The D&AD Festival continues to attract world-class talent with the President’s Lectures, featuring industry-leading keynotes on why creativity is more vibrant than ever. This full-day session is packed with powerful stories, fresh perspectives, and deep insights from some of today’s most influential creative leaders.
Hosted and curated by D&AD President Lisa Smith, the event will explore the nature of creativity when it is truly alive. The lectures will be held on May 20, 2026, at Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Southbank Centre, London.
Check out the complete list of keynote speakers and their sessions below:
Creativity is the only job left
10:05–10:35 a.m. BST
Opening the President’s Lectures program is David Lee, Chief Brand and Creative Officer at Squarespace, who posits that human craft will become the new luxury of the future as artificial intelligence serves as the tool for the masses.
In a world increasingly flooded with infinite, automated content, anything that feels authentically human will only gain more value.
The group chat that never died
10:35–10:50 p.m. BST
In live-action role-playing (LARP), “bleeding” refers to the lingering emotions and world of a game that persist long after the event ends. Creative programs often mirror this phenomenon — where inspiration and ambition endure long after the formal structure has dissolved.
The session features Marta Litson, Art Director at twentyrising; Paula Smiri, Copy Lead at The Orbit Studio; and Sarah Yilma, Content Creator at The Orbit Studio — all of whom are D&AD Shift Germany 2024 Alumni.
In conversation with Chaka Sobhani
10:50–11:20 a.m. BST
This session features a live conversation with Chaka Sobhani, Global Chief Creative Officer of TBWA, alongside a special guest. Further details on the topic and the guest will be announced soon.
Back to Center
11:50 a.m.–12:20 p.m. BST
The creative landscape is currently undergoing a rebirth. While categories are being reinvented and our tools are being disrupted, the public need not worry; creativity is not dying — it is resetting. This shift offers a vital opportunity to reestablish our role in both business and culture.
Alex Center, Founder and Creative Director of CENTER, will lead this session to share insights and firsthand stories from the front lines of this transformation. He believes we are entering a new creative era.
A session with Nills Leonard
12:20–2:00 p.m. BST
Nils Leonard, Founder of Uncommon Creative Studio, is set to speak in this session. Full details on his keynote topic will be announced soon.
Digital and the divine: The art and science of brand experience
2:05–2:35 p.m. BST
This session will examine why ambitious brands are shifting budgets away from traditional advertising and toward creating immersive worlds, environments, and interactive spectacles.
Court Williams, Head of Creative Strategy at brand experience studio DE–YAN, will offer a strategic look at how these tangible moments build brand loyalty and core memories, providing a roadmap for moving audiences from passive observers to active participants within a brand’s story.
If you profit from it, invest in it
2:35–2:50 p.m. BST
Insights are drawn from real-life experiences and lived encounters. In this session, Jaël Makelemi, Illustrator & Art Director at Nubi Collective and a Shift London 2018 Alumnus, discusses how these personal experiences are converted into creative value.
Have we moved on? 30 years in the creative industry
2:50–3:30 p.m. BST
For the first 33 years of D&AD, the organization was headed by men. However, in 1995, Mary Lewis broke that streak to become its first female president. Three decades later, the position was passed to Lisa Smith of Uncommon Creative Studio.
In this session, Mary and Lisa will discuss how the creative industry has evolved over the past 30 years, as well as the elements that have remained unchanged. They will also address whether there are enough female leaders in the industry today and what the future of leadership will look like.
What happened to our creative audacity?
3:45–4:00 p.m. BST
This session will explore why the most vibrant creative work stems from identity, utilizing the Seven Circle Model. It also aims to inspire attendees to reconnect with their creative audacity.
Speakers for this session have yet to be announced.
The single worst job of my life, ever
Closing the day is a session of reflection and life stories from Stefan Sagmeister, Designer at Sagmeister Inc., who will discuss the most frustrating experiences he has encountered throughout his four-decade career in design.
Tickets start at GBP 150 + VAT which is available for purchase here. Discounts are available for students, charities/non-profits, freelancers, small businesses with under 10 employees, and retired people.
For more information, you may send an email to [email protected].
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the 2026 D&AD Festival.
