Dine and Debate: Will 2026 Be Better Than 2025?

It won't be better. But it might be different, and that's where the opportunity lies.

We wrapped up this year's Dine & Debate sessions in true Unmistakables fashion. For our final gathering of the year, we invited clients, friends, and Unmistakable guests to join us over breakfast at The Ivy Brasserie to look ahead and ask: Will 2026 be better than 2025?

The sentiment was overwhelmingly that this year had been something else - unpredictable to say the least, challenging, and occasionally a little mad. It was an opportunity to vent but also reflect on the highs, the lessons, and everything in between. A space for both optimism and realism, with a lot of laughter and perspective.

Following the proposition of the debate motion, it became clear that perspectives varied. There was a real mix of context and approaches in the room from international legacy businesses, international growing new businesses, to UK-focused businesses and charities. But what connected them was uncertainty, particularly following 2025.

Everyone was clear that there would be no 'new normal.' It feels like everything is in flux.

The Relevance Question

A common thread was the idea of relevance and connection between communities. As brands and as people, how can we still connect with each other and communicate in a way that feels relevant in a climate that's rapidly shifting? That question became pivotal to most conversations around the table and to how the next year could potentially be better than the last.

Tables discussed what was getting in the way of brands being relevant and what had partly made this year so negative: the disconnect between different communities. The cost of living crisis, economic downturn and struggle had driven people apart. People pointed out how mainstream media outlets pushed unsavoury narratives about migrants, LGBTQIA+ communities and others, exacerbated by political figures and culture wars rhetoric.

This is particularly worrying as demographics and consumer bases are rapidly shifting in the UK. Age was brought up as a key point, as older generations pass and change, consumer bases are shifting rapidly, and approaches need to be reconsidered in that context. Some leaders felt more prepared to take the plunge and bridge these gaps than others, but such a divisive climate was undoubtedly getting in the way, and continues to feel dubious.

As it was a room filled with leaders of different backgrounds, some talked about how they even fit the bill of groups that are stereotyped about their points of view and behaviours, such as old, bitter women and men alike, which makes them feel alienated even if they don't align with those perspectives.

What Could Make 2026 Different

In the room, the opportunity for 2026 to be great lay in the option to connect instead of remaining within assumptions; only then can we be authentically relevant to different people and groups. This point of avoiding alienation in political turmoil and an economically uncertain climate is key.

Drastic political shifts gave some people in the room hope and intrigue, as seen with the election of a leftist populist leader in New York, being heralded with worldwide praise and the uprising of Zack Polanski in London / the UK. These were highlighted as key cultural flashpoints that showed a shifting appetite. The challenge as business leaders now is staying ahead of it.

Intergenerational dialogue was a thread throughout the room, agreeing that there's been too much speaking "for" and "to" rather than with. Anger around men and the uprising of the red pill was felt markedly this year, but with shows like Adolescence pushing discussions to the forefront and asking for people to come together and address issues, participants felt like things could get better and impact on working and social life.

AI felt like a wildcard in discussions, feeling more dubious, surrounding its potential impact on the future as it pertained to shifting the makeup of the workforce. But then also in its effect on skills development and negotiating information critically, particularly for younger people. An interesting development noted by some was the growing interest in events off-screen and turning to the real world for entertainment and connection. One of the most notable examples of this was a renewed focus on getting young kids reading. Next year is the National Year of Reading, for example, and that offers a path toward getting people off screens.

The Final Word

So will 2026 be better than 2025? 

It will be different, not better.

This was one of the parting thoughts guests left us with at the Ivy, and maybe that's the lesson. Maybe the hope isn't in things improving on their own, but in how we choose to show up how we connect instead of assume, listen instead of speak for, and stay genuinely relevant instead of performatively present.

The past year taught us that much. What we do with it is up to us.