Special Reports provide in-depth FT coverage of countries around the world, as well as industries from tech to luxury and themes ranging from workplace health to entrepreneurship.

The Future of Marketing

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report in 27 April 2026

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Is the age of the Mad Men over?

This year could see the biggest ever upheaval in the marketing industry’s history, with questions over the future of some of the sector’s biggest companies. The full fallout of the IPG and Omnicom merger is still to come, while WPP is embarking on a root and branch turnaround. Are the days of big marketing groups over as ad spend shifts in-house and towards tech companies? And is an industry long powered by people - with their unique blend of logic, imagination, and facility with technology - now under threat?

How can brands navigate social media in 2026?

Social media sites are increasingly risky places for many brands to advertise given the relaxing of content moderation and potential for companies to be placed next to extreme or harmful content. But they are also where many customers now consume their news and entertainment, making them essential parts of a brand’s inventory. 

The role of the CMO: Math vs Magic

The role of the CMO is changing, becoming something between a technology leader to a strategy director. Can one person manage both the technical "maths" side - data stacks, AI integration - and the "magic" side - brand reputation and storytelling? 

The return of the 30 second ad spot 

The large global streamers once made a virtue of the fact that a subscription meant viewers could avoid ads, but are increasingly pushing audiences to mid-tier packages where there are frequent ad breaks. With Amazon and Netflix pioneering new ways of putting ads on their platforms, are we seeing the resurgence of the long-form TV ad? 

The unstoppable rise of influencer marketing

Influencers now make up an increasingly large portion of marketing spend, able to reach an audience seeking human interaction and away from the traditional marketing models. But there are also risks, not least what happens when an influencer says or does something wrong, while audiences are quickly getting fatigued by mainstream social media stars or inauthentic brand tie-ups.

Will AI destroy traditional advertising models?

Advertising and media could be heavily affected by AI. How can marketers optimise their brands’ digital footprint for the benefit of LLMs. How are the large AI firms approaching advertising, in terms of rolling out ads on chatbots and introducing paid search options?

The death of search

For decades the way people have found ‘stuff’ - be it brands, best deals on utilities or flights, or must have clothes - through search engines. TikTok and influencers have already dented this behaviour, but AI agents are increasingly making decisions on shoppers’ behalf. How do brands navigate this new world?

Sport and entertainment

Many marketers want to align themselves with sports, which can deliver a mix of attention, emotion, scale, and credibility that’s hard to achieve elsewhere. How do brands find partners with the right values? 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Brendan Spain +1 917 794 8524, brendan.spain@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Investing in 

Rio Grande do Sul

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 13 May 2026

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Introduction

Rio Grande do Sul occupies a special place in Brazilian history. Famous for its gaúcho cowboy traditions, the country’s southernmost state once fought for independence and has influenced national politics. Its economy is among the most developed in Brazil. However, today it faces considerable challenges: from a population that is forecast to start shrinking, to dealing with the front-line impacts of climate change.

Reconstruction

Floods devastated Rio Grande do Sul in 2024, inflicting the worst natural disaster in its history. Linked by scientists to global warming, the deluge was the most intense in a series of extreme weather events to hit the region. How is the recovery progressing and what infrastructure modifications are required to climate-proof the state? 

Technology

Rio Grande do Sul’s state capital Porto Alegre is seeking to position itself as an emerging tech and innovation hub. The city hosts South Summit Brazil, one of the largest start-up and venture capital conferences in Latin America. 

Agriculture

Farming is the backbone of the Rio Grande do Sul economy, with the wider agribusiness chain accounting for 40 per cent of GDP. The state remains the country’s biggest rice producer and an important soybean grower. 

Wine 

Rio Grande do Sul is Brazil’s only major wine-producing region. While its output and reputation are eclipsed by Argentina and Chile, producers here are shifting towards premium and sparkling varieties. At the same time, the Serra Gaúcha - a region of scenic valleys and mountains - is attracting more tourists with vineyard tours and tastings.  

Industry

Rio Grande do Sul is among Brazil’s most industrialised states, with a strong heritage of metallurgy and machinery production. Its factories produce trucks, buses, agricultural equipment and handguns. 

Demographics 

Rio Grande do Sul is likely to be one of the first Brazilian states where the population begins to shrink. What does this mean for public services and the economy - and how are the authorities preparing for it? 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

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Alessandre Siano +55 (11) 992 912 814, alessandre.siano@ft.com

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or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

FT Business Education:  

Executive Education

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on June 02, 2025.

We are likely to include the following articles. (Please note that this list is provisional.)

The 2026 FT Executive Education rankings. 

Assessing the top providers of both open-enrolment and custom programmes around the world.

Analysis. 

The FT’s global education editor looks at how business schools performed in the twin open and custom rankings, plus broader trends in business education.   

Geopolitics. 

As trade wars, sanctions and regulatory splits unsettle global business, executive education is responding, adding courses on geopolitical risk, industrial policy and AI rules, or weaving political analysis into existing programmes. The focus is often practical: scenario planning, crisis response and supply-chain resilience. Is this a long-term shift, or just a response to a turbulent moment in world politics?

Value. 

With budgets tighter, executives are being asked to more fully justify spending on programmes before they enrol. Many are negotiating employer co-funding, linking study to promotion prospects, or spreading costs through instalments and discounts. Has executive education entered an era where its value must be priced upfront? 

Intelligent AI teaching. 

Executive education programmes are moving beyond AI hype to focus on how executives interpret trust and govern AI in real business decisions. How is teaching of the subject evolving?

The challengers. 

Looking at how the market is developing for executive education programmes offered by alternative providers, their proposition to students and the challenge to business schools.   

Voices of experience. 

Students and alumni from around the world answer questions on what they learnt and share their advice for those who follow in their footsteps. 

Methodology:   How the 2026 ranking was compiled 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

 Gemma Taylor-Kerr +44 (0)7841 368 753, gemma.taylor@ft.com

Robyn Carr +44 (0)7860 355 500, robyn.carr@ft.com

Marine Baranger +33 777 597 636, marine.baranger@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised that Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on June 9 2026

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Introduction

In its fifth year, the FT list of the fastest-growing companies in Africa, compiled in conjunction with Statista, provides a snapshot of some of the most dynamic and innovative businesses on the continent. The introduction will look at how the list has evolved over the years and the corporate landscape, both for fast-growing startups as well as more established businesses. 

Fintechs

Fintech companies appear prominently in this year’s list. This piece looks at the various models being offered and makes some predictions about a fast-evolving sector.

Fintech profile

An in-depth look at one of the fintech companies that is widening access to financial services in Africa.  

Food sector profile 

How one food company is adapting to difficult economic conditions and weathering economic shocks. 

Manufacturing

After fintech and software, the third-biggest category in the fastest-growing list is manufacturing proving that - despite several hurdles - there is money to be made in making things.

Solar energy profile

How one solar energy company has expanded across Africa.

Airline profile

One well known airline has overcome a series of challenges. 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Aman Dogra +44 (0)20 7808790 / +49 (0) 69 1568 5128, aman.dogra@ft.com

Luke McGreevy: +971 (5) 087 63027, luke.mcgreevy@ft.com

Phillip Church: +44 (0)7702 760 773, philip.church@consultants.ft.com 

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised that Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Scoreboard: 

The Business of Football

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 11 June 2026

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional)

The biggest world cup ever (and the business case behind it)

A look at why 2026 could be the most commercially powerful World Cup yet: expanded format, more inventory, and more host-city spend. The story tests the hype with the numbers that matter, attendance, viewership, streaming reach, hospitality and ticketing yield.

How do you stage a mega-event across a continent?

A logistical deep-dive into running a World Cup across the US, Canada and Mexico: travel distances, base-camp planning, border frictions, team and fan movement, scheduling, security and stadium operations. 

The luxury fan: The cost to follow your country across America

This World Cup turns supporters into logistics managers and, increasingly, high-income consumers. We build a forensic “true cost” of attending (flights, hotels, tickets, internal travel, time off work), then report how fans from poorer countries hack the system: couch-surfing networks, community fundraising, debt.

The Cinderella economies

Expanded slots are rewriting football’s map, pulling new markets into the World Cup economy. We profile one “newcomer” nation as a business story: how diaspora scouting, dual-national pipelines and club pathways turn qualification into an economic event with prize money, sponsors and political capital at home.

Brazil: Export superpower, fading samba brand?

Brazil remains football’s most powerful talent factory, but its identity is now filtered through European clubs, agents and the transfer market. We investigate whether relentless exporting strengthens the Seleção as a global brand or dilutes the domestic ecosystem that once produced its distinctive style.

Turning the US into a football-loving nation

Can 2026 turn the World Cup into a lasting US football habit, or will it be a 39-day spike? And will Football ever usurp the position of US sports such as NFL, NBA and MLB?

The “part-time’’ World Cup star

A profile of a player from a debut or lesser-known World Cup nation (eg Cabo Verde, Curaçao or Uzbekistan) showing football’s hidden economic tiers: what it actually pays, where they play, and how precarious life can be outside the elite. The question is whether 2026 becomes a career-making shop window, translating into a better contract, sponsorship and long-term security.

Spain: Contenders in 2026, hosts in 2030

European champions Spain head into 2026 as one of the favourites, with a settled coach and a system that’s translating into results. The piece explores how that on-field push intersects with the off-field reality that Spain is already gearing up to co-host in 2030, including stadium and infrastructure choices, and the commercial strategy of selling “Spain” as both team and tournament platform.

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Holly Hileman +33 6 89 50 07 13, holly.hileman@ft.com

Yoon Sun Oh +33 (0) 6 6683 3154, yoonsun.oh@ft.com

Nikola Peros +33 (6) 2805 8404, nikola.peros@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

FT Business Education:

Financial Training

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on 15 June 2026

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note this list is provisional):

Ranking of Masters in Finance courses

The FT’s 2026 ranking of Masters in Finance courses around the world, and analysis of the trends behind it.

First person - a student’s view on Masters in Finance

The Masters in Finance is a popular way to prepare for a career in financial services. Here, a student explains why they chose the course, what they are getting out of it, and what potential students should think about before applying. 

Private markets

The growth of private market investments has been one of the dominant trends in the financial sector in recent years. How are universities adapting their course content to prepare students to work in this fast-changing part of the market?

AI and financial training

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the financial services industry, and anyone hoping to build a career in it will need to be comfortable working with the technology. We look at the most crucial skills to learn, and the different teaching approaches being used in university finance courses. 

Full time or part time?

Combining a part time Masters in Finance with a job can help to ease the financial burden, and provide valuable workplace experience at the same. But for some people, nothing beats the immersion of a full time course.  

Op-ed – how to make the most of your course

A recruiting manager from a leading financial institution explains how Masters in Finance graduates can make the best use of their course and qualification to secure a career in financial services. 

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

 Gemma Taylor-Kerr +44 (0)7841 368 753, gemma.taylor@ft.com

Robyn Carr +44 (0)7860 355 500, robyn.carr@ft.com

Marine Baranger +33 777 597 636, marine.baranger@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised that Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Investing in Wine

The Financial Times proposes to publish this FT Report on 17 September 2026

We plan to include the following features (please note that this list is provisional):

Argentina 

Argentina’s wine industry has based its growth and success on the popularity of Malbec. But challenges are growing, as global drinking habits change and the peso strengthens. How is the wine industry - including big names such as Catena and Zuccardi - responding to these challenges? And how successful are attempts to diversify beyond Malbec and promote the industry through initiatives such as Cyber Wine Week?

Bordeaux / Burgundy 

A two year price crash during 2024-25 has offered opportunities to keen collectors in these two famous regions. Which wines offer good value? 

A Wine Trader’s View of Today’s Market 

Interview with a trader such as Gary Boom, the founder/CEO of Bordeaux Index, about how fine wine trading has changed in recent years and how younger investors view the market.

English Vineyards  

After a tough 2024 vintage and rising costs for vineyard owners, some winemakers put up For Sale signs. What has happened since? Will foreign winemakers buy more land as aging owners seek to cash out?

Italian wines

Italian wines get plenty of attention from wine lovers, but relatively few attract collectors. Which ones are worth considering for investors new to the country?

Storage

UK storage costs have risen just when the government has increased customs and VAT on wine. This has made holding lower value wines in external storage expensive. Should you clear out some of your lower priced wines?

Auctions

A review of the auction market for wine. Older collectors have increasingly put their large fine wine holdings up for sale.  

Wine Investment Schemes

Many investment schemes promise big or even steady returns based on past performance. But some of these businesses could be under financial pressure after years of declining fine wine prices and investor withdrawals. 

How to Sell

Buying is easy, but what about selling your fine wine? While collectors get plenty of help building their wine cellars, selling can require careful thought and planning. There are different routes to disposing of a selection of wines or an entire collection, including auctions, private sales or simply selling via a merchant. Associated costs may have to be balanced against efficiency and ease of exit.  

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Jonathan Florez  M +1 (917) 551 5041, jonathan.florez@ft.com

Gonzalo Rio +36 30 017 1562, gonzalo.martin.rio@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.

Oceans

The Financial Times proposes to publish this Special Report on September 22, 2026

We plan to include the following pieces of content (please note:this list is provisional)

From global shipping lanes to the hidden ecology of the deep sea, the health of the ocean is increasingly linked with trade, security, climate and financial stability. This FT report, in print and online, will examine the political, economic and technological forces shaping the future of the world’s oceans.

Governance

Despite growing threats, a very small percentage of life at sea is currently protected. The High Seas treaty, which entered into force in January 2026 and has now been ratified by more than 80 countries, is designed to change that. But can it withstand geopolitical tensions and pressure from the fishing and deep-sea mining industries?

Shipping

The recent Iran war and the disruption to the Strait of Hormuz have been another reminder of the vulnerability of main shipping routes and global supply chains. What are the longer-term implications for the shipping industry, and can repeated shocks accelerate the search for alternative routes, greater resilience and new maritime strategies? 

Interview / Opinion: Expert commentary on ocean science or marine protection.

Financial risk

Recent research has highlighted the material financial risks associated with declining ocean health across sectors including energy, tourism, food systems, shipping and utilities. Are those risks being properly reflected in financial regulation, supervision, disclosure frameworks and monetary policy? Are policymakers still underestimating the economic consequences of ocean degradation?

Graphics

A visual look at the latest data on ocean warming, acidification and sea-level change — and what those trends mean for ecosystems, industry and coastal economies.

Mapping

The Seabed 2030 project aims to map the entire ocean floor by 2030, bringing together bathymetric data to build the clearest picture yet of the seabed. How can this effort — alongside satellite imagery, AI and other ocean-data initiatives — deepen our understanding of the seas, reveal new geological and ecological features, and support marine protection, including efforts to track unregulated fishing?

Technology

How low-Earth-orbit satellites are transforming connectivity at sea, improving maritime communications and strengthening the ability to monitor weather patterns, currents and vessel movements.

In pictures

A photographic essay on life underwater — from marine mammals to deep-sea species and little-seen habitats — and the role biodiversity plays in sustaining healthy ocean ecosystems.

Information

■ Recently published FT Special Reports can be viewed at www.ft.com/specialreports 

A full list of published reports can be viewed at http://www.ft.com/reports/library Forthcoming FT Special Reports and their synopsis can be downloaded via the 

Future Reports link on the www.ft.com/specialreports page. 

For website assistance please call + (0) 20 7775 6297.

This editorial synopsis must not be amended in any way by anyone other than the Editor of Special Reports. 

All submissions or suggestions for editorial features should be sent to reports@ft.com 

This is to ensure all suggestions can be assessed and to enable the editorial team to cope with the huge volume of approaches that would otherwise stop them from doing their work. Due to the volume of approaches the editorial team are unable to confirm receipt or respond to all enquiries. 

Advertisement and Sponsorship Information

For details of the advertising and sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Oliver Higgs +44 (0)20 7775 6823, oliver.higgs@ft.com

or your usual Financial Times representative.

Please note the advertising representatives cannot assist with editorial approaches or other editorial matters. Please be advised that Financial Times advertisers and sponsors have no influence on editorial content.