In 2026, brand experiences aren’t just showing up, they’re doing the heavy lifting for brands. They’re how connections happen, how stories stick, and how relevance is built.
At C2, curiosity is where it all starts. Every year, our creative team zooms out to read the cultural signals, with tools like Pinterest Predicts as a guide to pinpoint the trends we believe have real potential in the world of experiences.
Think of this as a peek inside our creative studio: the experience trends exciting our team right now, and how they could translate into memorable, high-impact moments for brands in 2026.
Ash Wellwood’s Picks
Creative Director
EXTRA CELESTIAL
Designed for brands that need to project leadership, ambition, and future-readiness
Cosmic, iridescent, and intergalactic worlds set the tone here. Think futuristic lighting, metallic palettes, and immersive environments that blur the line between reality and the extraordinary, experiences that pull people out of the everyday and into what’s next.
“I love how this opens the door to expansive, transportive environments that invite people into something imaginative, luminous, and forward-looking.”
This direction signals confidence and vision, positioning brands as category leaders shaping the future rather than reacting to it.
MYSTIC OUTLANDS
Designed for brands that want to slow the room down and create depth
Moody, mist-covered landscapes and mythic storytelling translate into environments rich in texture, greenery, and atmosphere. These are spaces that invite presence, curiosity, and shared discovery, not instant spectacle.
“There’s something powerful about spaces that feel mysterious and grounded at the same time. They encourage exploration and create moments people experience together, not just observe.”
This approach works when brands need to foster reflection, trust, and meaningful dialogue.
FUNHAUS
Designed for brands that want to be seen, felt, and remembered
Circus-meets-surrealism. Bold, oversized forms. Theatrical décor. FUNHAUS is unapologetically visual and immediately event-ready, built for moments that surprise, delight, and energize.
“This one gives people permission to lean into spectacle and joy. It’s playful, expressive, and impossible to ignore.”
Ideal for festivals, activations, and large-scale moments where standing out isn’t optional — it’s the goal.
Martine Lalonde’s Picks
Creative Director
SCENT STACKING
Designed for brands that want to create lasting emotional memory
Scent goes straight to the brain’s emotional and memory centers. Layered intentionally, it becomes a powerful storytelling tool, one people carry with them long after the experience ends.
“Smell connects directly to emotion and memory. When used thoughtfully, it makes moments unforgettable.”
This is about designing experiences that linger, not just visually, but emotionally.
GLITCHY GLAM
Designed for brands that want to disrupt expectations and sustain attention
Perfect symmetry is safe. Breaking it on purpose creates tension. Glitchy Glam embraces imbalance, distortion, and visual friction to keep people looking, wondering, and engaged.
“Missing the mark on purpose creates tension. And tension keeps people paying attention.”
A strong move for creative industry events, rebrands, and moments that need to challenge the familiar.
DARECATIONS
Designed for brands that want energy, risk-taking, and real emotional buy-in
These experiences are thrilling, out of the ordinary, and slightly uncomfortable, in the best way. When people step outside their comfort zone together, senses sharpen and connection deepens.
“When people take risks together, energy spikes and the moment lands harder.”
From immersive labs to participatory challenges, this direction creates shared adrenaline and genuine engagement.
Marie-Pier Mignault’s Picks
Executive Creative Director
CABBAGE CRUSH
Designed for brands that want to feel human, playful, and approachable
Forget florals. Cabbage is the new design. Sculptural centerpieces, edible installations, fermented slaws, it turns food, décor, and discovery into one shared experience.
“Cabbage is unexpected, and that’s the point. It sparks curiosity and turns simple moments into conversation.”
An accessible, tactile entry point for connection and networking.
PEN-PALS
Designed for brands that want connection to feel intentional and personal
Paper slows everything down, in the best way. Notes, sketches, ripped-out pages shared after a great conversation create moments that feel considered, human, and memorable.
“A handwritten note cuts through the noise. It’s personal, intentional, and zero spam.”
Perfect for networking environments that often feel rushed or transactional.
THROWBACK KID
Designed for brands that want connection to feel real
Play lowers barriers. Vintage games, upcycled aesthetics, and simple interactions invite people to drop the masks and show up as themselves.
“When people lean into something simple and playful, connection becomes effortless, and a lot more real.”
Ideal for workshops, team experiences, and moments built around authentic human exchange.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, the most successful brands won’t be the loudest, they’ll be the most intentional. Experiences that lead, connect, and endure are built by starting with impact and designing every detail around it. That’s where differentiation lives, and where brands earn real attention.