The Challenger Playbook Is Now Table Stakes. Rival’s 2026 Index Reveals What Comes Next.
From 2,039 brands screened to 50 selected, this year’s Rival 50 finds that earned attention, creators, and bold content – the tactics that once set challengers apart – are now standard practice. The brands pulling ahead are doing something harder. Every challenger brand has read the same playbook by now: earn attention instead of buying […]