Advertising Week New York 2026 once again took the spotlight and showcased innovative trends and inspirational moments.
The major marketing event and global industry conference for professionals across marketing, advertising, media, technology and culture saw big names and determined individuals collectively gathering to shine a light on the profession of making media magic.
Building a Bigger Canvas with John Legend was a highlight that played out before a full theater in Midtown. In a conversation alongside A-Frame Brands executives, founder & CEO AriBloom and co-founder HillHarper, EGOT-winning artist Legend discussed balancing creative evolution, business, family, and purpose. Legend highlighted his upcoming Pharrell Williams-produced album, Muse, a cinematic project blending his voice with 808s and hip-hop beats, largely recorded at the Louis Vuitton offices in Paris overlooking the Seine, and his affordable skincare line, Loved01, emphasizing that any business venture must authentically pass the “mic test.” On family, Legend shared that he wants his children to see him actively working hard at what he loves – practicing, warming up, and writing – so they learn to pour real care and effort into finding and nurturing their passions.
Also, popular at the event was the Next Era of Entertainment Micro-Series with Issa Rae. The producer, actress, and writer kicked off her session with TikTok executive Esme Lean by announcing that Hoorae’s new microseries, The Compatibility Experiment.
When discussing who the show was made for, she responded, “My audience is me. Naturally, I think about what I want to see and what would excite me…. I think of my friends.” Rae shared how Hoorae specifically caters to a black female audience, emphasizing, “that is bar none the mission and the goal.”
(Courtesy Nicole Hubbs Photography)
Adding to the week, Unplugged Collective brought Unplugged State of Mind to the Sir Richard Penthouse at Virgin Hotels: three days of panels, debates, and parties built around real conversation.Bold, independently curated programming spanned ConvHERgence: The Money Seats (women running revenue, investment, and growth at agencies, brands, and media companies), Cultural Arbitrage: From Cultural Influencer to Economic Ownership, The Creator Enterprise: When Talent Becomes the Media Company, and the Mark Allen & Co-sponsored Culture at the Speed of Now and Big Splash vs Always On, plus Hands on Keyboard with Gigi Robinson.
The week closed with Strangers No More, the signature party at Masquerade NYC, and the finale, House Party with U of Digital (a B2B marketing soiree).
(Courtesy Nicole Hubbs Photography)
Unplugged Collective designs human-first experiential networking and media at major marketing events including CES and Cannes Lions. Partners include: Unplugged State of Mind partners include Sigma Software, AdRoll, Yieldmo, Lemonlight, CartographAI, U of Digital, GLAMSQUAD, Equativ, Seedtag, Sightly, Audion, Mark Allen & Co., Odeeo, HUMAN, InMobi, and Glance.
