Ashley Graham to Headline Licensing Expo 2026, Spotlighting Authentic Brand Partnerships

Event summary

  • Ashley Graham to keynote Licensing Expo 2026 on May 19, discussing authentic brand partnerships.
  • Session titled 'Unlocking the Power of Authentic Partnerships in Brand and Talent Collaboration' will feature Graham and Natasha Bolouki from United Talent Agency.
  • Licensing Expo 2026 expects over 5,000 brands and 12,000 attendees from 70+ countries.
  • Major retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Target, and Walmart confirmed to attend.
  • Event organized by Informa Markets' Global Licensing Group, part of Informa plc (LON:INF).

The big picture

Ashley Graham's keynote at Licensing Expo 2026 underscores the growing emphasis on authenticity and long-term partnerships in brand licensing. As the $369+ billion global brand licensing industry evolves, Graham's success in translating cultural influence into business ventures highlights a strategic shift towards values-driven collaborations. The event's impressive lineup of retailers and brands signals a broader industry trend towards more meaningful, audience-first partnerships designed for mutual success.

What we're watching

Authenticity in Branding
How Ashley Graham's approach to values-driven partnerships will influence brand-talent collaborations in the licensing industry.
Industry Trends
Whether the focus on long-term, authentic partnerships will become a dominant strategy in brand licensing.
Event Impact
The pace at which insights from this session will be adopted by major retailers and brands attending the expo.