Digiday Daily

February 13, 2026

Brands turned in-person activations into a new playground for creators at this year’s Super Bowl, giving wider talent exposure while finding more cost-efficient waysthan previous years to scale creator participation.

There were more activations from a wider variety of brands, two creators (and their corresponding agencies) told Digiday anecdotally. They said a bevy of last-minute deals this year confirmed the Super Bowl has become a massive, in-person moment for the creator economy.

TOP STORY

The Creator Economy

‘A brand trip’: How the creator economy showed up at this year’s Super Bowl

Super Bowl 2026 had more on-the-ground brand activations and creator participation than ever, showcasing how it’s become a massive IRL moment for the creator economy.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

In this video, learn how advertisers tap into a consumer’s mindset, motivation and emotional state at a given moment that moves the needle. Partner insights from The Weather Company.
The era of traditional search is changing. AI is reshaping how consumers discover brands online. As a result, businesses are rethinking every element of their digital strategy, including domain names. Partner insights from name.com.
Leaders need new frameworks for handling the human-agent hybrid workforce. This means rethinking foundational assumptions about expertise, collaboration and career development. Partner insights from BetterUp.

MARKETING

Member exclusive

Future of Marketing Briefing: AI's branding problem is why marketers keep it off the label

The reputational downside is clearer than the branding upside, which makes discretion the safer strategy.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM PADSQUAD

Why advertisers are recentering creative in a precision-driven industry

Rather than launching a back-to-school campaign with a single message, delivering experiences for different segments, like budget-focused families and first-time school parents, is more effective. Each experience reflects the same strategy but is tailored to specific motivations.

MEDIA & PLATFORMS

Evolving Agencies

While holdcos build ‘death stars of content,’ indie creative agencies take alternative routes

Indie agencies and the holding company sector were once bound together. The Super Bowl and WPP’s latest remodeling plans show they’re heading in different directions.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM CHANNEL FACTORY

Three priorities that define the next stage of brand suitability

The discussion around brand safety and suitability has matured. The industry is now entering a new phase, where brands expect more control, more extensibility into walled gardens and closer accountability to outcomes.

The Creator Economy

From feeds to streets: How mega influencer Haley Baylee is diversifying beyond platform algorithms

Kalil is partnering with LinkNYC to take her social media content into the real world and the streets of NYC.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM EXPERIAN

How marketers are interpreting context in real time