“I had chills, and by the time it ended, I was in tears. It felt like a wake-up call for every American.” That’s the reaction pouring in after Budweiser’s 2026 Super Bowl ad dropped—and it’s easy to see why. In a move no one saw coming, the brand brought together two of the most powerful symbols in America: the thundering Clydesdales and the soaring bald eagle. Set against brutal winter storms, with snow whipping across wide, empty fields, the scene feels raw and real. As the eagle glides overhead and the horses charge forward to the sound of “Free Bird,” the message hits hard—strength, unity, and getting back up when everything feels frozen and divided.

The Budweiser Super Bowl commercial begins with a Clydesdale foal wandering beyond his stable to find a small bird beside a fallen tree.
Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial 2026 Sends Clear Message

WASHINGTON — Budweiser’s Super Bowl 60 commercial features two of America’s most iconic symbols: a Budweiser Clydesdale and a bald eagle.

The 60-second ad, called “American Icons,” was directed by Academy Award-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin, known for “Murderball” (2005) and “Girl, Interrupted” (1999). It celebrates both the 150-year legacy of the brand and the country’s upcoming 250th birthday.

Super Bowl 2025 Budweiser Commercial Features Baby Clydesdale Horse

Set to the soundtrack of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial begins with a Clydesdale foal wandering beyond his stable to find a small bird beside a fallen tree. When a storm rolls in, the foal shelters the bird and sparks a lasting bond.

WATCH: Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial 2026

The commercial shows a montage of the pair growing together. In a majestic moment, the grown Clydesdale leaps as the bird soars behind him, creating the illusion of a Pegasus. That’s when it’s revealed that the bird is a bald eagle.

The ad closes with the words “Made of America” over a Budweiser pour, followed by the tagline “For 150 years, this Bud’s for you.”

The official breeding and training facility for the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, Warm Springs Ranch, is located in Boonville, Missouri. The ranch welcomed two new foals this fall, joining more than 70 Clydesdales on the property.

Last year was the first time in over a decade that a Clydesdale foal was featured in the beer brand’s Super Bowl ad.

In the 2025 Anheuser-Busch ad spot, a young foal wished to join the Clydesdale hitch on a keg delivery but is deemed too small to be a part of the beer run. When a keg accidentally falls from the delivery wagon, the observant foal takes it upon itself to complete the mission and deliver the missing keg.

Related Posts