EventMarketer Sizzle: Your Biweekly Feed of All Things Experiential
01.30.26
Ketel One dished out a taste of the good life at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where attendees at an opening event were invited to ring one of three bells, each hanging above a small window. The gesture prompted a pair of mini red curtains to open, revealing a freshly made espresso martini, served up by a mysterious hand.
That’s the kind of drama we can get behind.
📷 Photo of the Week
 
 
It was all “business in the front, party in the back” in Dallas when NHL sponsor PNC Bank popped up a barbershop experience that leaned into the trending hockey "flow” haircut and "growth" messaging… Read more.
🗨️ Insight of the Week
 
“The title sponsorship has gotten us to a place where we are, in a lot of ways, synonymous with the Winter X Games. And everyone who steps foot or watches a broadcast or watches on social will know that Jeep was an integral part of the event.”
–Wendy Orthman, VP-Marketing, Jeep
Exclusive Insights
Title Sponsorship: Inside the First-Ever ‘X Games Aspen Driven by Jeep’
Following a brief lull, Jeep returned to Aspen last week to serve as the first-ever title sponsor of the Winter X Games, and provided fans with a cozy 'Base Camp' experience… Read more.
Pop-ups
PNC Leans into the Hockey 'Flow' Haircut Trend with a Pop-up Barbershop
While HBO’s “Heated Rivalry” series is giving hockey a major pop-culture boost, PNC got ahead of the game with a barbershop in Dallas that tapped into the sport's "flow" trend… Read more.
Trend of the Week
Why Brands Like Audible and Coke are Hopping on the Train Takeover Trend
Brands are taking engagement to the rails with enchanting, nostalgia-driven train takeover campaigns that are delighting pop culture fandoms like “Harry Potter”… Read more.
Marketing News
The Brief: Pop-up Scent Labs, Premium Hospitality Lounges and Hotdog Races
This week’s hot topics in experiential cover Herbal Essences' scent lab in Toronto, Delta's hospitality space at Sphere Las Vegas and the new and improved Wienie 500… Read more.
2026 Perspectives
2026 Perspectives: Event Profs Share What’s New and ‘No Thanks’ in B-to-B
Our EMS Advisory Board members offer fresh tips and insights for 2026, from networking beyond the bar, to embracing agentic AI, to getting a firmer grasp on data… Read more.
💡 ICYMI Last Week
 
📌 EM Updates
 
Just Released: The 2026 Experiential Marketing Summit agenda is live, featuring keynotes, workshops, interactive panels, networking experiences and more—all designed exclusively for brand marketers and event professionals. Plus, the Hall of Ideas will showcase the industry’s latest event tools and innovations. Start planning your schedule for May 18-20 in Las Vegas, and register now at the early-bird rate. View the EMS 2026 agenda.
✉️ Contact Us
 
The Sizzle is produced by Event Marketer, the industry’s largest information resource on experiential marketing. Learn more.
 
Send story ideas and news to: Juanita Chavarro Arias | jchavarro@accessintel.com
For ad and lead-gen opportunities: Jon McLoughlin | jmcloughlin@accessintel.com
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