AB InBev brand Corona has been named the world’s most valuable beer brand for the third consecutive year in Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands report.
The latest rankings also underline AB InBev’s dominance in the global beer market, with eight of the world’s top 10 most valuable beer brands belonging to the brewer. Alongside Corona, brands including Budweiser, Modelo, Michelob ULTRA, Brahma, Bud Light, Skol and Stella Artois featured in the top tier of the rankings.
Dutch brewer Heineken was ranked the third most valuable beer brand globally, while Guinness placed ninth in the list.
According to the company, Corona delivered strong growth throughout 2025, with revenues outside its home market rising 8.3 per cent and double-digit volume growth recorded across 30 markets. Alcohol-free variant Corona Cero also posted strong double-digit volume growth.
The brand marked its 100th anniversary last year with the launch of its global “Corona 100” platform, including a multi-year sponsorship of a major concert event at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Momentum has continued into 2026, with AB InBev reporting all-time high revenues and volume growth in the first quarter, led by Corona, which achieved 16 per cent growth outside its home market. The brewer attributed part of the performance to Corona’s debut as the first global beer sponsor of the Winter Olympics.
Marcel Marcondes, global chief marketing officer at AB InBev, said the recognition reflected the company’s long-term approach to brand building.
“For AB InBev to have eight of the top 10 beer brands in Kantar BrandZ’s 2026 rankings underscores the focus, consistency and creative effectiveness of our teams and partners around the world,” he said.
Kantar chief executive Paul Zwillenberg added that Corona’s continued success showed the value of maintaining a distinctive and relevant brand position over time.
“Brand value comes from being meaningfully different in ways people recognise, showing up consistently and staying relevant as the world changes. That doesn’t change, even as technology introduces new ways for people to discover and interact with brands,” he said.
“Marketers still need to make clear decisions about what their brand stands for and how it shows up in the real world. That’s something the Corona team continues to get right.”
Now in its 21st edition, the BrandZ report combines financial performance data with consumer brand equity research across more than 22,000 brands in 54 markets.