ADWEEK Brandweek 2026: Atlanta Event Guide for Brand and Advertising Leaders
Brandweek 2026 brings the industry’s top brand builders back to Atlanta for three days of ideas, case studies, and conversations shaping where brand marketing goes next.
Join brand leaders, agency executives, media partners, and creative teams September 15–17 to dig into reinvention, AI, and what it really takes to grow a brand people trust.
Southern Exchange | 200 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 September 15–17, 2026
Quick Event Overview
Brandweek is ADWEEK’s flagship event for brand-minded marketers, advertising leaders, agencies, media executives, and creative teams. It’s built around the challenges senior marketers are facing right now: staying relevant, proving brand impact, and building AI fluency without losing sight of the work that actually connects with people.
At a Glance:
- Dates: September 15–17, 2026
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Venue: Southern Exchange, 200 Peachtree St. NW
- Who Attends: Brand marketers, agency executives, media leaders, creative teams
- Key Themes: Reinvention, AI, purpose, performance, brand measurement
- Format: Main stage sessions, an AI Accelerator Day, breakouts, and networking
- How to Register: Online via the official Brandweek website
Why Brandweek Matters for Marketers
Brand strategy doesn’t hold still for long. Media keeps fragmenting, AI keeps changing what’s possible, and marketers are being asked to prove brand impact in ways that go well beyond a campaign report.
Brandweek brings brand leaders, agencies, media executives, and creative teams into the same room to work through exactly that. It’s less about theory and more about what leading brands are actually prioritizing right now, across growth, creativity, AI, culture, and measurement.
Most marketers leave with a notebook full of ideas, a handful of new relationships, and at least one thing worth testing back at the office.
Who Should Attend
Brandweek is built for teams responsible for brand growth, media decisions, and cultural relevance, including:
- CMOs and senior brand marketers
- Brand strategy and integrated marketing leaders
- Agency executives and planning teams
- Media executives and partner teams
- Communications and PR leaders
- Social, creator, and experiential marketing teams
- Creative leaders and storytellers
- Technology and vendor partners
- Growth, insights, and measurement leaders
Key Themes to Watch in 2026
Brand Reinvention
How major brands are adapting to shifting consumer behavior, media fragmentation, and tighter business expectations, without losing what made them recognizable in the first place.
AI as a Marketing Accelerator
2026 marks ADWEEK’s first dedicated AI Accelerator Day, focused on how brands are using AI for personalization, efficiency, content production, and entirely new marketing models.
Purpose, Performance, and Profit
How brands are proving that purpose-led storytelling and measurable business results aren’t in competition with each other.
Creativity That Drives Business Results
What today’s creative leaders are doing to build brands people remember, while still meeting performance expectations.
Culture, Community, and Brand Relevance
How brands stay connected to real consumer behavior, social trends, and cultural moments instead of reacting a step behind them.
Measurement and Brand Accountability
How marketing teams are proving brand impact beyond short-term campaign metrics.
Agenda and Event Experience
Main Stage Programming
Leadership conversations, brand case studies, and strategic points of view from senior marketers across categories.
AI Accelerator Day (Wednesday, September 16)
A full day dedicated to practical AI use cases and hands-on guidance for brand teams looking to scale AI across their marketing workflows.
Brands Doing Cool Sh*t (Tuesday and Wednesday)
A featured series putting attendees face to face with the founders and marketers behind brands that broke convention and built something people actually talk about.
Breakout Sessions and Roundtables
Smaller-format sessions built for deeper discussion and practical takeaways.
Networking and Evening Experiences
Welcome reception, daily networking moments, and informal opportunities to meet brand, agency, and media leaders throughout the week.
Speaker Highlights
Brandweek 2026 features senior leaders from some of the most recognized brands and cultural organizations in the country. Confirmed 2026 speakers include Manolo Arroyo of The Coca-Cola Company, Tressie Lieberman of Starbucks, Terence Reilly of Crocs, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s, Dr. Bernice A. King of The King Center, and Melissa Proctor of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, with more added regularly.
Why This Event Matters for Captivate and DOOH
Brandweek draws marketers who are actively thinking about brand relevance, attention, and how to prove that a campaign actually worked, which makes it a natural fit for conversations around premium DOOH.
A few places DOOH fits into that conversation:
- Reaching brand-minded audiences in premium, real-world environments
- Connecting awareness and action through physical screens, not just digital ones
- Using contextual placement to make a message land harder
- Supporting brand storytelling outside of crowded digital feeds
- Measuring outcomes through site lift, search lift, and campaign reporting
- Tying physical media exposure back into a broader omnichannel strategy
How to Plan Your Time at Brandweek
Before the Event
Define your top priorities (AI, reinvention, measurement, creative, or media strategy), shortlist sessions tied to those priorities, and pre-book meetings with the people you want to catch up with.
During the Event
Prioritize sessions with real brand case studies, use networking time to compare notes with other marketers, and ask partners how they’re connecting brand media to measurable outcomes.
After the Event
Turn what you learned into a short internal recap, pick two or three ideas worth testing, and follow up with the people you met while the conversations are still fresh.
Badge, Hotel, and Access Notes
Brandweek offers separate badge types for brand and agency attendees, as well as technology and vendor solution providers, with a discount available on 3 or more badges. There’s no virtual live pass for 2026, but every ticket type includes on-demand access to event content for one full year after the event. Preferred-rate hotel bookings are available through the official accommodations page, with the deadline to book at the preferred rate falling in late August.
FAQs
When is ADWEEK Brandweek 2026?
Brandweek 2026 takes place September 15–17, 2026.
Where is Brandweek 2026 held?
The event is held at Southern Exchange, 200 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA.
Who should attend Brandweek?
Brand marketers, CMOs, agency executives, media leaders, creative teams, and technology partners focused on brand growth and marketing strategy.
What topics are covered at Brandweek?
2026 programming covers brand reinvention, AI, purpose and performance, creativity, culture, and marketing measurement.
Is there a virtual option for Brandweek 2026?
No live virtual pass is offered in 2026. All ticket types include on-demand access to event content for one year after the event.
What is the AI Accelerator Day at Brandweek?
A new addition for 2026, the AI Accelerator Day is a full day dedicated to how brands are using AI for personalization, efficiency, and new marketing models, with hands-on guidance for teams looking to scale it.
Is Brandweek useful for brand marketers and agency teams?
Yes. The event is built specifically for in-house brand leaders, agency executives, and the media and creative partners who work alongside them.
How can DOOH fit into a modern brand marketing strategy?
DOOH extends brand storytelling into premium, real-world environments, adding a physical layer of attention and measurable outcomes to a broader media mix.
How do I register for Brandweek 2026?
Registration is available through the official Brandweek 2026 website, with badge options for brand, agency, and technology or vendor attendees.
Register for ADWEEK Brandweek 2026
September 15–17, 2026 | Southern Exchange | Atlanta, GA