The Gerety Awards brought its Gerety LIVE 2026 conversation series to Los Angeles on May 5 for an engaging evening titled Why 2026 Will Be a Year Like No Other, exploring the future of creativity, AI, craft, and leadership in a rapidly evolving industry.
Hosted by Valerie Carlson and the team at Critical Mass, the event gathered creatives, strategists, agency leaders, brand voices, and members of Gerety’s 2026 Los Angeles jury for an exchange around the evolving relationship between technology, culture, and the human experience.
In a refreshing departure from the traditional panel format, the evening was designed as an open-mic-style mixer, encouraging audience participation and spontaneous conversation throughout the night. Discussions moved fluidly between topics including the impact of AI on creative work, the future of craft, leadership in times of rapid change, and the importance of maintaining human perspective in an increasingly automated industry.
The event reflected the Gerety Awards’ ongoing commitment to championing diverse voices and creating meaningful spaces for industry dialogue beyond the awards themselves.
Supported by Dedalus VII, SheSays, and Reel 360, the gathering marked the second Gerety Awards event in Los Angeles, with further Gerety LIVE conversations planned globally throughout the year.
“Gerety LIVE is about creating conversations the industry genuinely wants to have,” said Joe Brooks. “The format in Los Angeles allowed people to engage more openly, challenge ideas, and discuss what creativity and leadership will look like in the years ahead. It felt honest, energetic, and very much in the spirit of the Gerety community.”
The Gerety Awards brings together leading creative voices from around the world through its all-female jury model, with executive jury sessions taking place across 15 global locations in 2026.
The jury sessions will be starting in June, meet the jury for Gerety 2026: https://www.geretyawards.com/jury
Watch the Jury Insights here
