Event Marketer Sizzle: Event Trends, Interviews, and In-the-Field Coverage
05.22.26
Skincare brand The Ordinary is bringing its principles of clarity, accessibility and efficiency to NYC’s transportation system. The Ordinary Bus is a free express bus line directly connecting Domino Park to Prospect Park, replacing a 50-plus-minute subway route that requires going into Manhattan with a no-stop North-South corridor that is open to everyone and available May 26 through June 9. Add it to our list of bus stunts.
📷 Photo of the Week
 
 
Bubbles, anyone? The Hall of Ideas has always been a core element of the Experiential Marketing Summit, but for 2026, exhibitors brought more dimensional builds and interactive booth experiences to the show floor… Read more.
🗨️ Insight of the Week
 
“A bigger budget can make something louder. It can’t make something matter.”
–Jimmy Knowles, Global Head of Experiential, Canva
Rocking the Stage
All the Action from Day Two of EMS 2026 in Las Vegas
Canva’s Jimmy Knowles started the morning with his “Confetti Meets KPIs” keynote, and the day continued with sessions on AI, ROI and personalization, plus lip sync battles… Read more.
Main Character Energy
Winners Unveiled: The 2026 Ex Awards
The 24th annual Ex Awards, the industry’s most prestigious recognition program, drew more than 1,000 entries from around the world. View the winners across 30 categories… Read more.
Where Everyone Gets What You Do
EMS 2026 Opens with Field Trips, Forums and Measurement Tactics
The Experiential Marketing Summit kicked off May 18 with a theme that meets the moment: human connection in the digital age. We recap strategy labs and Meow Wolf trips… Read more.
A ‘Golden’ Opportunity
McDonald’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Meal Comes to Life with a Cosplay Event
No one knew “KPop Demon Hunters” was going to explode, but McDonald’s jumped into the fandom, bringing the L.A. community together for a “Battle for the Fans” event… Read more.
Field Report
From Canon to AWS, Product Demos that Delivered at NAB 2026
What started as a showcase for new broadcast equipment has evolved into a complex, AI-driven content creation ecosystem. EM was on-site to check out the demos… Read more.
💡 ICYMI Last Week
 
📌 EM Updates
 
Thank you to everyone who attended EMS 2026! Relive the excitement from Las Vegas on the @eventmarketer Instagram. Did you miss out on the EMS experience? Save the date for next year’s summit: April 27-29, 2027, returning to MGM Grand Las Vegas.
✉️ 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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