2026 Forecast: Expert Predictions Redefining the Future for Brand Marketers
What’s ahead for growth, AI, and owned-channel performance comes into clear focus in 2026, as digital marketing enters an era shaped by intelligent automation, privacy-safe identity, and consumers who expect every interaction to feel personal and timely. Costs are rising, noise is multiplying, yet the opportunity for brands has never been greater. This year’s guide brings together business leaders and thought-leaders to outline what will define marketing excellence in 2026.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- 2026 predictions from 20 digital marketing experts and thought-leaders.
- How AI becomes a true marketing co-pilot, moving brands from static workflows to autonomous decisioning that frees teams to focus on strategy and creativity.
- Why identity evolves into intelligence, turning first-, zero-, and real-time data into predictive signals that power dynamic personalization.
- How owned channels reclaim their role as growth engines, with email, SMS, and onsite experiences delivering the relevance and LTV impact consumers expect.
- What the new acquisition and advertising reality demands, as AI agents reshape discovery and identity-driven suppression eliminates wasted paid spend.
“In 2026, leading brands won’t win by shouting louder, they’ll win by turning anonymous visits into real outcomes using privacy-first identity and AI that reads intent in real time. With permissioned behavioral signals powering email, text, onsite, and ads, marketers can deliver smarter, context-aware experiences that convert, without replatforming or guesswork.”
Richard Jones, CRO, Wunderkind
