ADWEEK’s Brandweek 2026 Brings Top Marketing Leaders to Atlanta

By Muriel Vega

Published August 27, 2026

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At a Glance

• What: ADWEEK’s Brandweek 2026, a three-day conference for marketers, brand leaders and agency professionals.
• When: Sept. 15–17, 2026, with an official Welcome Reception on Sept. 14 at SKOL Brewery.
• Where: Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.
• Who: Marketing and brand leaders from companies including Adobe, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Meta, Target, The Home Depot, Zoom and more.
• What to expect: Sessions and workshops exploring brand reinvention, purpose-driven growth, AI, social commerce, consumer behavior and marketing strategy.
• Atlanta spotlight: Leaders from the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta United FC will discuss how sports franchises create community impact beyond game day.
• Tickets: Register using code BRANDLANTA30 to receive 30% off a Brandweek pass.

ADWEEK’s Brandweek returns to Atlanta this September, bringing marketers and brand builders together for three days under one roof at the Southern Exchange from Sept. 15 to 17, 2026. At Brandweek, you’ll gather alongside industry leaders to explore the latest trends in advertising and technology while discovering real-world strategies for building strong brands and connecting with customers.

“At a time of profound change for marketers, Brandweek convenes the leaders shaping what’s next for brands, with Atlanta’s distinctive mix of culture, creativity, and commerce setting the stage,” said Will Lee, ADWEEK CEO. “Drawing on the expertise of some of the industry’s most influential executives, founders, and innovators, this year’s program pairs strategic conversations about growth, enduring relevance, and purpose-driven performance with hands-on opportunities for marketers to move AI from strategic priority to practical application.”

Brandweek is built for marketers, brand managers and agency teams who want to stay ahead of industry trends. It’s perfect for anyone looking to sharpen their AI skills, elevate their brand strategy and connect directly with the decision-makers leading major global companies.

This year’s summit centers on three core pillars: brand reinvention, purpose-driven growth, and cutting-edge technology. A major highlight of the 2026 event is ADWEEK’s first dedicated AI Accelerator Day, offering practical learning to help marketing teams scale AI for hyper-personalization, operational efficiency and quantifiable business impact.

Attendees can expect a jam-packed agenda filled with forward-thinking sessions and practical workshops. Highlights include “Dream a Little Stream,” which explores how Crocs converts social commerce into cultural relevance and lasting momentum, and “Scent as Strategy,” which looks at how AI and neuroscience turn fragrance into a scalable branding tool. 

On the interactive front, “Using Agents to Justify Your Existence” guides marketers through building a live AI dashboard to quantify campaign impact. At the same time, “Home Field Advantage” brings together executive leadership from the Atlanta Braves, Hawks and United FC to share how local sports franchises build community impact far beyond game day.

“Atlanta connects and amplifies brands,” said Melissa M. Proctor, EVP and CMO for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. “It unites people across business, entertainment, sports, and culture. Discover how Atlanta can play a vital role in keeping brands, like the Atlanta Hawks, authentic, connected to fans, the community and top of mind.” Proctor will join fellow sports leaders on the Brandweek stage for the “Home Field Advantage” panel on Sept. 17.

Confirmed attending companies include Adobe, American Express, Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Etsy, Expedia Group, Georgia Power, Heineken, Hinge, IHG Hotels & Resorts, JPMorgan Chase, Kimberly-Clark, Land O’Lakes, Mars, Meta, Sony Pictures, Target, The Home Depot and Zoom. Notable speakers include:

• Drew Panayiotou, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Keurig Dr Pepper
• Manolo Arroyo, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Customer Commercial Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
• Tressie Lieberman, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer, Starbucks
• Terence Reilly, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Crocs
• Roberto Stanichi, President, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, Mattel
• Dr. Bernice A. King, Chief Executive Officer, The King Center
• Ben Cohen, Co-Founder, Ben&Jerry’s
• Alyson Griffin, Head of Marketing, State Farm and Jake from State Farm
• Bing Chen, Executive Chairman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Gold House

If you need proof of what Brandweek delivers, last year’s event was packed with game-changing takeaways. Held at Georgia-Pacific HQ in 2025, attendees left with proven strategies for using AI to boost creativity, optimize products for algorithmic shopping and turn cultural trends into measurable revenue. 

Speakers broke down how to move beyond basic AI hype, leverage retail data to drive smarter campaigns, and clearly demonstrate marketing value to executive leadership. It gave attendees a practical playbook for taking bold risks without losing their brand identity—plus unmatched opportunities to network with the best in the business.

Don’t Miss Brandweek 2026 – Get a Discount

There’s still time to get your tickets. Ready for Brandweek? Register with code BRANDLANTA30 to get 30 percent off your Brandweek pass. Ammunition will host the official Welcome Reception on Monday, Sept. 14, at SKOL Brewery. 

In town for the conference? See what to do and where to go in downtown Atlanta.

Muriel Vega is an Atlanta-based journalist who writes mostly about technology and its intersection with food, arts, and culture. Her work has appeared in Delta Sky Magazine, The Washington Post, Eater, DWELL, Outside Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, and more.