Experiential is growing. The bar is rising with it.
Brands are investing more in live experiences every year, and the experiences are good. Heading into 2027, good is no longer the standard. Every experience will need to be measured and attributed to the leading indicators of the outcomes the business is paying for: consideration, purchase intent, advocacy and, ultimately, sales.
That is the step from great to greatest, and it runs through every stage of an activation.
81%of marketers now tie their events directly to business growth.Cvent 2026 Event-Led Growth Report
By 2027over 40% of CMOs who push for larger brand budgets will lose influence with the C-suite because they can't demonstrate sufficient returns.Gartner, February 2026
91%of marketers expect their budgets to increase in 2027.Forrester 2027 Budget Planning Guides, July 2026
7.8%of revenue is the average marketing budget, 18% below four years ago, with every program pressure-tested against expected return.Gartner CMO Spend Survey, 2026