The Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands 2026 reveals how the UK’s strongest brands are driving growth by building Meaningful Difference, strengthening Future Power and creating deeper cultural relevance in an AI-shaped world.
The combined value of the UK’s Top 75 brands has reached a record US$321 billion, up 30% year-on-year, making it the highest total brand value ever recorded for the ranking. Based on analysis of brand equity and consumer perceptions among 177,000 UK consumers, the key findings include:
- HSBC retains the No.1 position, growing 89% to US$40.8 billion, and is the only UK brand to feature in the Global Top 100;
- Vodafone remains at No.2 with a brand value of US$23.6 billion, followed by Shell at No.3 with US$19.4 billion
- Revolut is this year’s fastest-growing brand, rising 92% to US$13.3 billion and climbing to No.4
- The ranking now reflects a broader range of categories, with ten brands entering for the first time, including Ariel (No.10), F1 (No.12) and Bupa (No.21)
- Financial Services and Telecom Providers combined account for 53% of the ranking’s total value, reflecting the service-led nature of the UK economy
- Meaning is outpacing Difference as a stronger growth driver, with high-Meaning UK brands achieving 140% brand value growth versus 43% for high-Difference brands
- Brands with strong Future Power grew four times faster than those with weak Future Power.
Discover the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands 2026 and how to strengthen relevance, deepen emotional connections and position your brand for sustainable growth.
Infographic
Explore the UK brand landscape in this infographic. Kantar BrandZ’s Top 5 Most Valuable UK Brands in 2026 are:
No.1 HSBC – US$40.8 billion
No.2 Vodafone – US$23.6 billion
No.3 Shell – US$19.4 billion
No.4 Revolut – US$13.3 billion
No.5 Barclays – US$12.9 billion
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Kantar BrandZ analysis suggests the greatest opportunity for many of the UK’s Top 75 brands is to Gain Momentum, converting short-term growth into sustained value creation. To achieve this, brands must reimagine their heritage for a changing world, strengthening their relevance with a new generation of consumers while standing out in an environment increasingly shaped by algorithms, digital discovery and evolving customer expectations. Innovation and bold marketing will be critical to unlocking the next phase of growth.
Methodology: how we measure brand value
Kantar BrandZ uses a consumer-centric approach combining Financial Value (corporate earnings linked to brand assets) and Brand Contribution (driven by Demand Power, Pricing Power and Future Power). This approach is powered by over 4.6 million interviews across 54 markets. Kantar’s Meaningful Different and Salient framework is endorsed by the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) and delivers actionable intelligence to power brand growth. Learn more
Explore the signals, decisions and strategies driving brand growth.
The UK brand landscape is back in growth mode. 2025's Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands have grown by 8%, a strong rebound after several flat years.
Highlights from this report, which includes the opinions of 168,910 UK consumers reveal:
- HSBC ($21.6bn; +14%) is the most valuable UK brand, taking the top spot after a spectacular year of growth
- BT (No.4; $10.6bn; +14%) enters the top five, rising two places
- Revolut (No.10; $6.9bn; +49%) reaches the Top 10 for the first time
- St James’s Place (No.32; $2.2bn) posted the biggest leap in value, up 60%
- Dettol makes its debut at No.34 with a brand value of $2 billion
- Rejoining the UK ranking are Halifax (No.60; $1.1bn) and MoneySuperMarket (No.75; 670m)
- The most successful brands are proving that disruption is not just for startups, and consistency is not just for heritage brands. To grow, every brand must learn to be both.
The top 75 most valuable UK brands are valued at an impressive $230 billion, despite a 5% decline from the previous year.
This latest ranking showcases the resilience and innovation of UK brands amongst a backdrop of geopolitical challenges and interest rate pressures.
Highlights from this study, which includes the opinions of more than 158,000 people, reveal:
• Vodafone retains its number-one position, followed closely by HSBC
• Tetley (No.43; $1.5bn) is the Fastest Riser with 65% growth in brand value, with Deliveroo (No.52; $1.1bn; +62%) and Marks and Spencer (No.23; $2.5bn; +38%) also seeing strong growth
• Five newcomers enter the ranking, the highest entries being automotive brands, Range Rover (No.15; $3.2bn) and Defender (No.47; $1.4bn)
• Travel Services have shown remarkable growth, boosted by the performance of Premier Inn (No.73; $785m) and new entry Travelodge (No.75; $723m)
• Business optimism and consumer confidence are returning to the UK as interest rates come off the boil presenting an opportunity for businesses to invest in building brands that will strengthen their position in the future.
Consumer sentiment, business confidence, and the state of the UK economy are all closely intertwined, so it will come as no surprise that the past year has proved a challenge for brands – whose fortunes depend on all of those factors.
Collectively, the UK’s top 75 most valuable brands have a total brand value of $242 billion. Highlights from this latest report, which is based on the opinions of more than 150,000 people reveal:
- Vodafone is the most valuable UK brand for the seventh consecutive year, with a brand value of $26.1bn
- HSBC ($18.9bn) is the second most valuable brand, followed by Shell ($18.1bn)
- Johnnie Walker has entered the top five for the first time, growing its value to $10.9bn
- Dove ($6.3bn) and Cadbury ($6.0bn) have made it into the Top 10
- Newcomers to the UK ranking include Monzo Bank (No.72; $680m) and Premier Inn (No.74; $649m)
The effects of the intensifying cost-of-living crisis are already showing in the latest UK brand ranking results, with even some strong and successful brands facing pressure on profits. The bounce back that UK brands experienced following the impact of Covid-19 is now stuttering, with the total value of the UK’s Top 75 most valuable brands reaching $$283bn in 2022, a modest increase of 1% versus last year.
Vodafone is the UK’s most valuable brand, with a brand value of $32.6bn (+6%) and has achieved the top spot since 2017. As one of the world’s biggest telecom providers, it is the only UK brand to appear in Kantar BrandZ’s annual global brand ranking.
The Top 10 UK brands come from a range of six categories: Telecom Providers, Banks, Energy, Food and Beverages, Retail, and Alcohol. HSBC is at number two in the ranking ($17.7bn; +14%) and Shell is at number 3 ($15.4bn; +11%).
Three brands have accelerated their growth over the past 12 months, including: Revolut (No.15; $4.7bn; +479%), Wise (No.44; $1.7bn; +48%) and Costa Coffee (No.50; $1.4bn; +33%).
The brands that make their Top 75 debut in 2022 provide powerful lessons in how to thrive in challenging times. Newcomers to the ranking this year include: financial investments brands, St James’s Place (No.18; $4.1bn) and Hargreaves Landsdown (No.31; $2.5bn), premium drinks brand, Fever-Tree (No.58; $1.1bn) and pet retail store, Pets At Home (No.70; $876mn).
To weather the challenges ahead, brands need to identify how they can stand out from competitors and be perceived as different in consumers’ minds. Read more in the full report on how difference does not just underpin demand, it is a brand’s secret weapon in strengthening pricing margins.
Download the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands 2022 report
Download the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands 2022 infographic
The UK’s top 75 brands have staged a magnificent fightback, despite the immense challenges of the past year and a half. Kantar BrandZ’s Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands 2021 have grown 22% in value since 2020, with an overall brand value totalling $278.8 billion. This is a higher combined value than the leading brands had even before anyone had heard of COVID-19.
The fastest risers and new entrants in this year’s ranking reflect lifestyle habits adopted during the pandemic. The four brands which grew the quickest in the past 12 months were all delivery specialists: Royal Mail (no.52, $1.4bn, +83%), Ocado (no.13, $5.7bn, +72%), ASOS (no.27, $2.8bn, +65%) and Deliveroo (no.25, $3.0bn, +58%). Following its merger in 2020, Just Eat Takeaway.com features at number 11 in this year’s ranking, with a brand value of $6.5 billion. Media and entertainment providers fared well too, with the Premier League gaining its inaugural inclusion in the top 75 – valued at $5.4 billion.
While the top UK brands have far outpaced the rate of economic growth predicted for the UK in 2021 (8%), they still face a monumental challenge. Even with this level of growth, the UK’s leading brands are falling behind the most valuable brands in the world.
Find out what UK brands need to do to compete on the global stage, and how the most valuable, dynamic and boldest UK brands are achieving Meaningful Difference despite all the challenges they face.
Download the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands 2021 report
Download the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable UK Brands 2021 infographic
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands ranking?
The Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands ranking identifies and values the UK's most valuable brands by combining financial performance with consumer perception data. It measures the value each brand contributes to its parent company, reflecting its current strength, contribution to business performance and potential for future growth. The ranking is based on Kantar BrandZ consumer and brand equity data, including insights from 177,000 UK consumer interviews.
Which brand is the most valuable brand in the UK in 2026?
HSBC is the UK's most valuable brand in 2026, retaining the No.1 position in the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 ranking. Its brand value increased 89% year-on-year to US$40.8 billion, making it the only UK brand to feature in this year's Global Top 100 ranking.
What are the fastest-growing brands in the UK in 2026?
Revolut is the UK's fastest-growing brand in 2026, with its brand value rising 92% to US$13.3 billion. HSBC also delivered exceptional growth (+89%), while Barclays (+50%) and other Financial Services brands posted strong gains. Financial Services brands account for all the top ten fastest-growing brands in the BrandZ UK ranking.
What makes a brand valuable according to Kantar BrandZ?
Kantar BrandZ calculates brand value by combining financial value with brand equity data from consumers. The methodology isolates the contribution a brand makes to business performance, including its ability to drive consumer choice, justify premium pricing and create future growth potential. Kantar's Meaningful, Different and Salient (MDS) framework underpins this approach.
What is Meaningful Difference and why is it important?
Meaningful Difference measures how well a brand meets consumer needs while standing out from competitors. Kantar BrandZ analysis shows that brands perceived as Meaningful, Different and Salient are more likely to grow and convert strong equity into commercial value. The UK ranking highlights that improving Meaning can have an even greater impact on growth than focusing on Difference alone.
Which new brands entered the BrandZ UK Top 75 in 2026?
Ten brands entered the UK ranking for the first time, including:
- Ariel
- F1
- Bupa
- Fairy
- Janus Henderson
- Panadol
- Comfort
- Vanish
- Surf
- Tanqueray
These entrants demonstrate the increasing diversity of categories represented across the UK's most valuable brands.
What role does AI play in the future of UK brands?
AI is reshaping how brands connect with consumers, create value and drive growth. Kantar's BrandZ UK report finds that while many UK brands are performing strongly today, they must strengthen their Future Power to remain competitive in an AI-shaped world. As consumers increasingly use AI-powered tools and assistants to research and evaluate brands, building strong Meaningful Difference and cultural relevance becomes even more important.
What can marketers learn from the UK's most valuable brands?
The strongest UK brands:
- Invest in building Meaningful Difference to drive long-term growth
- Strengthen Future Power alongside short-term performance
- Use culture, partnerships and experiences to remain relevant
- Focus on emotional connections as well as functional benefits
- Innovate while maintaining clear and consistent brand positioning
- Expand their relevance by addressing new consumer needs and occasions
Brands such as HSBC, Revolut, F1 and Burberry are examples of brands successfully building stronger consumer connections and positioning themselves for future growth.
How much are the UK's most valuable brands worth in 2026?
The combined value of the UK's Top 75 brands reached a record US$321 billion in 2026, up 30% year-on-year. This is the highest total brand value ever recorded for the UK ranking and reflects the resilience and growth potential of the UK's leading brands.
What is the biggest takeaway from the BrandZ UK ranking this year?
Today's success does not guarantee tomorrow's growth. While the UK's most valuable brands have achieved record value, the BrandZ report shows that brands with strong Future Power grow significantly faster than those without it. Building Meaningful Difference, investing in Future Power and using culture to create relevance will be critical for sustaining growth in the years ahead.