Nectar360, Bauer, Tripadvisor, Global, Meta & Spotify at IAB UK’s first Media Upfronts

The revamped format will see many of the industry’s most influential media owners and platforms take to the stage at Protein Studios to reveal the new content, innovations and opportunities to shape brand’s advertising strategies in 2026. 

Bauer Media, Global, Nectar360, Tripadvisor, Activision Blizzard Media, ASOS, Meta, Spotify and Vevo will share details about their upcoming plans and propositions for advertisers, with more names to come. 

We have been running Digital Upfronts for the past 12 years, supporting our members to host stand-alone events in a programme stretching across a number of weeks. In recent years, Podcast, Gaming, Connected TV and Retail Media Upfronts have been added to the roster. However, the launch of Media Upfronts is the first comprehensive remodel of the calendar stalwart since it debuted in 2012. 

Commenting on the change, Tom Stevens, Director of Marketing at IAB UK, said: “Modern media brands can do it all, so it’s the right time to be moving on from channel-led events and giving advertisers the chance to hear from the UK’s biggest media owners about the incredible and varied content that their brands can show up next to, all in one place. As formats develop and new players emerge, these two jam-packed days will be where media companies meet the most forward-thinking advertisers, and where those advertisers discover new and effective places for their brands to show up.”

He added: “What won’t be changing is the level of amazing content, creativity and talent on stage. With past Upfronts featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Jessie Ware, Jon Sopel, Tom Daley, Katherine Ryan and Rylan Clark, the bar is high and we can’t wait to share this year’s line up.”  

Media Upfronts will be taking place at Protein Studios in Shoreditch on 14-15 October 2025. Advertisers, agencies and IAB members can book free here.