Onwards 2026 brought clients and agency together for our annual moment to look ahead with clarity and intent. Built as a future focused, full day conference, Onwards is where we explore the shifts shaping social, creativity, and marketing effectiveness, and translate them into thinking teams can apply immediately.
At eight&four, we design face to face spaces where marketers can learn fast. Across Onwards, Pitchfest, and our Foresight salon series, each event is built around clear insight, nuanced thinking, and honest case studies. No hype, just tools that work in the real world.
Across the afternoon, we explored what 2026 demands of modern marketing through a series of research-led talks, practical case studies and collaborative sessions, including:
A research-driven deep dive into what 2025 spend and effectiveness data can teach us about building resilient, integrated marketing ecosystems for 2026
A candid client–agency conversation on how the best partnerships will evolve in 2026, grounded in insights from global CMO interviews and real-world leadership experience
A practical exploration of content strategy as discovery fragments across search, social and LLMs, and how brands can truly own their category online
A future-facing look at the rise of creators, digital talent and niche influence, with lessons from 2025 and clear implications for planning in 2026
A fast-paced, rapid-fire session bringing together multiple expert perspectives on how to build brands with social in 2026, spanning strategy, creativity and measurement
A hands-on workshop where attendees applied the Onwards thinking directly to their own brand challenges, turning insight into action
Onwards 2026 reinforced a clear priority for the year ahead. Build stronger foundations, make better choices, and create systems that allow social to work with confidence and consistency.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Onwards 2026. The momentum from the day is already shaping the year ahead.
Watch the wrap-up video below 👇
