Saatchi & Saatchi has announced the line-up of global talent selected for its 2026 New Creators’ Showcase at SXSW London. The showcase, giving visibility to up-and-coming creators, been curated and presented annually since 1991.

Beyond having their work showcased at SXSW London, each of the shortlisted creators will be invited to pitch for and collaborate on work across Saatchi & Saatchi’s network portfolio in the next 12 months, and will also have access to hands-on assistance from production teams through expert guidance and insight. 

Debuting in London for the first time in its 36-year history as part of a new partnership with SXSW London, this year’s showcase includes work from a broad range of disciplines, regions and creators, featuring 11 pieces of short film, commercial, stop motion animation and music video content.

The 2026 New Creators are: 

• Alfie Whiteman – Toe Wrestling (Vibram)

• Cass Virdee – Fight or Flight

• Frances O’Sullivan – Screen Test

• Iris Kim – Issy

• Jasmina Wood – Dinner Date

• Leve Kühl – Peas (Grindr)

• Lisa Mausbach – Sorry (Fleurop)

• Lucy Knox – Opal Fever

• Melissa Mark – Mummy Issues

• Sebastian Lopez – THAT’S AI – FERN

• Werner Vivier – JL-AL

Built around a renewed commitment to ‘put the C in NCS’, the 2026 showcase explored how creative boundaries have dissolved, and how makership, movies, music and marketing are being blended in new ways. The showcase was presented at Protein Studios in Shoreditch by chief creative officer, Franki Goodwin, who was also joined on stage by acclaimed Emmy-nominated photographer, director and artist Bafic. The session concluded with a dedicated music showcase, featuring a performance from Nectar Woode, alongside an informal networking session aimed at connecting new talent with decision makers from the creative, production and music industries.

Franki Goodwin commented, “There is no city on earth with this density of creative collision. Film, music, fashion, advertising, technology – London pulls it all into the same rooms, the same streets, the same conversations. Moving the New Creators’ Showcase to SXSW London was about evolving this legendary piece of advertising history to better serve the next generation who will one day shape this industry. Having curated this year’s reel and presented it this evening, I feel more optimistic than ever about what the next chapter of creativity could look like.”

Cecilia Morelli, CMO at SXSW London, added, “Our ambition for SXSW London is to create a space where creativity, technology and business can converge and inspire. The 2026 New Creators’ showcase is truly representative of that spirit: the showcase facilitates commercial discovery, not just by spotlighting talent but also by springboarding the networks in which meaningful creativity happens. We’re excited to see what grows from here and to welcoming NCS back in 2027.”