Variety Announces 2026 Entertainment Marketing Summit Program Featuring Tina Knowles and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Pam Abdy

Variety has announced the first speakers for the 2026 Entertainment Marketing Summit, presented by Deloitte, on April 22 in Los Angeles, including Tina Knowles and Warner Bros Motion Picture Group co-chair and CEO Pam Abdy. The summit also includes conversations with Emmy-winning design expert and TV host Bobby Berk and TV personality, host and entrepreneur Harry Jowsey.

Knowles, the visionary businesswoman, fashion designer, art collector, philanthropist and activist, will delve into her best-selling memoir “Matriarch” and discuss her influential work with Parkwood Entertainment, Cécred, BeyGOOD and more.

Abdy will highlight Warner Bros.’ exceptional commitment to storytelling, its over $4 billion global box office in 2025, and its historic Oscar success, including “Sinners” with a record 16 nominations and “One Battle After Another” with 13.

Dwight Caines, President, Domestic Marketing at Universal Pictures, Josh Goldstine, Global President, Marketing and Distribution at Paramount Pictures and Shauna Spenley, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Warner Bros. Streaming will come together for a keynote roundtable to share their strategies developing compelling campaigns for new films and TV series.

Berk and Jowsey will participate in the roundtable discussion “Entertainment Entrepreneurs Tell All.”

“Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit brings together the leaders shaping the future of entertainment marketing, and Deloitte is proud to return as presenting sponsor in 2026,” said Danny Ledger, US Telecom, Media & Entertainment Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. “From experiential and live engagement to AI-driven innovation and the continued growth of the creator economy, this year’s agenda highlights the strategies redefining how brands connect with audiences. We look forward to joining these important conversations and helping drive what’s next for the industry.”

Additional speakers, with more soon to be announced, include the following:
Josh Silverman, president of consumer products and experiences, Paramount
Amy Durini, chief marketing & strategy officer, Taco Bell International
Sean Booker, head of media and entertainment, Vizio
James Finn, global head of brand & content marketing, Audible
Kathryn Kai-Ling, CMO, Los Angeles Rams
Tim Clark, chief brand officer, NASCAR
Alana Dolgin, president, digital marketing, Atlantic Music Group and President at Homemade Projects
Rose Phillips, EVP, global digital and social marketing, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Margaret Walker, EVP, entertainment marketing at NBCUniversal
Claudine Cheever, CMO, Pinterest
Nicole Parlapiano, CMO, Tubi
Kayleen Walters, head of Mojang Studios (Minecraft) and franchise development for gaming, Microsoft
Brian Borkowski, CMO, Fox Direct-to-Consumer
Jim Squires, CMO, Reddit
Jasmine Taylor, VP, brand marketing, Instacart

Topics include:

Building the Brand-Verse – Success with Franchises: An exploration into best strategies for bringing beloved characters and storylines to new audience touch points, spanning sequels, podcasts, video games, spin-offs, digital content, merchandise, themed attractions and more.

The Main Event – Best of Experiential, Live and Event Marketing: In a noisier than ever media environment, marketers are pulling out all the stops to break through to today’s audiences through in-person moments. Hear from event marketing leaders across entertainment, sports and consumer brands as they share their strategies for success.

New Leaders of Creator Marketing: Marketing leaders share their views on today’s creator economy and what goes into a marketing strategy that connects.

In the Director’s Chair – Brand Storytelling Masters: Leaders in brand storytelling explore how the growth of media platforms can help brands break through across varied demographics.

Breakthrough Brands – Innovating through AI: An exploration into how companies are integrating AI into their operations in ways that take advertising and marketing to new heights.

Additional speakers and sessions to be announced. Deloitte is the presenting sponsor of the summit. The Los Angeles Film School and Vizio are supporting partners. Reserve your ticket here: variety.com/entmar.