The best brand campaigns of H1 2026 sold honesty. Are consumers buying?

As fake news, fake feeds and fake AI proliferate, Coca-Cola, Dove, Anthropic and other brands tried to leave a real mark in the first half.

By Chris Kelly • July 7, 2026

Brands see content gold in microdramas. Will they muck up the moment?

Opinions are split on whether brands are serious about the saucy short-form genre, but experts shared ways to dip a toe in the water.

By Peter Adams • July 7, 2026

State Farm enlists IShowSpeed to keep season five of gaming series fresh

Reality-competition series “Gamerhood” will integrate Flowcode technology that uses QR codes to connect the brand with consumers.

By Chris Kelly • July 7, 2026

What Walmart’s Vibe.co deal means for CTV, retail media convergence

The acquisition of the platform designed for small- and mid-sized businesses closed on Tuesday and speaks to the evolution of streaming TV advertising.

By Chris Kelly • Updated Aug. 4, 2026

Sprite unites tastemakers and fans to debate hip-hop’s greatest hits

New campaign “The Living Tracklist” seeks to establish a canon for the genre and employs packaging, social content and a digital experience.

By Chris Kelly • June 25, 2026

Target, DirecTV team to track premium video advertising’s sales impact

Danone plans to test a new solution that uses Roundel data and DirecTV audience insights to measure whether ads led to purchases at Target.

By Peter Adams • June 22, 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery revamps ad-tech stack around agentic AI, AWS

Embracing agent-led automation aims to bring linear TV and digital under one roof while preserving flexibility for advertisers.

By Peter Adams • June 18, 2026

P&G’s latest branded microdrama is built on Albertsons retail media data

The CPG giant is the first to use a new branded entertainment offering from the grocer’s retail media network that puts shopper insights first.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2026

Fox acquires Roku for $22B to accelerate streaming advertising business

The deal would give the broadcaster access to the top connected TV operating system in the U.S. and a wealth of first-party data.

By Chris Kelly • Updated June 15, 2026

Sociable: Google enlists Walmart Connect to enhance YouTube ad insights

Brands can reach Walmart’s U.S. customers through YouTube campaigns and see how those ads impact sales. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • June 12, 2026

L’Oréal Paris helps shape ‘Legally Blonde’ origin story in streaming tie-up

The brand is a sponsor of the new “Legally Blonde” prequel show “Elle” and is running a co-marketing campaign inspired by social content.

By Peter Adams • June 11, 2026

How GSTV steps up audience targeting with Stagwell’s agentic system

Slim Jim maker Conagra Brands is the video network’s first advertiser to incorporate the Stagwell Agentic Targeting System into campaign planning.

By Chris Kelly • June 11, 2026

Nike and Adidas take their rivalry to the World Cup. Who will win?

The brands are both at a crossroads, and their campaign centerpieces play up soccer bona fides alongside the sport’s stars and other pop icons.

By Chris Kelly • June 9, 2026

Fox One pitches itself as home of World Cup viewing for obsessive fans

The DTC service looks to break through in streaming with a campaign that plays up the absurd lengths fans will go to watch the tournament.

By Chris Kelly • June 8, 2026

Indeed addresses job market disconnect with ads that put people first

The “Jobs Need People” campaign depicts moments of peer-to-peer connection that make work fulfilling amid a rise in trends like employer ghosting.

By Peter Adams • June 3, 2026

How McDonald’s is serving up culture as part of its new strategic plan

Activations around a Nike sneaker release and box office smash “Backrooms” demonstrate how the fast-food giant uses social media marketing.

By Chris Kelly • June 3, 2026

NBCU points to premium video’s broad value as social marketing rises

The broadcaster and partner Gain Theory detailed how premium video can boost the middle funnel — and what’s lost in its absence.

By Peter Adams • June 1, 2026

Essentia takes rule-defying campaign national for summer season

After an initial launch in New York last year, “Change the Equation” is expanding through a 90-second brand film and partnership with a soccer star.

By Peter Adams • May 26, 2026

Liquid I.V. updates ad playbook with Amazon’s Brand Innovation Lab

A new campaign features actors from “Off Campus,” marking the first time lead talent from a Prime Video show has appeared in a co-branded spot.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 26, 2026

French’s mustard goes green as part of ‘Minions & Monsters’ tie-in

A custom animated spot and a limited-time condiment inspired by Goomi, the film’s antagonist, anchor the multichannel campaign. 

By Peter Adams • Updated May 28, 2026

Manischewitz celebrates Jewish matchmaking with reality dating series

The kosher foods brand is tapping into trends around episodic content with “Manischewitz Matchmakers,” which will air on social media in July.

By Jessica Hammers • May 21, 2026

Athletic Brewing opens marketing tap to stand out in crowded summer

The nonalcoholic beer brand expects to hike its national media spend 120% over the year-ago period to capitalize on events like America250 celebrations.

By Peter Adams • May 21, 2026

E.l.f. blends into ‘Survivor 50’ finale with challenge-themed spots

A trio of vignettes drop content creator Delaney Rowe into the cutthroat world of the show, where she gets a leg up by applying E.l.f. products.

By Peter Adams • May 20, 2026

Oscar Mayer’s Wienermobile race returns with bolder media blitz

After boosting hot dog sales last year, the event is jumping from streaming to broadcast as the Kraft Heinz brand looks to win Memorial Day weekend.

By Peter Adams • Updated May 19, 2026

Dr Pepper gets into microdramas for return of dirty soda-inspired flavor

The social-native series, designed to promote the return of its Creamy Coconut LTO, comes as Keurig Dr Pepper looks to increase marketing investment.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 18, 2026