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M&S Tops YouGov’s 2026 UK Best Brand Rankings as WhatsApp Leads Globally

The annual YouGov BrandIndex draws on over six million interviews across 28 markets.

Overview

  • Marks & Spencer is named the strongest brand in the UK with an Index score of 52.7, marking its fourth consecutive year at No. 1.
  • IKEA, Samsung, John Lewis and Netflix complete the UK top five in the 2026 ranking.
  • The Post Office is the UK’s most improved brand with an 8.9-point rise, with Royal Mail and Fujitsu also climbing as perceptions recover from the Horizon IT scandal.
  • WhatsApp tops the global list with an average Index score of 41.5, driven by strong results in India and Indonesia, with Samsung next worldwide.
  • M&S retained the UK lead despite a 2025 cyber-attack that curtailed online sales for months, and CEO Stuart Machin publicly thanked customers and staff for their support.