E-Poll Market Research

Brand Partnership Trends We Predict in 2026

A person holding a pen and writing in a notebook, with a laptop displaying the word 'TRENDS' on the screen and a coffee cup beside them.
Designed by FreePik

Over two years, brand partnerships shifted from chasing visibility to creating values-based alignment.  How will this trend continue into 2026 and beyond?

  • 2024: Viral moments dominated, creating serious FOMO (fear of missing out).
    • Everyday products became cultural drivers (Stanley’s tumbler collaboration craze)
    • Unconventional pairings proved that weird sells (Liquid Death x e.l.f. Cosmetics Corpse Paint Vault)
    • Influencer spectacle delivered massive engagement (Poppi’s viral Alix Earle Coachella activation)
  • 2025: Credibility defined the partnerships consumers stood by.
    • Normalized sensitive health conversations (Depend x Deion Sanders)
    • Shared wellness values drove emotional credibility (Headspace x Nike)
    • Sustainability reinforced brand integrity (Garnier x Drew Barrymore)
  • 2026: The next era is about participation and community. Partnerships that invite consumers and niche influencers to co-shape products, stories, and innovation will thrive – turning audiences into collaborators and fandoms into communities.

2024: The Year of the “Drop”

How partnerships turned manufactured scarcity into cultural currency.  It continues today with Starbuck’s “Bearista” and Trader Joe’s mini tote bags.

Stanley Won 2024 by Owning the Conversation

A chart displaying Stanley's brand metrics for 2024, highlighting its status as a 'Buzzy Brand' with significant increases in categories like Trend Setter and Popularity.
  • Collaborations with Starbucks, LoveShackFancy, Olivia Rodrigo, and Wicked fueled Stanley’s viral rise in 2024.  Every drop sold out in minutes, turning drinkware into a viral status symbol. 

2025: The Credibility Shift

Consumers sought honest, purposeful partnerships aligned with real-world values.

Depend Earned Trust by Standing Strong for Men’s Health in 2025

Bar chart displaying the credibility scores of the Depend brand in various categories: Practical, Reliable, Safe, and Trustworthy, compared to personal care averages, with arrows indicating positive trends in scores.
  • Depend’s partnership with Deion Sanders built trust through purpose, normalizing conversations around men’s health and encouraging screenings.  It proved that transparency and empathy build loyalty.

Ahead in 2026: Building Deeper Connections

Genuine, participatory partnerships will define the next wave of collaboration.

We identified 5 future-ready brands that over-index on being innovative, purpose-driven, cutting edge, unique, and inspire early adoption.

A bar graph showing the most innovative brands for 2026, highlighting Waymo, JBL, Jordan Brand, Canva, and CELSUS, each with positive score increases.
  • Waymo’s 2026 expansion into Las Vegas, San Diego, and Detroit shows how partnership drives scalable innovation, making autonomous tech feel safer, more human, and built for everyday life.

**********************************************************

E-Score: The only affordable, comprehensive, time tested dynamic research database of celebrities, brands, characters, and TV programs available in the marketplace.

**********************************************************

What you missed: Who’s Winning Hearts and Minds Before the Winter Games? With less than 100 days to the start of the Olympics, competing athletes are building influence, loyalty, and endorsement power long before the games begin. Brands have a chance to connect early and turn momentum into lasting impact. Read more HERE!

What’s Ahead: A new and FREE Brand Report! We will dive into the brands turning fans into lasting communities, the defining innovators, and so much more!

Not yet subscribed to our E-Score Platform Suite? Purchase Single E-Scores on celebrities, brands, and more!

Leave a Reply