2026 Product Launch Trends: PR and Product Placement Strategies That Work

How Boutique PR Agencies Drive Global Product Launches, Campaigns, and Experiential Marketing from the UK

The start of a new year is always an exciting time for brands preparing to launch products, services, or experiences. In 2026, successful product launches require more than just a great product - they need a strategic blend of PR, product placement, and experiential marketing.

At Banjo Communications, a boutique PR agency based in the UK with a global PR network, we help brands create buzz, drive demand, and maximise visibility through carefully planned campaigns. Whether it’s a product, service, or immersive experience, our team specialises in making launches memorable, newsworthy, and shareable. In this blog, we explore the top trends shaping product launches this year and show how PR and product placement can make your next launch unforgettable.

Building Anticipation Before Launch: Gordon Ramsay at 22 Bishopsgate

Creating excitement before a product or service hits the market is crucial. Early teasers, influencer previews, or limited releases help position your launch as something audiences want to experience first - and can drive customer bookings and sales. 

Example: Gordon Ramsay’s 22 Bishopsgate Launch:

Ahead of the official opening of 22 Bishopsgate, Gordon Ramsay invited 100 social media influencers for an exclusive hard‑hat preview of his new venue (still being built). This generated early buzz and social media coverage, driving reservations months before the public could book. Pre-launch PR like this transforms audiences into advocates, creating anticipation and urgency. For brands in the UK and globally, using influencer previews and press outreach ensures launches hit the ground running with credible endorsements and audience excitement.

Immersive Brand Worlds: Netflix House Interactive Entertainment Venues

Innovative experiential launches in 2025 blurred the lines between digital products and real-world interaction, inviting audiences to step inside the entertainment universe - not just see it on a screen.

Example: Netflix House Immersive Venues:

In late 2025, Netflix opened its first immersive entertainment hubs called Netflix House in major U.S. centres like King of Prussia Mall (Philadelphia) and Galleria Dallas. These 100,000‑square‑foot experiences invite fans to walk into the worlds of hit shows like Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday, with interactive games, themed environments, food venues, and photo-worthy set pieces based on iconic scenes. Experiences like “Squid Game: Survive the Trials” and “Stranger Things: Escape the Dark” let visitors explore narrative-driven attractions and capture content they can’t get anywhere else. This launch reimagines the launch itself, turning media content into a real-world, shareable entertainment destination that deepens fan loyalty and creates ongoing social buzz.

Turning Waiting Moments into Experiential Pop-Ups: Rhode Beauty

Queues are no longer passive - they’re an opportunity to engage your audience with memorable experiences. Interactive installations, giveaways, and comfortable amenities keep people engaged and amplify social sharing.

Example: Rhode Beauty Launches by Hailey Bieber:

At pop-ups in London and Los Angeles, fans queuing for Rhode products were treated to coffee, pastries, umbrellas, bottled water, and branded products. These thoughtful touches made waiting enjoyable, while organic social media coverage amplified the launch story. The queue itself became a marketing asset, showing that even a traditionally frustrating moment can be transformed into a brand experience.

Oversized Products as Experiential Photo Opportunities: IKEA 19-Foot Blue Bag

Interactive, oversized products give audiences a fun, tangible way to engage with a brand. Not only do they allow visitors to experience the product physically, but they also create perfect photo moments that encourage organic social media sharing.

Example: IKEA 19-Foot Blue Bag

IKEA brought its iconic blue shopping bag to life with a 19-foot-tall installation in busy areas of New York City. Visitors could pose next to the bag for photos, while QR codes offered discounts and AR experiences, blending real-world interaction with digital incentives. The oversized bag became a shareable, attention-grabbing centrepiece, generating social media posts, user engagement, and press coverage - proving how a simple product icon can be turned into an unforgettable experiential launch.

Turning Routine Moments into Experiential Tech: Coca‑Cola AR Vending Machine

Everyday interactions can be transformed into playful, inclusive experiences that bring people together. Gesture-based technology, gamified rewards, and shared moments create memorable activations that encourage social sharing.

Example: Coca‑Cola AR-Powered Vending Machine

At the 2025 Olympics and Coca‑Cola’s International Food Fest, Coca‑Cola and Snapchat reimagined the classic vending machine with augmented reality and gesture-based controls. Users of all abilities could operate the machine through head and body movements, experiencing a magical hug photo booth, multiplayer games, and custom merchandise. Language‑agnostic visuals ensured inclusivity across 200+ languages, turning a simple Coke purchase into a shared, joyful moment.

The AR interface encouraged teamwork, rewarding participants with prizes the longer they played together, while simultaneously generating 1.7M+ social impressions and real-world engagement. This activation transformed a familiar product touchpoint into an innovative, inclusive, and shareable experience - perfectly illustrating how technology can create magic in everyday interactions.

Emerging Product and Service Launch Trends to Watch in 2026

2026 will push product and service launches further, combining creativity, tech, and inclusivity in exciting ways:

• Hyper-Personalised Experiences – AI and data will tailor launches to individual preferences, creating unique interactions for each visitor.

• Sustainable Activations – Eco-conscious, recyclable, and purpose-driven installations will become central to PR campaigns.

• AI-Enhanced Installations – Interactive, real-time AI will adapt experiences on the fly, blending physical and digital engagement.

• Multi-Sensory Pop-Ups – Future launches will engage sight, sound, scent, and touch for fully immersive experiences.

• Inclusive Co-Creation – Audiences will participate in designing experiences, content, or even products, making inclusivity central.

• Gamified Global Campaigns – Cross-city or worldwide launch experiences will reward collaboration and sharing.

• Hybrid Virtual + Physical Launches – Mixed-reality activations will allow audiences to engage online or in person, seamlessly.

These trends show that future launches will be more adaptive, immersive, and socially conscious, demanding PR campaigns that are creative, tech-savvy, and globally engaging.

For brands in the UK or worldwide, a boutique PR agency like Banjo Communications can craft launch campaigns that combine creative storytelling, experiential marketing, and strategic product placement to ensure maximum impact. Whether launching a tech gadget, lifestyle product, or service, thoughtful PR turns a launch into a shareable, newsworthy event.

Summary

In 2026, product launches aren’t just about unveiling something new - they’re about creating moments people want to engage with, share, and remember. From immersive entertainment hubs to AR vending machines, queues transformed into pop-up experiences, and oversized installations that demand attention, experiential PR and product placement are the keys to launch success.

For brands looking for a UK-based boutique PR agency specialising in product launches, campaigns, and services, Banjo Communications delivers creative, strategic, and highly shareable activations that drive engagement, generate press, and maximise visibility across local and global audiences.