Hundreds of senior leaders across the political, media and advertising landscape will come together as The Advertising Association hosts its annual summit next year.
The 2026 edition of LEAD, which is organised along the association’s founders IPA and ISBA, will take place on February 5, 2026 at The QEII Centre in Westminster
LEAD 2026 will bring together more 450 senior leaders and this special edition will celebrate the AA’s centenary while setting the agenda for the year ahead, under the theme “Leadership through trust.”
The half-day summit will examine the political outlook, the latest research into consumer trust in advertising, and how the industry can unlock future growth through creativity, AI, and responsible leadership.
Early confirmed speakers include:
- Andria Vidler, CEO, Allwyn UK and President, Advertising Association
- Simon Michaelides, Incoming Director General, ISBA
- Karen Martin, CEO, BBH London and President, IPA
- James Best CBE, Chair of CAP and Credos
- Kate Alessi, UK Managing Director, Google
The event will be hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Journalist and Broadcaster, while partners include Ozone and Google who both have offices in Manchester.
Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, said: “LEAD 2026 promises to be a particularly special event as we mark our centenary. Over the last 100 years the UK ad industry has become a key part of the economy, recognised in the Government’s Industrial Strategy as a key driver of growth, exports and the wider creative industries.
“Our agenda of ‘Leadership Through Trust’ captures both our legacy and our future – underscoring how our industry must be trusted and trustworthy to help the UK to grow responsibly in the 21st century.”
Since its launch in 2012, LEAD has welcomed leading voices from politics, media and advertising to its stage, including Gordon Brown, Dame Carolyn McCall, Sir Chris Bryant, Lord Grade, Evan Davis and Nina Hossain along with many government ministers, including DCMS Secretaries of State.
The full agenda for LEAD 2026 will be published in the coming weeks. Tickets are now on sale, with discounts available to AA, IPA and ISBA members.
