# Bravo Fan Fest turns brands into Bravolebrities

> NBCUniversal's second Fan Fest in Charleston shows how brands can become part of the experience for TV's most passionate fans.
- Title: Bravo Fan Fest turns brands into Bravolebrities · Adweek
- Summary: NBCUniversal's second Fan Fest in Charleston shows how brands can become part of the experience for TV's most passionate fans. Brands can drive deeper…
- Keywords: bravo fan fest, nbcuniversal, charleston, experiential marketing, brand activations, colgate optic white, planet fitness, state farm, wayfair, wendy's, ally bank, genesis
- Source: Adweek — https://adweek.com/convergent-tv/bravo-fan-fest-is-turning-brands-into-bravolebrities
- Author: Mark Mwachiro
- Published: 2026-09-16T15:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bravo fan fest, nbcuniversal, charleston, experiential marketing, brand activations, colgate optic white, planet fitness, state farm, wayfair, wendy's, ally bank, genesis
## Bravo Fan Fest returns to Charleston
The sold-out event on October 24 features live panels, immersive experiences, and photo ops with stars from Below Deck, Real Housewives, and Southern Charm.
## Five brands create fan experiences
Colgate Optic White, Planet Fitness, State Farm, Wayfair, and Wendy's are on-site partners creating activations for Bravo's passionate audience.

> What all of these brands share is that common desire to connect with consumers in a really authentic way.
## Colgate and Planet Fitness activations
Colgate offers themed trivia and custom travel bags. Planet Fitness sponsors hydration stations with bottles that unlock a free month of membership.
## Commerce-enabled brand experiences
State Farm's tote bags include QR codes for personalized coverage. Wayfair's activation with Summer House's Mia Calabrese features shoppable ornament boxes.
## Social media extends the reach
Ally Bank captures on-the-ground content with a Bravolebrity. Genesis shares custom content featuring the GV80 Coupe across social channels.
## Wendy's Baby Gorgeous sweepstakes
Fans can order Lisa Barlow's Baby Gorgeous Meal through the app from September 16 to 30 and enter a sweepstakes, even if they can't attend.
## Partnership revenue up 30 percent
Brand partnerships at Bravo experiential events grew 30% since 2024. Demand from fans and advertisers has never been stronger, according to NBCU.

> What makes experiences like Bravo Fan Fest compelling is the access to this highly engaged and active audience who's already there.
## Key takeaway

Brands can drive deeper engagement by creating authentic, fan-forward activations at experiential events rather than just traditional advertising.