Advertising Week New York Will Target Brand Creator Deals

The annual event returns to Manhattan from October 5 to October 8, 2026, with a focus on new partnership opportunities.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Advertising

Modern Manhattan office corridor featuring polished glass and steel architectural details illuminated by bright neutral daylight. — Advertising Week New York returns to Manhattan this October with a new initiative aimed at driving $100 million in partnerships between brands and content creators. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you choose to attend an in-person industry conference to build professional business connections?

Advertising Week New York kicks off on October 5, 2026, at the Penn District in midtown Manhattan. The conference introduces an initiative to generate $100 million in deals between content creators and brands.

Why it matters

Organizers have shifted programming to prioritize brand-side marketing decision-makers over ad agencies. This strategic change aims to better align the event with the budget holders responsible for current marketing investments.

The U.S. creator economy ad market is forecast to reach $44 billion in 2026, a 19% increase according to the IAB. Advertising Week New York aims to drive $100 million in creator-brand deals.

The players

Dhar Mann

He serves as the chief creator officer for Advertising Week.

Apollo Global Management

The alternative asset management firm acquired Emerald in July 2026.

Forge

This new entity was formed through a merger between Advertising Week and Questex.

The details

The event features a closed-door experience for a select group of executives and utilizes existing budget data to match marketers with creators. The conference is the latest development for the newly formed entity Forge, which was created through a merger between Advertising Week and Questex.

October 5, 2026: Advertising Week New York begins.
October 8, 2026: Advertising Week New York concludes.
July 2026: Emerald was acquired by Apollo Global Management.

Market Landscape

The event aligns with the broader industry trend of shifting significant marketing dollars directly into the creator economy, as identified by the IAB 19% growth projection. This push positions Advertising Week as a primary hub for brand-side budget holders.

The shift toward direct brand-creator deals may lead to more streamlined advertising campaigns for businesses in the NYC area. Attendees and participants should anticipate a heavy emphasis on direct investment strategies over traditional agency-led workflows.

The takeaway

Marketers are increasingly bypassing intermediaries to manage creator budgets directly. Understanding these direct deal structures is essential for those looking to capture a share of the $44 billion creator economy.