KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 300 senior marketers, creators, executives, founders and media-decision makers are set to convene for the IMPACT 2026 conference set to take place April 30 and May 1 at the AC Hotel, Kingston.

IMPACT 2026 will examine how Caribbean intelligence informs modern brand expansion, how artificial intelligence is reshaping strategic decision-making, how data strengthens commercial accountability and how fully integrated 360° strategies accelerate performance across media, culture and commerce.

The conference is being hosted by Mystique Integrated, in partnership with Main Event Entertainment Group and iPrint Group and M-One Productions.

“The Caribbean has always shaped culture,” said Valón Thorpe, chief executive officer (CEO) of Mystique Integrated. “The question now is whether we are building the systems, intelligence and commercial discipline to convert that cultural power into sustained growth.”

He added, “Marketing in this region can no longer operate as a communications function. It must function as a growth command centre. IMPACT is a working platform for leaders who understand that creativity without accountability is incomplete and that marketing must operate as a performance engine at board level. If we want the region to compete globally, our execution must be world-class.”

Presenting partner Solomon Sharpe, co-founder and CEO of Main Event Entertainment Group, noted that as the creative economy expands, strategic marketing must evolve in parallel to maximise its economic contribution.

“If marketing is going to be treated as a growth engine in our region, then the conversations around it must evolve,” said Sharpe. “IMPACT brings together the people who shape culture, control budgets and influence outcomes, providing a forum to explore strategies that deliver measurable results.”

The programme will feature local, regional and international leaders from globally recognised brands, offering practical insight grounded in execution and tailored specifically to Caribbean markets.

The Caribbean’s creative economy is not merely a cultural advantage, it is an economic force. According to a 2021 report commissioned by the British Council, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and UNESCO, Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries contribute an estimated 5.2 per cent of national gross domestic product, generating approximately $2.2 billion in annual revenues and accounting for three per cent of total employment. More recent industry analysis indicates significant expansion. A 2025 survey by the Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance of Jamaica suggests the sector’s annual economic impact now exceeds $100 billion.

IMPACT 2026 is structured as a strategic environment for exchange and alignment, connecting decision-makers with the tools, insight and blueprints required to elevate marketing practice across the Caribbean.