The Pantone Color Institute has announced the color of the year: Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a natural white. It feels like a very delicate way of saying that humanity is tired. Tired of intrusive content, “hustle culture,” and endless information noise. Cloud Dancer is calm and clean, like a “turn off the excess” button. We feel it too, so it’s only natural to ask ourselves: what will marketing look like in 2026 under these conditions? Let’s try to figure it out together.

If you happened to miss a real gem that’s been circulating online — don’t worry, we’ve got you. The ACIG team collected trends, predictions, and analytics from leading companies that have already done the heavy lifting and published their reports. There’s everything in there: AI, YouTube, and insights across almost every direction. You could easily get lost for a few hours. Huge thanks to those legends for their work — and if diving into all of it feels like too much, Moon partners will give you a short and clear summary right now.

AI becomes infrastructure, not a feature

If you look at the key messages from players like EDUMEDYA, Fratzke, and Onclusive, they’re all saying roughly the same thing: marketing and communications in 2026 are no longer about “launching a campaign,” but about proven business impact in a world of artificial distrust.
The biggest shift is that AI has become infrastructure, not a standalone tool. It automates targeting, creative, optimization, analytics, and reporting. But almost every prediction highlights the same paradox: AI speeds everything up, yet real value is still created by human decisions, strategy, and accountability. Most teams use AI only for “quick wins” — texts, images, reports — and barely apply it at a strategic level.
And this is the key point: AI does not replace affiliate managers or media buyers. Those who simply generate content with AI quickly dissolve into a sea of generic “AI noise.” The winners are the ones with a clear strategy — what traffic, which user, what value we deliver — who use AI to scale decisions, not replace them, and who keep humans responsible for risks like bans, brand safety, and legal issues.

Another major insight is that search and visibility are changing radically. Classic SEO isn’t “dying” because Google disappears, but because people no longer search — they ask AI questions or discover content on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. This is a shift from SEO to AEO / GEO: content needs to be good enough for AI systems to cite it, not just for search engines to index it. As a result, clicks are dropping, zero-click is growing, and the real fight is no longer for traffic, but for authority.

A new era of influence, trust, authenticity, and privacy

For affiliate marketing in 2026, content is no longer just “warming up” the audience — it’s a direct sales tool. Vertical video, live demos, streams, and short-form reviews with a clear CTA outperform classic approaches. Influencer-affiliate is becoming the norm: a real person, a face, personal experience, and a link. It’s no longer about who has more websites, but who has more trust in their personal brand, or access to creators people genuinely believe in. Influencers are no longer just “media faces” — they’re affiliate partners. That’s the new reality.

Data and privacy deserve special attention. Cookies are disappearing, tracking is shrinking, regulations are tightening. The only stable currency left is first-party data and voluntary user consent. For affiliate marketing, this means one simple thing: anonymous one-off traffic is dead.
Analysts at Reuters Institute note that most active users are moving from public content into private spaces: closed channels, micro-communities, and personal chats. That’s why email lists, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord communities, as well as brand-owned communities, will truly work. Top affiliates in 2026 are those who build their own audience, can re-monetize users, and are not 100% dependent on algorithms.

Trust and authenticity are moving to the forefront. In a world of AI slop, deepfakes, and content overload, it’s not the fastest who win, but the most real. That’s where ideas like Authentic AI and Valuable Friction come in: sometimes it’s useful not to be perfectly automated. A live email, an expert face, a human voice build loyalty where AI makes everything feel the same.

UNESCO points out that the world has entered a crisis of attention and trust as a result of global exhaustion and information overload. Over the last 10 years, the average attention span has nearly halved. People remember less, burn out emotionally faster, and lose inner stability more often. That’s why demand is growing for slower content, private communities, and conscious digital hygiene.

If we reduce everything to one formula for affiliate marketing in 2026, it looks like this:

AI + owned audience + human focus = stable income and scale.

Affiliate marketing in 2026 is no longer “launch traffic and wait for results.” It’s an ecosystem where you understand your audience’s needs, know why they trust you, and why they come back. AI helps scale processes, but it doesn’t create meaning. Content attracts attention, but it doesn’t guarantee loyalty. Algorithms give reach, but they don’t build relationships. All of this works only when there’s a human core — strategy, responsibility, and honest contact with the audience.
In a world where everyone uses the same tools, competitive advantage is no longer speed, but authenticity. Not the number of sites, but the quality of the community. Not aggressive scaling, but repeat value for the user. And honestly, there’s something very Cloud Dancer about all of this — less noise, more meaning. Maybe marketing is tired too. And that’s not a weakness, but a chance to finally do better, not louder.

The post Moon partners share insights on marketing trends in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

BGaming rolls back the years with the release of its new publishing title Jewel Boom Super Drop. The game belongs to the #Classic category of BGaming’s portfolio, combining retro aesthetics with modern mechanics to serve up an exciting slot experience. The game uses a simple 1×3 EZ-Reel setup inspired by one-armed bandit slot machines. It utilises a pay-on-line payout mechanic, with players securing wins when they land Coin symbols anywhere on the row.

ICONIC21 has launched Vikings Wild Feast, an excellent option for your upcoming lobby refresh. Vikings Wild Feast features a 6×5 progression system that maintains player engagement with four increasing bonus levels, assisting operators in enhancing dwell time and boosting revenues.

Playson starts the new year with its delightful leprechaun character in x1000 Golden Penny 2, enhancing the win potential of its Irish folklore-themed series by introducing new Mystery Multipliers.

Pragmatic Play has launched Sugar Rush Super Scatter, the latest installment in its multi-award-winning candy-themed slots series. This exciting new release offers players the chance to win up to 50,000x their stake, adding even more sweetness to the beloved franchise.

Amusnet has released 10 Alebrijes Eternal – a vibrant game inspired by the legendary Mexican spirit creatures that ignite the imagination. Bursting with life and energy, this visually striking game transforms every moment into a celebration of art, symbolism and chance, where dazzling creatures roam and fortune dances across the reels.

The post Week 3/2026 slot games releases appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Midnite, the UK Betting and Casino Partner for the 2026 Masters, is unveiling the Midnite Shuttle, a one-day only shuttle service to help snooker fans get from Alexandra Palace Train Station to Alexandra Palace on Sunday, January 18.

The shuttle, which will be operational between 11am to 1pm in the lead up to the afternoon session, will be easily visible to fans looking to take the weight off their feet, thanks to its Midnite green colour, which is quickly becoming synonymous with the sport of snooker. The activation also gives fans the unique chance to meet a snooker legend, as former World Champion, Ken Doherty, will be behind the wheel.

The Masters is one of snooker’s biggest calendar events and since its relocation to Alexandra Palace in 2012, dedicated fans have been annually trekking from the station to the venue.

Fans will be able to follow the signage at the bottom of the Ally Pally hill and use the QR to download the Midnite app if they haven’t already, to secure their seat on the shuttle.

After the continued success of Midnite’s partnership with the World Snooker Championship, Midnite is committed to delivering customers and fans the best event day experiences possible.

This includes the Midnite Maximum promotion, which has run throughout the tournament, offering 16 lucky fans each session the opportunity to win a £1,000 prize if there is a 147 maximum break. Additionally, this initiative has seen the introduction of the Midnite Lounge, a dedicated lounge space available to customers at Alexandra Palace as part of the brand’s wider visibility across the event.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Long-time snooker fans know just how arduous that trek up Ally Pally’s hill can be, and for the last week they’ve been dutifully making that journey. So what better way to start the final day of the tournament than giving customers the opportunity to skip the hill and take a shuttle right to the entrance of Ally Pally?

“We’ve been more focused than ever on giving customers a truly special experience at this year’s Masters tournament and this initiative gives snooker fans a chance to begin their day in comfort, ahead of what’s sure to be an exciting finals run.

“Alongside our Midnite Maximum promotion, which has given 16 lucky fans the opportunity to win £1,000 each session, we also launched the Midnite Lounge where customers can sign up for the promotion via QR code or just relax and enjoy the space between sessions.

“Midnite customers will be able to get their free shuttle service at the bottom of Ally Pally’s iconic hill and throughout the day they’ll be joined by snooker legend Ken Doherty, who will step behind the wheel.”

Please note that a photographer will be present taking photos of fans, with those pictures being uploaded on the social channels of Midnite and the World Snooker Tour. By attending, you consent to being photographed.

Event details

• Address: Alexandra Palace Station, Station Road, Alexandra Park, Greater London, N22 7ST

• Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026

• Time: Operational between 11am to 1pm

The post SKIP THE QUEUE WITH THE MIDNITE SHUTTLE: MIDNITE TEAMS UP WITH SNOOKER LEGEND TO OFFER FANS A FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM ALLY PALLY STATION appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.