When it comes to marketers attending upfront week events, YouTube is saying, “Good luck, babe.”
Today, YouTube announced details for its upcoming Brandcast 2026 event during upfront week, which takes place on Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Center in New York City. Among the highlights, comedian and podcaster Trevor Noah will host, and musician and “Good Luck, Babe” singer Chappell Roan will perform as the headliner.
Other big names making appearances include Alex Cooper, Kareem Rahma, and Quenlin Blackwell.
During the presentation, Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO, and Sean Downey, Google president of Americas and global partners, will showcase the platform’s streaming prowess, including why it’s where “the future of media is being built,” according to the company.
Speaking with ADWEEK in February, Downey noted that YouTube is looking to take its current strategies to new, more granular levels in the upfront.
For instance, the Google-owned video platform is looking to leverage its sponsorships with more custom integrations and get advertisers closer to the content in more robust packages with creators who align with their brands. The platform is also utilizing AI-powered campaigns to help brands find new customers and take a full-funnel approach.
YouTube’s upfront event announcement comes shortly after the company made its annual NewFronts presentation. Among the highlights, it announced that it is repackaging BrandConnect, its tool for connecting YouTube creators with brands for sponsorship deals, as Creator Partnerships. The platform will be backed by Gemini.
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