The rules of communications and marketing are rewriting themselves in real-time. GEO will replace SEO. Trust will beat reach. And brand building will be everyone's top priority. This isn't speculation—it's what 350+ practitioners revealed about the year ahead.
PR, Comms & Marketing: The 2026 Outlook delivers the intelligence you need to navigate these shifts and realities, combining hard data from our practitioner survey with strategic insights from 50+ industry leaders. While others react to change, you'll be prepared for it.
1/2
of PR & Comms pros say proving ROI beyond vanity metrics will be a top challenge
#1 priority
Brand Building will be the #1 priority across PR, Comms, & Marketing
1/2
of agency marketers are concerned about algorithms that impact visibility and engagement
"The big question hanging over PR, communications, and marketing right now isn’t whether we’re doing enough; it’s whether what we’re doing actually matters. For years, we’ve relied on metrics such as impressions, clicks, or sentiment. But if we’re honest, most of those numbers don’t survive a five-minute boardroom conversation."
Sam Rodriguez
Strategic Marketing Leader, PAR Technology
Why Download the Report?
Understanding the realities for 2026 means confronting uncomfortable truths while identifying clear opportunities. This report delivers both:
Expert perspectives that matter Get actionable insights from leaders at News UK, Omnicom, PRCA, AMEC, IAB Spain, and more on navigating 2026's shifts.
Real challenges, real data See why proving ROI remains the top struggle, how budget pressures will intensify, and what teams are doing differently to demonstrate value.
Convergence creates opportunity Discover why brand building emerges as the unifying priority across PR, comms, and marketing - and how to measure it.
AI's double reality Learn why practitioners publicly expect AI to complement their roles while privately harboring deeper concerns about transformation.
"Creativity and originality will take center stage as AI-generated content and execution will begin to look the same. The ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and seek meaning and value will be paramount."
Sylvia Ortegon
Senior Vice President Marketing, Hotwire
Expert Contributors Include
Michael O'Donoghue
Global Senior Marketing Manager, Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Will Martin
Head of Marketing, Broadcasting, News UK
Sandrine Cormary
CEO, Omnicom Reputation Group
Reyes Justribó Ferrer
General Director, IAB Spain
Gabriela Weiss Clarke
Head of Communications, PRCA
James Crawford
Managing Director, PR Agency One & Board Director, AMEC
Valentina Napoli
Marketing Director, MasterGroup World
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Actionable from page one - not academic theory. Strategic insights that deliver all-year value.
The future of PR, comms, and marketing is being written now. Act on insights from 300 practitioners and 50+ industry experts. Lead while others scramble to adapt.
The question isn't whether change is coming. It's whether you'll be ready.