Budweiser’s Super Bowl LX commercial, titled “American Icons,” was voted the best Super Bowl ad of 2026 by viewers participating in the USA TODAY Ad Meter, garnering a four-star rating from approximately 190,000 voters who ranked 54 commercials between February 4th and February 9th.
The 60-second spot features an unlikely friendship between a Clydesdale horse and a bald eagle, a pairing that resonated with audiences as the nation approached its 250th anniversary. The commercial depicts the growth of both animals, beginning with a Clydesdale foal encountering a young eaglet that has fallen from its nest. The eagle, named Lincoln, is a 28-year-old bird from the American Eagle Foundation in Kodak, Tennessee.
The ad, set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” shows the pair developing a bond as they mature, with the Clydesdale seemingly attempting to help the eagle learn to fly. A particularly striking scene shows the eagle riding on the horse’s back as it jumps over a fallen tree. The commercial culminates with the eagle soaring overhead while the fully grown Clydesdale runs through a field, observed by a farmer who is visibly moved by their connection.
This marks Budweiser’s tenth win in the USA TODAY Ad Meter rankings. Anheuser-Busch chief commercial officer Kyle Norrington discussed the brand’s 2026 Super Bowl ad with USA TODAY, highlighting the symbolism of the pairing.
Beyond Budweiser, other commercials as well proved popular with viewers. Lay’s potato farmer, Pepsi’s polar bear, Dunkin’s “Good Will Dunkin’” and Michelob ULTRA’s Olympics-themed ad rounded out the top five, according to the Ad Meter results.
