The Irish marketing industry will have its eyes on Dublin this October as a major media campaign Ireland event returns with a high-profile speaker lineup. Radiocentre Ireland has confirmed that Professor Mark Ritson will headline Sounding Out 2026, an industry gathering designed to bring together leaders from marketing, media and journalism for fresh thinking, practical insight and new research.
Set for Thursday, October 15, at the Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House, the morning conference is shaping up to be one of the standout dates on the communications calendar. For professionals tracking brand growth, audio advertising and evidence-led strategy, this media campaign Ireland moment offers both star power and substance.
Mark Ritson leads a major media campaign Ireland event
Ritson, one of the best-known marketing commentators and brand strategists in the world, will join the event live from Australia. His session is expected to focus on the issues many brands are wrestling with right now: how to build profit, strengthen trust and create long-term growth in increasingly fragmented media environments.
That focus makes his appearance especially relevant for anyone involved in a media campaign Ireland strategy, where the balance between short-term performance and lasting brand building remains a constant challenge. Ritson’s work is widely followed because he tends to cut through trend-driven noise and bring marketers back to fundamentals rooted in effectiveness.
Following his presentation, attendees will be able to put questions to him directly in a live audience Q&A, adding an interactive element that should appeal to senior marketers, agency planners and media buyers alike.
What to expect from Sounding Out 2026
Radiocentre Ireland’s Sounding Out 2026 is more than a keynote session. The event is positioned as a forum for discussion, research and practical learning across the broader communications industry. Running from 8.30am to 1pm, it is aimed at professionals working in:
- Marketing and brand management
- Advertising and creative strategy
- Media planning and buying
- Journalism and publishing
- Corporate communications and PR
For those involved in planning a media campaign Ireland initiative, the format is particularly attractive because it combines expert opinion with first-look research and cross-sector perspectives. Rather than focusing on a single channel or discipline, the programme reflects how modern campaigns are built across multiple touchpoints.
New research will be a key draw
One of the most notable parts of the event is the promise of brand-new research from Radiocentre Ireland. According to the organisers, attendees will be the first to see fresh evidence and insights that have not previously been presented.
That matters in a media campaign Ireland context because research-backed planning is becoming more valuable as brands demand clearer proof of effectiveness. Whether the findings relate to radio advertising, audio attention, consumer behaviour or media impact, the exclusive nature of the research adds real value for delegates.
Strong supporting speakers add depth
While Ritson is the headline act, the wider speaker lineup gives Sounding Out 2026 additional authority. Professor Rachel Kennedy, associate director at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science, will also appear on the programme. The institute is globally respected for the research behind How Brands Grow, one of the most influential bodies of work in modern marketing.
Her inclusion suggests the event will offer more than opinion; it will likely ground discussion in empirical evidence around brand growth, reach, memory structures and market penetration. For teams developing a media campaign Ireland plan, those principles remain highly relevant, especially when budgets are under pressure and every channel choice must be justified.
Also joining the lineup is Mark Little, the award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and founder of Storyful. His presence broadens the event’s lens beyond pure advertising, bringing in expertise around media, information and storytelling. In a landscape where trust and credibility are central to campaign success, that perspective could prove especially useful.
Hosted by a familiar Irish media voice
The event will be hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Sarah McInerney, known to audiences through Morning Ireland and Prime Time. Her role as host adds a strong journalistic anchor to the programme and underlines the event’s attempt to bridge marketing and media conversations.
Radiocentre Ireland has also said that more speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, which means this media campaign Ireland event may yet add further depth before October.
Why this matters for Ireland’s marketing and advertising sector
Industry events can sometimes feel overly promotional, but Sounding Out 2026 appears to be leaning into something more useful: actionable insight. The combination of a major international marketing thinker, proven academic expertise, an experienced journalist and new local research creates a mix that should resonate across agencies, brands and media owners.
For anyone working on a media campaign Ireland brief, several themes make this event timely:
- Brand building is back in focus as marketers look beyond short-term metrics.
- Trust has become a commercial issue, not just a reputational one.
- Evidence-led planning matters more in a fragmented media market.
- Audio and radio continue to make the case for effectiveness within broader media mixes.
The conference also offers networking value. Bringing together people from marketing, journalism and communications creates opportunities for sharper conversation about where media investment is heading and how brands should respond.
Extra incentive for early attendees
There is also a practical perk for those who move quickly. The first 100 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Byron Sharp’s How Brands Grow, a book that has become essential reading for many marketers and planners.
That giveaway reinforces the event’s strategic and evidence-based positioning. In many ways, it also complements the broader media campaign Ireland narrative around the conference: less hype, more proven thinking.
Event details at a glance
- Event: Sounding Out 2026
- Organiser: Radiocentre Ireland
- Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
- Time: 8.30am to 1pm
- Venue: Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin
- Headline speaker: Professor Mark Ritson
- Other confirmed speakers: Professor Rachel Kennedy, Mark Little
- Host: Sarah McInerney
For Irish marketers looking to sharpen strategy, question assumptions and hear from some of the most respected names in the business, this looks set to be a significant date.
In short, Sounding Out 2026 is shaping up as a standout media campaign Ireland event, combining international expertise, local insight and practical relevance. For professionals across campaigns, branding and communications, the clear takeaway is simple: if you want smarter thinking on growth, trust and media effectiveness, this is one October event worth watching closely.
