Every year there are new tools, shifting market dynamics, and evolving audience expectations that reshape how companies communicate. To help leading companies keep their competitive edge and navigate what’s next, Gateway’s department heads put together their top predictions for the year ahead.

Read on to see what we think we’ll see more of across investor relations, public relations, social media, and branding strategies in 2026.

Investor Relations

Integrated Blockchain Technology

In 2026, blockchain technology will build upon its momentum of being viewed less as a separate system and more as a normal part of traditional finance. Headlines about “adopting blockchain” will feel increasingly routine, whether it’s banks settling tokenized deposits or global payment networks using stablecoins to move value across borders. The part of the story that will resonate is how these integrations improve speed, transparency, and capital efficiency.

2025 was a transformative year for digital finance, laying the foundation for blockchain integration to be even more popular in 2026. Spot ETFs pulled digital assets directly into traditional portfolios. Stablecoin settlement grew as a practical way to move dollars globally. Digital asset treasury companies expanded corporate and institutional participation in a range of cryptocurrencies. And several core infrastructure firms, including Circle and Figure, entered the public markets. The GENIUS Act established the first federal framework for payment stablecoins, and a broader market structure bill expected in early 2026 will clarify regulatory jurisdiction, giving tokenized financial instruments a clearer place inside existing supervision.

Together, these developments point to a 2026 where blockchain functions as part of financial infrastructure rather than an alternative to it. We think we’ll see a year where blockchain technology becomes more powerful precisely because it is becoming less visible.

Heightened M&A Environment

Coming out of 2025, the business-friendly political regime and falling interest rates could set off a wave of deals in the M&A space in the year ahead. We’ve seen a few large mergers already, but our top executives predict it’ll flow down to lower market cap companies as well.

Additionally, we can expect to see even more SPACs in that mix, which are in their own way, a merger of sorts. As of November 2025, there are 164 SPACs searching for targets with nearly 50% of these deals having announcement deadlines before December 2026. All signs point to an intriguing market ahead in 2026 for mergers across market cap tiers.

Top IPOs to Expect

With the IPO window working its way open again, our directors believe 2026 could bring some exciting new movers and shakers that will reshape the capital market landscape.

Companies like Polymarket and Kalshi will lead the way as potential headline IPOs, bringing growing confidence in increased market activity. While these high profile deals tend to capture most of the media attention, they’re also an important signal for the broader market, bringing more investor appetite and opening the door for smaller cap companies to follow.

Additionally, as Gateway continues to expand our international practice, we are confident we’ll see more companies from the Asia Pacific region exploring listings on US capital markets. Interest from this region has been steadily building, and with growing cross border investor activity, we expect more APAC issuers to view the US exchanges as a strategic path to global visibility and long term growth.

Public Relations & Social Media

The New PR Strategy is Not One-Size-Fits-All

When it comes to public relations strategies in 2026, the brands that stand out won’t be the ones just publishing content. They will be the companies intentionally engineering narratives that move across the full communications ecosystem, narratives that are integrated and optimized for each respective platform.

Traditional channels such as press releases and newswires alone won’t move the needle. The strongest PR approach will require an intentional blend of paid, owned, and earned media.

The smartest brands will:

o Stay active and present a consistent narrative across owned channels (social media and website) and earned channels (third-party media), leading to stronger presence in AI-search engines and increased organic resharing across community forums like Reddit.

o Understand omnichannel does not mean “post everywhere,” but strategically monitor how each channel influences, reinforces, and amplifies the others, using owned and earned media to encourage positive sentiment in retail investor-focused channels.

o Master an active vs. passive strategy, treating each platform appropriately to control share of voice while maintaining authenticity.

Companies overlooking the changing landscape of media and social platforms while relying on outdated legacy media tactics will fall behind.

Credibility Built Through Executive LinkedIn Profiles

Building upon the trend we’ve seen grow in 2025, 2026 will be a year with significantly increased activity and presence from top executives, especially on LinkedIn. LinkedIn themselves reported CEO posting has increased by 52% in the past two years.

What’s the reason behind this increase? In addition to higher content performance that’s backed by an algorithm that favors humans over faceless company pages, this trend is also likely fueled by the authentic connection and trust executives are building with their audiences. That trust easily lends itself to stronger credibility for the company they represent.

Measuring Impact: Niche Audiences and the Death of the Follower

In the upcoming year, the social and media landscape will be more widespread and fragmented than ever before. With so many platforms, channels, and creators to choose from, niche audiences will be a powerful way for companies to break through the noise.

The strongest indicator to measure content performance or earned coverage will no longer be impressions or views. Instead, we’ll see more weight placed on engagement from stakeholders who are truly relevant to your business. Gone are the days of being dazzled by high follower counts or arbitrary metrics in media kits. Companies and marketers alike will seek real value among the right audiences, not just big ones.

Branding & Creative Design

AI is Here to Stay

In the graphic and website design world, AI won’t just be present in 2026, it will be embedded in every stage of the creative workflow.

The best designers will stay up to date and know how to use the latest tools, understanding that they can't resist change but instead need to stay ahead of the curve. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement, they’ll use it as an accelerant: speeding up ideation, generating variations, automating repetitive tasks and freeing up more time for strategy, storytelling, and refinement.

As the line between human creativity and machine-powered efficiency blurs, the differentiator won’t be who uses AI, but who uses it thoughtfully, responsibly, and in a way that elevates the final product.

In 2026, the teams and companies who focus on relevance, quality, and strategic storytelling will be the ones who earn the competitive advantage. Whether navigating a promising but ever-changing market, engaging target niche audiences, or building meaningful earned coverage, success will come to those who prioritize real impact over vanity metrics. We think these trends will shape a new landscape where thoughtful strategy and authentic connections aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential.

Contact us to learn more about Gateway’s full-service solutions for your communications strategies.

‍