As global business leaders convened around the agenda of the Davos Summit, Brand Finance, an independent UK-based brand valuation and strategy consultancy, released its Global 500 2026 report on January 15, 2026. The report evaluates the financial value and brand strength of the world’s leading brands while also highlighting the technological and AI-driven transformation shaping the global economy in 2026.

An examination of the World’s Most Valuable Brands 2026 ranking clearly demonstrates the technology sector’s dominance. Apple retained its position as the world’s most valuable brand, reaching a record brand value of $607.6 billion, supported by its strong ecosystem and high levels of customer loyalty. Microsoft followed closely in second place with a brand value of $565.2 billion, reflecting its substantial investments in artificial intelligence technologies. Google ranked third with $433.1 billion, driven by its continued leadership in the search engine market and digital advertising revenues.

E-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon secured fourth place with a brand value of $369.9 billion. NVIDIA rose to fifth place with $184.3 billion, benefiting from surging global demand for artificial intelligence chips and its transformation from a traditional hardware manufacturer into a strategic technology powerhouse. The remaining brands in the top ten include TikTok/Douyin ($153.5 billion), Walmart ($141.0 billion), Samsung Group ($119.2 billion), Facebook ($107.1 billion), and China’s State Grid Corporation ($102.4 billion).

In contrast to financial valuation, the World’s Most Powerful Brands 2026 ranking—based on the Brand Strength Index (BSI), which measures brand investment, stakeholder perception, and consumer loyalty—reveals different dynamics. YouTube emerged as the world’s most powerful brand with a score of 95.3 out of 100, reflecting its central role in global digital content consumption. China-based super app WeChat ranked second with 95.1 points, followed by Microsoft in third place with 94.7 points, and Google in fourth with 94.6 points.

The remainder of the brand strength top ten features companies from a diverse range of sectors. LEGO ranked fifth with a score of 94.2, highlighting its strong emotional connection with consumers. NVIDIA placed sixth with 93.9 points, while Chinese liquor brand Wuliangye ranked seventh with 93.6 points. Consulting firm Deloitte followed in eighth place (93.3 points), tire manufacturer Michelin ranked ninth (93.2 points), and Spanish retail chain Mercadona completed the top ten with 93.1 points.

The presence of Microsoft, Google, and NVIDIA in the top ten of both brand value and brand strength rankings underscores their central role in the emerging Age of Artificial Intelligence. Overall, the findings indicate that while financial brand value is increasingly driven by technological innovation, brand strength is shaped by reputation management and the dynamics of the attention economy.

Further details and analyses can be accessed through Brand Finance’s official data resources.

Ahmet Furkan BUDAK

Founder of Toganworks & Brand Consultant