From MrBeast to 'Meal Diamond': The Ads That Defined Super Bowl LX on YouTube
The Super Bowl is no longer just one night; it’s a multi-week cultural marathon. While the world watched the Seahawks dominate on Game Day, the real action started weeks ago on YouTube.
YouTube is the undisputed home of football culture. From "Tight End" tactical breakdowns to Bad Bunny music videos ahead of the halftime show, it’s the go-to platform where fans immerse themselves in the game. Whether you’re looking for a poutine recipe for your watch party or rewatching Shakira and JLo’s halftime show (still going strong at 335M+ views), YouTube is where the world engages with the moments that matter.
The 2026 Playbook: This Year’s Top Trends
For brands, YouTube is the "always-on" stadium. Here’s how advertisers are breaking through the noise this year:
- Witty Wordplay: From Andy Samberg becoming "Meal Diamond" for Hellmann’s, to Canadian Icon Will Shatner discussing regularity with Raisin Bran, clever scripts are scoring a touchdown this year.
- Storytelling through different formats: e.l.f. Cosmetics created a Telenovela-inspired spot with Melissa McCarthy, tapping into the dramatic energy of Latin soap operas. Expedia’s Going Places with Ken was the top ad, but it was more than just the ad. Ken also did an interactive Q&A to chat about travel inspo and planning.
- The Creator Takeover: In a massive shift, Salesforce handed the keys to MrBeast, who wrote, directed, and starred in their spot—proving creators are the new masters of high-impact storytelling.
The YouTube Ads Leaderboard
The fans have spoken. Here are the ads that captured attention this year 1 :
- Expedia | Going Places with Ken
- Google | New Home | Google Gemini SB Commercial 2026
- e.l.f. Cosmetics | e.l.f. Presenta: MELISA | e.l.f. Cosmetics Game Day Commercial 2026
- Michelob Ultra | The ULTRA Instructor ft. Kurt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Chloe Kim, & TJ Oshie | Michelob ULTRA
- Artlist | Artlist’s Official Big Game Commercial 2026
- Base44 | Introducing Base44’s Big Game Full Ad “It’s App to You”
- Kinder Bueno USA | YES BUENO 2026
- Budweiser | Budweiser | Super Bowl LX Commercial 'American Icons'
- Raisin Bran | Kellogg's Raisin Bran Will Shat
- Red Bull Gives You Wiiings | Unleashed Zero
