Last year, YouTube used its annual Brandcast presentation to share big stats and promote big stars. This May, Brandcast attendees can expect more of the same.
On May 13, YouTube will bring its pitch to advertisers back to Lincoln Center. As in previous years, the 2026 edition of Brandcast will be a star-studded affair that will position YouTube as a viable competitor to traditional TV networks.
YouTube’s 2022 decision to move its Brandcast to coincide with the TV industry’s upfronts season signaled the platform’s attempt to take on traditional entertainment companies and their ad networks. That theme continues to define Brandcast in 2026. In a blog post discussing the upcoming event, YouTube VP of Ads Marketing Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle cited Nielsen’s The Gauge report, which has consistently identified YouTube as the most-watched app on U.S. TV screens.
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“According to Nielsen, YouTube reached over 238 million people aged 18+ across all devices in the US,” Nelson-Bogle wrote. “At Brandcast, we will lean into how brands can align themselves with creators and cultural moments to reach viewers while they stream, scroll, search, and shop.”
YouTube’s pitch to advertisers is more than just a numbers game. The platform is claiming to be “the future of media,” and it is stuffing its Brandcast lineup full of creators who can speak to their growing reach and influence. Comedian Trevor Noah, who helped YouTube pitch its Premieres product last year, is returning to the stage to host the 2026 Brandcast.
Noah will be joined by guests who highlight their work across key categories like pop culture (Alex Cooper), comedy (Adam W), lifestyle (Ashley Alexander), and sports (Jesser). And to wrap it all up, YouTube will demonstrate its authority in the music world by hosting a headline performance from pop star Chappell Roan.
If you want to go one step further and predict the product innovations that will be mentioned during Brandcast, you can look back to YouTube’s previous appeal to advertisers. At the 2026 NewFronts, YouTube unveiled a reimagined creator partnerships hub that employs generative AI to make brand campaigns more efficient and targeted. Look for CEO Neal Mohan to highlight those streamlined solutions as he and his deputies position YouTube as the beating heart of the creator economy.
