AFFIRM’s Top Super Bowl Ads of 2026
Drawing in over 100 million viewers each year, the Super Bowl isn’t just the biggest football game of the year. It’s also the biggest day of the year for advertisers. With spots going for millions of dollars, the ads are a huge draw for many people. Though none of our favorite teams playing in the big game, we paid special attention to the ads, and these are the ones we felt came out on top.
Pepsi: The Choice
Directed by Taika Waititi, this ad rips on Coca-Cola by using their polar bear mascot and having him choose Pepsi in a blind taste testing. We see the polar bear experiencing an existential crisis until another polar bear brings him a Pepsi and they attend a concert together, playing off the Coldplay show scandal with then Astronomer CEO. It’s always fun when big companies get a little provocative with coming at competitors, and Pepsi did this in a way that was fun and lighthearted with this ad. Online comments show that viewers enjoyed the return of the cola polar bear after Coke ditched him for AI generated holiday commercials.
Watch the full spot here.
Budweiser: American Icons
Continuing with the renowned Clydesdale Horse spot, Budweiser brought back their much-loved mascot in 2026. This year they’re celebrating 150 years of Budweiser and 250 years of the United States by watching a horse and eagle pairing grow up and learn to fly together, all set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” What’s more patriotic than that? Patriotism and cute animal pairings are always a winning combination for one of America’s biggest television events, and that shows as this spot is ranked #1 by consumers in USA TODAY’s 2026 ad meter.
Watch the full spot here.
Good Will Dunkin’
A nostalgia fueled parody, Dunkin’s spot was a cameo-filled 90’s throwback. Featuring sitcom stars like Jennifer Aniston, Jaleel Whtie, Jason Alexander, and Alfonso Ribiero all reprising their most iconic roles, Dunkin had Boston icon and returning spokesperson Ben Affleck staring in the “much better version of Good Will Hunting,” as Will Hunting himself. This ad got viewers excited to see these actors back in the roles we know them for in a crossover style sitcom set in a Dunkin’ store. We also got to see Aniston introduce her “new boyfriend,” Tom Brady, to her real-life ex, adding in a football spin and another layer of pop culture refence. Comedic commercials with celebrity cameos tend to be a hit with audiences, and this one is no different.
Watch the full Good Will Dunkin’ pilot here.
Everybody Coinbase
Skipping the celebrity cameos and expensive visuals, Coinbase continued the nostalgia trend by opting for a simple looking, 90’s karaoke-inspired spot featuring “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys. They cashed in on viewing parties and decided to create a fun moment for people watching with friends and family. The choice to only mention the brand name at the end, incorporated in the song at that, made viewers forget they were watching an ad, creating a lasting impression that worked well for the crypto company, an industry that can be divisive among audiences.
Sing along with Coinbase here.
Chipotle and Kraft: No Ad Is the New Best Ad
Some companies moved away from expensive television spots and went for social media-exclusive campaigns. Kraft had their current celebrity spokesperson, John Mulaney, live react to every ad on X by listing reasons Kraft Mac & Cheese is better than each advertiser.
Another example of this is Chipotle giving away $1 Million in food on Instagram. They poked fun at AI and emphasized their “real ingredients” by having their audiences engage with their Instagram as the first AI generated commercial aired after halftime. Fans were required to watch an Instagram reel to find a code on their that provided number for a chance to receive a free burrito. This prioritized social media interaction and gave viewers a real reason engage with the fast-food chain. Skipping a notoriously expensive T.V. placement also signals to audiences that the company wants to use their money directly on the consumer, rather than a highly produced commercial. This makes us wonder, could this be the future of Super Bowl promotions?
