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Our Favorite 2026 Super Bowl 60 Ads

Every year, we take time after the big game to break down our favorite Super Bowl commercials—not just because they’re fun to watch, but because they offer real lessons for marketers. The Super Bowl consistently sets the bar for storytelling, creativity, and audience engagement, making it one of the best opportunities to study what actually grabs attention and sticks. As marketers, investing time in analyzing these ads helps us understand what’s working, what’s changing, and how those same principles can be applied to local and regional brands. Below are our favorite Super Bowl ads from this year and why they stood out.

5. Where Dreams Began | Toyota x NFL

Toyota’s Where Dreams Began pairs NFL athletes with their younger selves in a simple, inspiring spot about where big dreams start. The cinematic, anamorphic look and bright, balanced colors immediately set a high production standard, while the straightforward storytelling keeps the message clear and memorable. Instead of pushing features, Toyota lets the vehicles live quietly in the background, reinforcing the idea that the brand supports the journey without needing to be the center of attention.

What can local and smaller brands learn from this ad?

  • Aspirational storytelling works when it aligns with your mission

  • Your product doesn’t always need to be the hero to be effective

  • Strong visuals elevate even simple, straightforward stories

  • Emotion and clarity often matter more than complexity

4. Dear America, We Can Change Their Future | Invest America

While this ad could be seen as political on the surface, its real focus is on children—and the idea of investing in them early. Dear America, We Can Change Their Future immediately grabs attention through strong symmetrical framing and quick cuts between different kids delivering simple, direct lines about investing at a young age. The moment that really lands—“It can change my future. All our future.”—paired with on-screen subtitles and a steady, emotional music build, clearly drives home the purpose of the spot. The concept is clean, intentional, and relies more on message than spectacle, which makes it feel focused and impactful.

What can local and smaller brands learn from this ad?

  • A strong creative concept can outweigh massive production budgets

  • Centered framing and simple compositions keep the focus on the message

  • Let real, impactful dialogue do the heavy lifting

  • Music is a powerful tool to carry emotion through to the final moment

3. Tie: Claude AI vs. OpenAI

Two competitors, two very different approaches—and both stood out. Claude’s Can I get a six pack quickly? spot uses humor and relatability to make its point. The setup feels like a normal AI question, but instead of a screen, the answer comes from a friendly, real-life “trainer” who keeps piling on suggestions—eventually drifting into paid solutions. The punchline lands with the final graphic: “Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude.” It’s a direct shot at OpenAI and ChatGPT, and it works because it’s simple, human, and easy to understand. OpenAI’s You Can Just Build Things takes the opposite route, using a fast-moving FPV-style shot that follows a person learning throughout life—from childhood experiments to coding with Codex. The continuous movement, paired with the final bold text, made the ad visually distinct and memorable in a crowded commercial break.

What can local and smaller brands learn from these ads?

  • Competitive advertising can lift awareness for everyone in the category

  • Standing out visually matters, especially during busy ad breaks

  • Relatable, human moments make complex technology easier to understand

  • Bold creative choices help your message stick—even without over-explaining

2. Good Will Dunkin | Dunkin’

This commercial instantly stood out across our team thanks to its heavy dose of nostalgia. It opens with a VHS-style graphic that feels straight out of the ’90s, teasing the idea that Good Will Hunting was originally meant to be a sitcom. From there, Dunkin’ goes all in—stacking the spot with familiar faces from ’90s and early 2000s sitcoms and placing them in a classic Dunkin’ setting. The dialogue is clever, the comedic timing is spot-on, and the commitment to the bit makes the entire ad feel intentional rather than gimmicky.

What can local and smaller brands learn from this ad?

  • Nostalgia is a powerful tool when it’s done intentionally

  • Fully commit to the creative style of the era you’re referencing

  • Familiar faces or cultural callbacks can instantly grab attention

  • Humor works best when timing and tone are just as strong as the idea

1. America Needs Neighbors Like You | Redfin x Rocket Mortgage

I’m always a sucker for emotionally driven ads that rely on strong storytelling, music, and real human moments—and this Redfin and Rocket Mortgage spot delivers on all three. The commercial follows two sets of neighbors, each starting with awkward or negative first encounters, while the song “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” quietly sets the emotional tone. As a storm rolls in, tensions peak: a dog goes missing, a tree falls, and both stories resolve through small acts of kindness that turn strangers into neighbors. With no narration and simple white text at the end—“America could use a neighbor just like you”—the ad leaves a lasting impression by letting the story and music do the work.

What can local and smaller brands learn from this ad?

  • Music and audio are just as important as the visuals

  • Let sound design and natural dialogue replace heavy narration

  • Multiple storylines can work when editing and pacing are intentional

  • Emotion is one of the strongest ways to connect with your audience

Local Spotlight: Ace & Sons Fence Co. Too Comfortable Super Bowl Ad

While national brands rolled out massive productions during the Super Bowl, we were excited to see our own work air locally for the first time during the game. Too Comfortable for Ace & Sons Fence Company was a :15-second spot built to stand out in a crowded moment by relying entirely on visual storytelling. Shot during record snowfall just days before production, the commercial leaned into the conditions instead of fighting them—using humor and contrast to instantly communicate the value of privacy fencing.

With no dialogue, the story unfolds quickly: one neighbor braves the cold to walk her dog in an open yard, while another steps outside comfortably, coffee in hand, enjoying the privacy of his fenced space a little too much. We’re biased, but we loved how this one turned an unexpected challenge into a memorable, local moment.

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Final Thoughts

This year’s Super Bowl ads proved (again) that great storytelling wins. Whether it was emotional, funny, or just plain cool, the best commercials made people feel something. And that’s what every brand—big or small—should aim for.

If you’re ready to make commercials that move people to act, we’d love to talk with you!

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