YouTube is coming back to TV upfronts week with Trevor Noah serving as emcee of its 2026 Brandcast presentation for advertisers, along with a big group of YouTube creators including Dude Perfect and Alex Cooper providing testimonials about the power of the platform. To cap off the evening, singer Chappell Roan is set to take the stage for a music performance.
YouTube’s Brandcast upfront is returning to Lincoln Center in New York City. The invitation-only event will take place on Wednesday, May 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The headline execs stepping on stage will again be YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Google president Sean Downey, who “will demonstrate how YouTube is not only the No. 1 streamer in the U.S., but the future of media,” according to YouTube’s Brandcast announcement. “At Brandcast, we will lean into how brands can align themselves with creators and cultural moments to reach viewers while they stream, scroll, search and shop.”
Grammy-winner Chappell Roan, who has 2.4 million YouTube followers, will also take the stage as the headline performer at Brandcast. According to YouTube, the platform “offered an early launchpad and discovery engine for her music,” including her NPR “Tiny Desk” to Coachella performances.
YouTube creators scheduled to appear at Brandcast include: