Super Bowl Pepsi Ad: A new Pepsi ad campaign for the 2026 Super Bowl reportedly spoofs the viral “kiss cam” incident from a 2025 Coldplay concert where a tech CEO and an HR executive were caught in an embrace.

Super Bowl Pepsi Ad: A new Pepsi ad campaign for the 2026 Super Bowl reportedly spoofs the viral “kiss cam” incident from a 2025 Coldplay concert where a tech CEO and an HR executive were caught in an embrace.

 

 

 

The new Pepsi spot, directed by Oscar-winner Taika Waititi, cleverly blends brand rivalry, humour and pop culture references to make its Super Bowl debut. The ad opens with the iconic Pepsi Challenge blind taste test, in which a polar bear — long associated with rival Coca-Cola’s branding — blindly samples Pepsi Zero Sugar and Coke Zero Sugar, ultimately picking Pepsi. That unexpected twist sets off a whimsical storyline that includes therapy sessions and a concert sequence echoing the viral Coldplay moment.

The commercial culminates with the Pepsi-loving polar bear and a companion appearing together on a concert kiss cam-style screen — a clear nod to the 2025 Coldplay clip that many viewers will recognize instantly. While the ad never uses real names or footage from the original incident, the visual parallels are unmistakable, and audiences familiar with the earlier viral moment have quickly made the connection.

According to PepsiCo’s chief marketing officer, the strategy was intentional: to spark conversation and make the ad a cultural moment, not just a traditional Super Bowl commercial. The spot mixes cheeky humour with the company’s ongoing cola rivalry narrative, using the visual callback to last year’s viral event as a playful wink to internet culture.

Social media buzz around the ad highlights how brands today are increasingly mining viral pop culture moments — even awkward ones — to connect with audiences in unexpected ways. Some viewers hailed the ad as a clever and timely piece of entertainment, noting its modern humour and shareable moments, while others questioned whether referencing a real-world viral incident was appropriate for a major brand campaign.

The commercial’s director, Waititi, appears in a cameo and infuses the film with his trademark playful tone, helping to balance brand messaging with whimsy. Set to a backdrop of Queen’s “I Want to Break Free,” the ad aims to resonate not just during the Super Bowl broadcast itself but across social platforms long after the game ends.

Pepsi plans to air a 30-second version of “The Choice” during the Super Bowl on February 8, while longer cuts and behind-the-scenes content have already been released online, ensuring the ad reaches a wide audience in advance of the game.