The 10 Best Super Bowl 2026 Ads

Super Bowl LX aired on February 8, 2026, and as usual, the ad battle was almost as competitive as the game itself. This year’s best spots leaned on a few clear themes: nostalgia, emotional storytelling, strong product integration, and ads that actually gave viewers a reason to care about the brand. My list below blends public reaction, industry reviews, and effectiveness signals rather than just picking the funniest commercial.

1. Budweiser — “American Icons”

Budweiser leaned into what people already know and love about the brand: the Clydesdales, American pride, and tradition. Instead of trying to be overly clever, the ad felt classic and familiar.

Why it worked:
It reminded people what Budweiser stands for. In a game full of loud and chaotic commercials, this one stood out because it felt simple, strong, and emotional. People did not have to guess what brand it was or what feeling it was trying to create.

2. Lay’s — “Last Harvest”

Lay’s told a story about a father and daughter working on a potato farm and showed where the chips begin. Rather than making just another snack ad, they made the product feel personal.

Why it worked:
It gave a basic product more meaning. Chips are easy to ignore, but when you connect them to real people and real work, the brand feels more human. It made viewers think about the story behind the product, not just the product itself.

3. Pepsi Zero Sugar — “The Choice”

Pepsi used humor and brand rivalry in a smart way by showing a famous Coca-Cola polar bear choosing Pepsi instead. It was playful and unexpected without feeling forced.

Why it worked:
The idea was instantly clear. Even if someone only watched a few seconds, they understood the joke. It also made Pepsi feel confident and bold. Good ads are often built around one simple idea, and this one did that really well.

4. Dunkin’ — “Good Will Dunkin’”

Dunkin’ built its ad like a fake 1990s sitcom and packed it with familiar celebrities and old-school energy. The whole thing felt fun, nostalgic, and very on-brand.

Why it worked:
It was not just using nostalgia for attention. Everything matched the theme, from the style to the cast to the campaign around it. That made it feel more complete. It gave people something fun to watch, but it also made Dunkin’ feel like a brand with personality and history.

5. Google Gemini — “New Home”

Google took a softer and more emotional route by showing how its AI tool could help a family imagine and settle into a new home. Instead of talking in big futuristic terms, it showed a real use.

Why it worked:
It made AI feel useful and easy to understand. A lot of tech ads talk about innovation in a vague way, but this one showed how the product could actually help in everyday life. That makes people trust it more.

6. Anthropic — “A Time and a Place”

Anthropic came in with a different kind of AI ad. Rather than trying to say “look how advanced we are,” it focused on its beliefs and how it sees technology fitting into people’s lives.

Why it worked:
It stood out because it had a clear opinion. Most brands try to please everyone, but this ad gave people a specific message to think about. Even if viewers did not know the brand before, they were more likely to remember it after because it felt different.

7. Levi’s — “Backstory”

Levi’s kept the focus on one of its most recognizable features: the jeans themselves. The ad used music, style, and celebrities, but the product still stayed at the center.

Why it worked:
A lot of ads get so caught up in entertainment that people forget what was being sold. Levi’s did the opposite. It made the jeans the main character. That is smart because it strengthens what people already connect with the brand.

8. Hellmann’s — “Sweet Sandwich Time”

Hellmann’s used a weird, funny music-based idea to make sandwiches feel exciting. The ad was playful and memorable, but it still stayed tied to the product.

Why it worked:
It made people crave the food. That is one of the most important things a food ad can do. It was fun enough to get attention, but not so random that it lost the point. Viewers remembered the joke and the product at the same time.

9. Squarespace — “Unavailable”

Squarespace went in a more artistic and unusual direction. The ad felt different from the typical celebrity-heavy, fast-joke Super Bowl commercial and had a more distinct style.

Why it worked:
It stood out by not trying to copy everyone else. The tone felt unique, which made the brand seem more creative and confident. For a company like Squarespace, that makes sense because their audience cares about design, originality, and standing out online.

10. Michelob ULTRA — “The ULTRA Instructor”

Michelob ULTRA stayed close to its usual brand image: active, competitive, healthy, and fun. The ad used recognizable faces and a light story, but the overall message stayed clear.

Why it worked:
It knew exactly who the brand is for. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, it focused on the lifestyle Michelob ULTRA has built over time. That makes the brand feel consistent, and consistency helps people remember you.

Honorable Mention: Salesforce x MrBeast — “The Vault”

MrBeast’s Super Bowl ad for Salesforce deserves an honorable mention because it understood how people watch content now. Instead of making a normal commercial and stopping there, it turned the ad into an experience by building a $1 million puzzle around it. The spot used MrBeast’s internet-style energy and tied it to a challenge people could actually join, which made the campaign feel bigger than just 30 seconds on TV. Salesforce positioned the ad around Slack and AI tools helping manage the chaos behind huge productions, while MrBeast brought the attention, curiosity, and audience participation. That mix worked because it was not just something people watched — it was something people wanted to solve, talk about, and share.

What all these ads did well

The best ads this year were not just funny for the sake of being funny. They had a clear reason behind them. Budweiser used emotion. Lay’s used storytelling. Pepsi used a simple joke. Google made new technology feel personal. Levi’s kept the product front and center. Different styles, but the same lesson: the ad works better when people can quickly understand the message and connect it back to the brand.

Final takeaway

The strongest Super Bowl ads are not always the loudest or the most random. They are the ones that make people feel something, understand the idea quickly, and remember who the ad was for. That is what these brands did well. They did not just entertain people for 30 seconds. They gave people a reason to remember them after the game ended.