Advertising Week 2026

Join Ipsos at Advertising Week 2026 for a series of conversations with leaders in marketing, media, and culture. We’ll explore the trends, tensions, and opportunities redefining marketing today and driving growth tomorrow. 

Here's where you'll find us:

ADVERTISING WEEK INSIGHTS STAGE | October 6 | 4:30pm

Changing Habits, Changing Stories: Brand Storytelling for Social Commerce 

As consumer behavior evolves, static brand storytelling no longer cuts through in modern commerce. Discovery and decision-making now happen simultaneously across social touchpoints. During this session, Snap, Ipsos, and Omnicom share exclusive insights revealing four emerging shopper mindsets and how 86% of global consumers have normalized social shopping. Join us to hear how to balance utility with authentic creative, bridge validation gaps in private DMs, and future-proof your storytelling strategy over the next 12 to 24 months.

• Zahara Malik, VP, Research - Media & Technology, Ipsos
• Aarti Bhaskaran, Global Head of Research and Insights, Snap Inc.
• Zaryn Sidhu, SVP, Head of Social, Omnicom Media

ADVERTISING WEEK SCALE UP LOUNGE | October 7 | 2:40pm

The New Rules of Consumer Connection: From Reach to Relevance

This panel conversation will look at how brands are rethinking consumer connection in an increasingly fragmented landscape, how they're earning attention, building trust, and creating more meaningful relationships with consumers. We'll touch on culture, community and fandom, creators, personalization, and the evolving role of AI.

• Janelle James, US Head of Cultural Intelligence, Ipsos
• Kelly Walton, CMO, Snipes
• David Fossas, Principal ReciprocityCo. and SVP Marketing, Wonder Project
• Erin "Mack" McKelvey, Managing Partner & CEO, SalientMG

FQ LOUNGE @ ADVERTISING WEEK

FQ AI: Intelligence in Motion | October 5 | 10:30am

Technology can process information faster than any team, surface insights in seconds, and automate increasingly complex tasks. Yet judgment remains one of the most valuable skills in business. As organizations race to integrate AI into decision-making, we'll tackle the question of where technology adds the most value—and where human instinct, experience, and accountability remain irreplaceable. 

Panelists:

• Manny Flores, Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Strategy & Transformation, Ipsos
• Taryn Crouthers, Chief Executive Officer, Big Spaceship
• Christine Hong - Executive Vice President, Revenue Operations, Paramount
• Ashley Penn, Senior Director, Global Enterprise Marketing, Adobe
• Liz Bacelar, Global Head of AI & Advanced, Under Armour

Is AI Making Ads Average? Balancing Scale, Speed, and Standout Storytelling | October 6 | 2:30pm

Generative AI is giving marketers extraordinary new ways to bring ideas to life at speed and scale. Yet new research shows the most memorable advertising is still powered by something deeper: bold storytelling, emotional intelligence, brand distinction, and an unmistakable point of view. We’ll explore what the findings reveal about creative performance and how marketers can combine technological power with exceptional craft, fresh thinking, and creative ambition to create advertising that commands attention, resonates with audiences, and delivers lasting results.

Panelists:

• Lisa Zielinski, Senior Vice President, Creative Excellence Strategy, Ipsos
• Carrie Riby, Professor of Practice, Syracuse University
• Lauren Anderson, Director, Brand Innovation Lab, Amazon Ads
• Kyle Lembke Sr. Director of Brand Marketing, PetIQ

Premium Matters: The Future of Attention, Content and Trust | October 7 | 9:30am

Content has never been more abundant. Trust has never been more important. As audiences navigate an endless stream of information, quality and credibility are becoming powerful differentiators. We'll explore why premium environments continue to command attention, how trust influences consumer behavior, and why context matters as much as content in today's media landscape.

Panelists:

• Jamie Stenziano, Executive Vice President, Tech & Media Sector, Ipsos
• Arinze Emeagwali, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Cadillac Formula 1 Team
• Lauren Griewski, Chief Growth Officer, Chase Media Solutions
• Megan Kovacs, Vice President, Head of Media & Entertainment, LG Ad Solutions
• Maggie Zhang, Director of Ads Measurement, UCAN, Netflix

ADVERTISING WEEK The Future is Female Awards Ceremony | October 5

Ipsos’ Janelle James joins as a juror for the Advertising Week New York 2026 Future Is Female Awards.

"Winning in 2021 was a career highlight and this community has been the definition of the gift that keeps on giving! It’s a privilege to be in this community of talented female leaders and contribute to selecting the next cohort". – Janelle James

The Future is Female Awards are the anchor of Advertising Week’s globally celebrated Future is Female Program recognizing outstanding, trailblazing women and allies in our industry. Honorees are selected based on a combination of proven achievements, demonstrated ability to effect organizational change, commitment to external impact, ability to mentor others, and professional endorsements.

ADWEEK HOUSE ADVERTISING HQ | The Executive Alliance Driving AI | October 6

As AI reshapes creative workflows and marketers deepen their technical acumen, the historic divide between the CMO and CTO is no longer sustainable. Modern brand vision can't thrive without robust technical infrastructure, making alignment between an organization's storytellers and its architects more essential than ever before. Moving beyond the theoretical discussion, this session at ADWEEK HOUSE will address the traditional friction points between marketing and technology leaders. Hear strategies that help dismantle silos, identify the right tools and partners, and optimize MarTech stacks for AI-driven efficiency. Let's redefine cross-functional leadership and forge the alignment necessary for business success in the intelligent era.

Speakers:

• Manny Flores, Head of Performance and AI, Ipsos
• Whitney Magnuson, Head of Brand and Media, Zoom
• Eric Matisoff, Principal Evangelist, Customer Experience Orchestration, Adobe
• Joe McCambley, Chief Marketing Officer, Saatva
• James Stephens, EVP, North America, Monks
• Liz Kneebone, Vice President, Community Programs and Development, ADWEEK