LEAD 2026

Celebrating 100 Years of the Advertising Association with a focus on leadership through trust.

The Advertising Association, together with its founders IPA and ISBA, will host a landmark edition of the advertising industry’s annual summit, LEAD, on 5 February 2026 at the QEII Centre in Westminster.

LEAD 2026 will bring together over 450 senior leaders from across the political, media and advertising landscape. 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.

Highlights include:

Government Address
The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Creative Industries, will outline priorities for the creative economy in Labour's second year in power.

The Political Landscape
Beth Rigby and Krishnan Guru-Murthy will examine the key drivers shaping the year ahead and what trusted leadership looks like in a highly competitive political environment.

Trust Me, I'm in Advertising
James Best CBE will share insights from new book, Trusted Advertising, and explore how trust, and being trusted, is critical to advertising's success, now and in the future.

Public Trust in Advertising: New Credos Report
Credos Director Dan Wilks will reveal the latest data and insights on public trust in advertising, following last year's acclaimed Value of Trust report.

Advertising's New Leaders: A Vision for Growth
Recently appointed leaders will discuss how they plan to drive responsible growth and strengthen the industry's role as an engine for economic and social value.

Advertising and Trust in the Time of AI
The AA's Matt Bourn chairs an all-star panel examining whether advertising created by machines can be trusted by humans and how trust will evolve in an AI-driven world.

Tackling Online Fraud
Expert voices from Government, tech and cyber security will explore the growing threat of fraudulent advertising and the collective action needed to protect consumers.

Unlocking Growth in the Creator Economy
Lord Ed Vaizey will chair a panel of industry leaders to discuss what is needed to support a thriving, trusted creator economy.

The Business Case for Trust
IPA President Karen Martin and Director of Effectiveness, Laurence Green, will demonstrate how creativity, authenticity and integrity drive commercial performance.
 

Further details can be found here.