Poppi Didn’t Just Run a Super Bowl Ad, They Built a Cultural Moment
This Super Bowl Sunday, Poppi didn’t play it safe.
They played it cultural.
The prebiotic soda brand returned for its third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, but this year wasn’t about awareness or education. It was about cementing Poppi as a vibe.
Starring Charli xcx and Rachel Sennott, two figures who don’t chase culture but actively shape it, Poppi’s 30-second spot felt less like a commercial and more like internet lore in motion. The ad transformed a mundane college lecture into a chaotic, hyper-stylized fantasy the second a Poppi can cracked open.
That moment says everything about Poppi’s brand strategy.
The Ad Wasn’t the Point, The Takeover Was
Poppi understands something most Super Bowl advertisers still miss:
the commercial is no longer the main event.
The brand treated the Super Bowl as a launchpad, not a finish line.
Yes, the spot was loud and packed with visual chaos - flamethrowers, confetti, a motorbike, even a horse in glow gear, but what made it work was how seamlessly it fit into how people actually experience the Super Bowl now: through phones, group chats, memes, and watch-party energy.
Poppi didn’t interrupt culture.
They designed content for it.
Culture-First, Not Category-First
Over three years, Poppi has been building a clear arc:
Year one: introduce Poppi as a modern soda alternative
Year two: show when and how to drink it
Year three: position Poppi as a culture-first brand
This year’s “Make It Poppi” campaign isn’t selling taste, ingredients, or health benefits. It’s selling a feeling. A mood. An escape from the boring moment you’re in.
And Poppi didn’t stop at TV. They extended the campaign across socials turning a 30-second ad into a multi-week experience. That’s how you actually maximize Super Bowl spend in 2026.
Why This Strategy Works
Poppi didn’t rely on celebrity for reach, they used celebrity for cultural credibility.
Charli xcx isn’t just famous; she represents chaos, confidence, and internet-native energy. That alignment makes the brand feel authentic, not rented.
Instead of asking, “How do we get attention?”
Poppi asked, “How do we become part of the moment?”
Pophaus Take
Poppi may not have had the most traditional Super Bowl commercial, but they had the best strategy.
The brands winning major moments aren’t chasing “best ad” awards anymore.
They’re building ecosystems around attention and making sure the story doesn’t end when the spot does.
In 2026, the Super Bowl isn’t about 30 seconds.
It’s about what you do with the next 30 days.
