WEBTOON Entertainment Showcases the Power of Fandom at SXSW 2026
Actor and martial artist Lewis Tan and PAPER president Jason Ve will join WEBTOON Entertainment to discuss how brands can build authentic connections with deeply engaged fan communities
LOS ANGELES — WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: WBTN), a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world’s largest storytelling platforms, is bringing fandom and fan culture insights to SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas. As a global leader in Gen Z entertainment, WEBTOON Entertainment’s SXSW 2026 programming includes key conversations about the growing influence of fandom across entertainment, culture, and marketing.
On Friday, March 13, WEBTOON Entertainment’s panel “Fandom Runs The World: How Culture and Marketing Collide in 2026” will examine how fandoms fuel blockbusters, bestsellers, and breakout viral moments - and what brands need to understand to show up authentically in fan-driven spaces.
Aileen Wang, Head of Marketing at WEBTOON Advertising, Jason Ve, President at PAPER, and Lewis Tan, actor and martial artist, will join Fast Company Staff Editor David Salazar to discuss how fandoms influence culture and have redefined how audiences engage with brands. The panel will take place at Thompson Hotel between 4:00 - 5:00 PM CT, followed by a reception.
WEBTOON Entertainment will also participate in Brand Innovators’ annual Leadership in Brand Marketing Summit during SXSW. On Saturday, March 14, Hugh Kim, Director, US Brand Partnerships at WEBTOON Advertising, will moderate a conversation exploring strategies for attracting, retaining, and measuring audience attention in meaningful ways. Panelists include industry leaders from iHeartMedia, Wayfair, GPJ, and Indeed. The panel will take place at the Lamberts Stage at Lamberts Restaurant between 3:30 - 4:00 PM CT.
With a global ecosystem of creators, stories, and fan communities, WEBTOON Entertainment has become a powerhouse in digital storytelling and the Creator Economy. The company’s platforms, Creators, and studios fuel hit webcomic and webnovel adaptations worldwide, transforming digital stories into global franchises across film, television, and streaming. WEBTOON Entertainment content has been brought to life on screens everywhere, with projects like The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (Netflix), Chicken Nugget (Netflix), All of Us Are Dead (Netflix), Vigilante (Disney+), and Tower of God (Crunchyroll), among many others.
WEBTOON Advertising places brands at the center of Gen Z culture and the content they love, turning attention into action. Leading companies, including The Walt Disney Company, Duolingo, CAPCOM, HYBE, Ubisoft, Dropout (formerly College Humor), Discord, and many others have collaborated with WEBTOON Entertainment to reach new audiences and tap into its massive Gen Z fanbase.
SXSW is an annual festival that brings together music, film, interactive media, and emerging technologies to celebrate creativity, innovation, and cultural trends. This year’s festival features tracks, including arts & culture, brand & marketing, creator economy, and future of tech.