Contagious Identifies 15 U.S. Brands As Global Creative Standouts.

Contagious has released its “Contagious Brands Report 2026,” naming 45 brands from around the world that it says are challenging category conventions and finding new ways to connect with consumers. The report includes 15 U.S. brands across areas including retail, consumer products, technology, social media, entertainment and artificial intelligence.

The report examines brands through nine categories and focuses on business challenges and opportunities including media fragmentation, artificial intelligence, the creator economy and the development of immersive brand worlds.

“What unites many of these diverse brands is that they have found success by moving away from simply manufacturing products or providing services, Sunil Bajaj, Lead Brand Analyst at Contagious, says in a news release. “Instead, they’re creating experiences that surprise and delight. And rather than focusing on serving individual customers, they’ve considered how they can better benefit communities and bring people together. Because, in 2026, you can’t just be a Contagious brand by selling stuff alone, you have to make people want to spend time with you.”

Dick’s Sporting Goods was included in the report’s “Destination Designers” category for its efforts to turn retail stores into athletic-oriented spaces. The report said the U.S. sporting goods retailer has redefined its physical locations as “athletic playgrounds” as retailers increasingly seek to make stores destinations rather than simply places to make purchases.

Scrub Daddy, Fishwife and Dr Squatch were named in the “Everyday Magic Makers” category. Contagious said Scrub Daddy uses the design of its smiley-faced cleaning sponges to generate engaging content, while Fishwife uses packaging to make canned seafood a prominent subject on Instagram and TikTok. Dr Squatch was cited for disrupting the men’s grooming category without relying on what Contagious described as “alpha-male posturing.”

SharkNinja and Starface were recognized as “Product Innovators.” The report said SharkNinja launches about 25 lifestyle products annually, combining premium technology with lower prices, while Starface has turned acne treatment into a form of personal expression designed for social media.

Starbucks was included among the report’s “Creator Makers” for its Green Apron Creators program, which turns baristas into brand influencers. The program reflects a broader shift identified by Contagious toward using employees, customers and other consumers as creators of brand content.

BuzzBallz and Poppi were among the brands highlighted as “Gen Z Magnets.” Contagious said BuzzBallz’s colorful spherical packaging has helped make the ready-to-drink cocktails the best-selling premixed cocktails in the U.S., while Poppi has used bright packaging and its positioning around prebiotic soda and gut health to appeal to younger consumers.

The “Worldbuilders” category included Vacation and Fanatics. Contagious said Vacation has built a retro-styled sunscreen brand around encouraging consumers to enjoy the sun, while Fanatics has developed into a broader sports ecosystem serving 140 million customers globally.

Runway was the lone U.S. brand highlighted in the report’s “AI Pioneers” category. Contagious described the company as a $5.3 billion platform that is changing AI video creation by giving users greater directorial control over the production process.

Substack was named among the report’s “Community Builders.” Contagious highlighted the U.S. publishing platform for its approach to connecting writers and audiences and providing an alternative to conventional social-media consumption.

The report’s U.S. selections reflect a range of business models, from physical retail and consumer packaged goods to sports, publishing and artificial intelligence.