Corona Global Retains Title as Most Valuable Beer Brand for Third Straight Year in Kantar BrandZ Rankings
Corona has once again been named the world’s most valuable beer brand, marking its third consecutive year at the top of Kantar’s prestigious BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands report for 2026. The recognition reinforces Corona’s position as one of the most influential and successful consumer brands worldwide, while also highlighting the continued dominance of AB InBev in the global beer industry.
According to the latest BrandZ rankings, eight of the ten most valuable beer brands globally are part of AB InBev’s extensive portfolio, underscoring the brewer’s unmatched scale, brand-building expertise, and sustained leadership in the international beverage market.
Corona’s Remarkable Growth Continues
Corona’s latest recognition comes on the heels of another year of strong commercial performance. In 2025, the iconic Mexican beer brand led AB InBev’s portfolio growth, delivering an 8.3% increase in revenue outside its home market. The brand also recorded double-digit volume growth in 30 international markets, signaling robust global consumer demand.
A major contributor to this success was Corona Cero, the company’s alcohol-free offering, which posted strong double-digit volume growth as consumers increasingly embraced premium non-alcoholic beverages. The success of Corona Cero reflects a broader shift in global drinking habits, where consumers are seeking moderation without sacrificing brand experience or product quality.
Adding further momentum, Corona celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025—a milestone that AB InBev leveraged through a series of high-profile global marketing initiatives under its “Corona 100” campaign. The year-long celebration reinforced the brand’s heritage while modernizing its connection with younger consumers.
One of the campaign’s most notable highlights was a multi-year sponsorship of a major concert event at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world’s most iconic beachfront destinations. The sponsorship aligned closely with Corona’s longstanding beach lifestyle identity and strengthened its emotional connection with consumers worldwide.
Strong Start to 2026
Corona’s growth story has continued into 2026. In the first quarter, AB InBev reported all-time high revenues and solid global volume gains, with Corona emerging as one of the company’s strongest-performing brands.
Outside its home market, Corona posted an impressive 16% growth in Q1 2026. Much of this momentum was fueled by its groundbreaking role as the first-ever global beer sponsor of Winter Olympic Games, a milestone partnership that significantly expanded the brand’s international visibility.
The sponsorship represented a major strategic move for AB InBev, allowing Corona to connect with millions of viewers worldwide while reinforcing its premium positioning across multiple markets.
AB InBev Dominates the Global Beer Rankings
While Corona secured the top position, it was not the only AB InBev brand recognized in the rankings.
Budweiser claimed the number two spot, maintaining its long-standing status as one of the world’s most recognizable beer labels.
Additional AB InBev brands featured in the top ten include:
- Modelo
- Michelob ULTRA
- Brahma
- Bud Light
- Skol
- Stella Artois
This extensive representation means AB InBev controls 80% of the top ten beer brands globally—a remarkable achievement that few consumer goods companies can match across any category.
Leadership Commentary
Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer at AB InBev, said the repeated recognition reflects the company’s disciplined and long-term approach to brand building.
He emphasized that maintaining the number one position for three consecutive years demonstrates the effectiveness of AB InBev’s strategy of investing consistently in its flagship brands while adapting to changing consumer preferences.
Marcondes also noted that having eight brands in the top ten is a testament to the creativity, strategic alignment, and execution capabilities of AB InBev’s global teams and agency partners.
Why Brand Value Matters
Kantar’s BrandZ report is one of the world’s most respected measures of brand strength and value. Unlike rankings based solely on revenue or market capitalization, BrandZ combines financial performance with extensive consumer perception research to evaluate how strongly a brand resonates with customers.
The methodology examines more than 22,000 brands across 54 markets worldwide, analyzing key indicators such as trust, relevance, differentiation, and emotional connection.
Now in its 21st edition, the report continues to emphasize a critical lesson for global marketers: meaningful difference drives long-term value.
According to Paul Zwillenberg, Corona’s sustained leadership demonstrates what happens when a brand is built patiently and strategically over time.
He noted that brand value comes not simply from awareness, but from consistently delivering a unique identity that consumers recognize and appreciate—even as technology changes how people interact with brands.
A Model for Modern Brand Building
Corona’s success offers a blueprint for modern consumer brand management.
The brand has balanced heritage and innovation effectively—preserving its iconic beach-focused identity while expanding into new categories such as non-alcoholic beverages, embracing digital marketing, and investing in globally visible partnerships.
Its messaging remains simple and emotionally powerful: relaxation, nature, sunshine, and connection. That clarity has allowed Corona to remain relevant across generations and geographies.
At the same time, AB InBev has demonstrated how disciplined portfolio management can maximize value across multiple brands without diluting individual identities.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
