch • Updated Aug. 17, 2026

JCPenney parodies off-price retailers with wellness-themed campaign

Marisa Thalberg, chief customer and marketing officer at Catalyst Brands, details a Retail Rejuvenation Retreat that looks to change shopping habits.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 17, 2026

Crocs hatches new mascot Niles to enrich brand storytelling

The 6-foot-tall reptile, who appears in a new social series where he interacts with real employees, is expected to be a long-term fixture of Crocs’ marketing. 

By Peter Adams • Aug. 14, 2026

Smartphone school ban could imperil billions in social media ad revenue

While a national ban is currently hypothetical, Emarketer’s research on its potential impact reflects the rapidly changing regulatory landscape for mobile.

By Sara Karlovitch • Aug. 13, 2026

Cuisinart caters to thumb-scrolling consumers with short-form series

The 14-part, non-linear series follows the culinary endeavors of a modern home cook and her eccentric roommate from the 17th century.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 13, 2026

Dove’s marketing mixes sports and style for US Open sponsorship return

The brand is working with fashion photographers to capture trendy tournament looks that do not show white streaks from deodorant. 

By Peter Adams • Aug. 12, 2026