CreatorFest 2026 is officially done and dusted, and I've finally caught up on my sleep schedule.
And what a show!
Firstly, I want to thank our amazing creator team at Hello Partner for the exceptional work they put in. If you're not familiar, CreatorFest was born in 2024 and has already taken on a life of its own. It's gone from an add-on to our flagship affiliate marketing event, PI LIVE, to a fully-fledged, two-day event at the heart of the creator economy.
I'm so proud of how far we've come so far, and how much potential there is to build on what we've got for 2027.
Let's deep dive into the highlights
My favourite speakers
This year, it really felt like creators were part of the conversation next to brands, influencer marketers and talent managers. The days of being left in the dark are gone, because creators are officially taking charge of their own futures.
Mia McGrath, Frugal Chic
A personal highlight of mine was seeing our headliner, and one of my favourite creators, Mia McGrath. She's not only a stellar speaker, but she has such an inspiring story to share.
One thing I loved hearing from her was how creators need to be known for something specific. Only the top 1% of creators can confidently say 'I am the niche' and mean it, so what are you doing to stand out and provide value to your followers?
Alex Hick, LADBible
LADBible's Creator Program was something I hadn't heard much about before CreatorFest, but after Alex's session, it's a vital play for any publisher. He spoke about the most effective ways to recycle content and how creators can give their videos the longest shelf life possible. What a way to avoid burnout and enhance creativity!
Dom Smales, GloMotion Studios
Dom Smales's session and our conversation that followed were enlightening as always. Crafting A Content Career Without Quitting Your Day Job with Daisy Rose, Mia Ferreira and Bita Jedo was a standout panel of the show, learning from a huge brand so many creators would be thrilled to work with.
However, I put down the question card I had prepared to chat with Dom. Learning about his long history in the creator economy - perhaps one of the longest tenures in our industry - he shared invaluable insight about how far we've come.
Starting back in the Zoella days, we've seen content go from creating for the love of the game, to the occasional brand deal, to the monetisation of YouTube, to full MrBeast-level content empires. Dom unpacked that all with me, soon to be revealed on Hello Partner.
Annabel Harris, The Goat Agency
I included The Goat Agency's session in my most-anticipated last week, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The room was packed with creators and influencer marketers alike, learning how to break the mould with unique campaigns ingrained in culture.
We saw a re-imagining of creator partnerships, moving far beyond routine tactics and making brands truly distinctive in a saturated landscape.
I also loved watching our Fringe Stage performers - it's a reminder that so many creators are able to monetise their dreams thanks to social media. I mean, look at Kane Parsons and Curry Barker: two creators who got to make feature films thanks to their online presence. Let's see it happen for DJs, musicians and comedians next.
My key takeaways
Brands are being bolder in how they approach partnerships. Speaking to several brand managers and talent agencies between panels, it is clear that the days of rigid, overly scripted briefs are coming to an end. Companies are finally allowing creators to speak to their audiences authentically, with this becoming the norm.
The business is maturing into a highly structured industry. Another major theme that came through in my interviews was the shift from casual content creation to serious entrepreneurship. Creators are no longer just looking for the next transactional brand deal. Instead, they are focused on building sustainable, long-term businesses, hiring operational teams, and diversifying their revenue streams. Learning about how the industry is adapting to support this backend growth was a personal highlight for me as a journalist.
We're finding out how to adapt with the seasons of the creator economy. Every year, there's a new buzzword (I'm genuinely sick of hearing the word authenticity), and it's exhausting hearing hundreds of differing 'right' ways to make content. At CreatorFest, I picked up on the fact that creators should actually focus on stripping back these frills and simply making the right content for them, and the brands they want to work with.
Final thoughts
CreatorFest 2026 proved that the gap between creators, brands, and platforms is rapidly shrinking. We are all learning from each other, adapting, and driving the creator economy forward together.
I left Magazine with a notebook full of insights, a slightly hoarse voice from so many brilliant interviews, and immense excitement for what our team at Hello Partner will bring you next.
Thank you to everyone who stopped to chat, shared their story, or attended our sessions. See you all in 2027!
