Sky recently hosted a cinematic 2026 Upfront event at the New Zealand International Convention Centre - a milestone event executed on a grand scale, that brought together over 500 advertisers, agencies and industry stakeholders to mark an exciting new chapter for the organisation. The Upfront followed the integration of the Three team into Sky, and it set the stage for an exciting look at what’s ahead for 2026.
A Night to Remember
The evening opened with a powerful performance by Te Wehi Haka Experience, before CEO Sophie Moloney took to the stage alongside Executive and Leadership team members Juliet Peterson, Nikki Goodman and Gary Burchett.
They were joined by an outstanding line-up of on-screen talent including Samantha Hayes, Shaun Johnson, John Aiken, Storm Purvis, Andrew Mulligan and Peter Hammer, together unveiling Sky’s 2026 content slate across entertainment and sport. The team lifted the curtain on an incredible line-up of premium storytelling and unmissable sport.
New Zealanders can look forward to world-class franchises, global hits, a stand-out collection of homegrown originals and the biggest moments in live sport, across a slate that spans drama, action, movies, crime, factual, reality, news and sport. Across Sky, NEON, Three, ThreeNow, Sky Open, Bravo, Rush, eden, HGTV and more, audiences will have more choice on Sky than ever before.
Sky is doubling down on local content in 2026, delivering over 30 new locally commissioned primetime titles – a 20% uplift on last year, and you can read more about this content here.
A special shout-out was made on the night to Reuben Wiremu, Sky's Head of Marketing & Creative for developing an Upfront event on such an epic scale.
More Reach. More Audiences. More Opportunity
With Sky’s combined portfolio now fully integrated, the proposition for advertisers has never been stronger. The message from the Upfront was clear: Sky can now offer more reach, more audiences, more choice and more opportunity than ever before.
What’s Coming in 2026
Sky’s 2026 pipeline is packed with new initiatives designed to deliver greater value for advertisers and richer experiences for audiences. Here’s a snapshot of what’s on the way:
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New co-viewing insights 👀
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New sponsorship research from ContentVX
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Built-in sponsorship and brand impact measurements 📊
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More free-to-air sport than ever before 🏉⛷️🏎️
- Over 30 new locally commissioned titles
- Expanded digital and streaming platforms
Why This Matters for Advertisers
The 2026 Upfront signals a significant step forward in how Sky goes to market. The integration of Three’s audience and the expansion of free-to-air sport means advertisers can now access a broader, more diverse audience all through a single, trusted partner.
Add to that new measurement tools, fresh local content and deeper co-viewing insights, and the case for Sky as a premium advertising environment is stronger than it’s ever been.
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