With the Super Bowl being one of the most anticipated annual events of the year, I'd like it's the one that officially kicks off event season and frankly, sets the tone for events to follow.
Bad Bunny did his THING. There is no doubt about that. Regardless of where we watched it, I guarantee that for a moment, we were all in community; dancing, cheering, singing along in Spanish (or maybe Spanglish for some of us) and having fun...being present.
This show was spectacular and symbolic with sugar cane fields, Jíbaros in pava hats, La Marqueta, casitas, reggaeton, flags from Caribbean countries and, a message:
The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
Last week, I wrote about how the event industry is shifting from performance to presence. from super curated experiences to authentic, community-driven gatherings. We know the Super Bowl is one of the most organized events of the season but even so, Bad Bunny's halftime show felt personal on many levels.
He could have played it safe. But he didn't.
That's what presence looks like. That's what happens when you stop optimizing for everyone and start showing up for your community.
In the article, I wrote about this shift in the events industry; how attendees are tired of beautifully designed experiences that lack substance, how 89% of attendees now want events that connect them to their local communities, how 53% of people now prefer to discover events through trusted voices and people they know instead of paid influencers.
While ROI is important for anyone in business, it shouldn't mean that other factors are sacrificed. The point isn't to be universally liked, but to be meaningful. To be true. To connect. And that's exactly what the most successful events and businesses in 2026 will do.
Now, you might be reading this and asking yourself: "Isn't Ta'Ron a graphic designer? Why and how is she speaking about events?
For those of you that are new here, I am a brand and experiential designer specializing in trade show and event design, branding, and strategic visual storytelling. I keep a close watch on what happens throughout the year and how people's responses are shaped by art, culture, and current events; all of this feeds into how and why I design the things I do.
Speaking of events, The 90-Day Reset officially has a new date! February 22nd at 1pm inside Scofflaw Brewing Co. at 1738 MacArthur Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30318.
Since we had to push things back, I wanted to make The 90-Day Reset workbook accessible now. This was going to be given to everyone during the event, but I figure we can all get a head start.
Later this week, I'll send the link and limited time promo code for the FREE download. For now, have a wonderful week and reply back with your thoughts about the article!
TaRon 'Ronnie' Joyner
Founder, 1991 Design
P.S. The year of the Fire Horse is upon us. Coming off a bold and memorable Super Bowl, this energy tells us to expect a continued shift toward meaningful, smaller gatherings, tech-driven experiences, bold branding, and rapid decision-making. If you're planning events this year, pay attention and team up with a pro who knows that strategy creates high return through beautiful and impactful design.
