For Super Bowl 2026, advertisers are putting together A-list celebrities and influencers like MrBeast in a Salesforce spot. This is a change from using only one star to using a group of stars as talent fees go down. Elle Fanning is in a funny Hellmann’s Mayonnaise ad, which shows how important it is to have memorable, impactful content during the February 8 game at Levi’s Stadium. This mix shows how important pop culture is while also being realistic about costs.
AI is the main theme of the 2026 Super Bowl ads. For example, Svedka Vodka brought back its Fembot mascot with an AI-generated video and a new BroBot sidekick made by the agency Silverside. Oakley Meta shows off AI glasses with Spike Lee and athletes, Wix promotes AI web tools, and OpenAI teases builder-focused spots. Expect deepfakes, AI critiques, and fully generated parts, which is a trend that started with last year’s NBA and Google Pixel projects.
Anthropic’s ad for its Claude AI says it doesn’t show ads, which has led to a fight with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who called it “doublespeak” on X and promised to make a counter-ad celebrating creators. OpenAI’s answer stresses that AI should be available to billions of people, which is different from Anthropic’s limits on competitors like Cursor. This fight makes the $8 million 30-second slots on NBC even more exciting.
Bradley Cooper and Matthew McConaughey get back together for Uber Eats, Sabrina Carpenter for Pringles, and Emma Stone, Ben Affleck, and Kendall Jenner for different spots. Other confirmed players are Instacart, Squarespace’s ad about human storytelling, and Gatorade’s hydration pushes. Comedy rules, mixing celebrities with viral creators to get the most attention.
