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Comic-Con 2026, Part 2: Quests, Character Journeys and Cafes

More experiential pop-ups, stunts and installations from across San Diego The SDCC 2026 adventure continues in part two of our coverage from San Diego, where brands took up real estate across the Gaslamp Quarter from July 23-26 to transform their movies, shows, games and books into interactive, IRL fan experiences. Let’s dive in. APPLE TV’S […]

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Pop-Ups

The Brief: Retro Malls and Cheese Ball Challenges

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK This week’s hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover the Million Cheese Ball Challenge, The House of Lexus and an ’80s-themed mall takeover. MALL MADNESS: FX TEASES ‘THE SHARDS’ WITH AN ’80s-THEMED ACTIVATION Back in the 1980s, shopping malls were full-blown entertainment destinations for teens, so to […]

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Pop-Ups

Crayola Targets a New Demo—Adults—at a Camping-Themed Launch Event

As adults battle burnout and seek creative, screen-free ways to decompress—look no further than the cozy coloring and grandma hobbies trends—some heritage kids’ brands are rethinking priorities and products to meet the moment.

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Festivals & Fan Cons

Experiential Marketing Trend of the Week: Delivery Design

Experiential marketers are the bosses of the attendee journey, but this summer, we’re seeing a burst of creative attention around delivery mechanisms. Think: Content that is handpicked (literally), whirly entrances for contestants, and behind-the-curtain serves. Contactless delivery is a present-day phenomenon, and experiential marketers are kicking it up a notch—leaning into an impersonal delivery with […]

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Festivals & Fan Cons

Tabby Trucks and Tunnel Walks: WNBA All-Star 2026 Brand Activations

With the WNBA continuing to hit record viewership and attendance numbers, the league’s 30th season celebration couldn’t have come at a better time, and All-Star Weekend in Chicago continued to build on that momentum.

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Trade Shows

Guest Column: The Fee You Didn’t Know You Were Paying

Many exhibitor service manuals contain an EAC fee. Most exhibit and event marketers have never been told what it is, what it covers, or why it keeps showing up. Open the exhibitor services manual for your next show and scroll past the carpet and the electrical order forms. Somewhere in the labor section sits a […]

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Experience Design Awards

Event Marketer’s Experience Design Awards recognize outstanding event design, innovative experiential builds and environmental creativity across a wide variety consumer activations, business-to-business events, mobile tours, and trade show exhibits. Brand-side judges will name the overall winner for each category. The Experience Design Awards are open to brand marketers, agencies, partners, properties, and suppliers involved in […]

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Festivals & Fan Cons

Comic-Con 2026, Part 1: How 10 Brands Activated in San Diego

From the badge-holders, to the superfans who can’t get their hands on a ticket, activations at San Diego Comic-Con welcome everyone into the fold, and this year’s showing was no exception. Training quarters, surprise game shows, auction houses and carnivals were all on the activation agenda. Join us for a tour.

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B-to-C Events

Designing Theatrical, Immersive Worlds, with Dr. Ilana Gilovich-Stossel

Since childhood, Dr. Ilana Gilovich-Stossel has been drawn to magic of storytelling and the world-building and imagination that go into it, especially in the theatrical medium. Through her English literature studies and Ph.D. earned at Columbia University, she homed in on the academic side of theatrical performance, which has influenced her career as a creative […]

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Pop-Ups

The Brief: Boot Rooms and Beer Windows

This week’s hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover the Febreze Boot Room Tour, folding pubs and Peroni Portals.

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