In its This 12 months Subsequent 12 months (TYNY) report, WPP Media predicts a progress fee of 9.7% in 2026, with promoting income reaching Rs 201,891 billion, a rise of Rs 17,844 billion from 2025.
“The report highlights India’s place as a prime 10 international promoting market, with the sector accounting for 0.5% of India’s GDP and this share persevering with to develop attributable to increasing per capita GDP and the formalization of digital-driven promoting. India continues to be one of many quickest rising markets among the many prime 10 markets,” WPP Media mentioned in an announcement.
Prasant Kumar, CEO of WPP Media South Asia, mentioned: “India is at a pivotal juncture right now, the place synthetic intelligence, commerce and privateness are converging to redefine the very nature of client connectivity.”
“Digital accounts for practically 68% of advert spend and has change into the hub of connectivity, facilitating an ecosystem pushed by outcomes, not mere impressions. The manufacturers that thrive on this new atmosphere would be the ones that may create demand throughout the ecosystem and align worth at each step of the buyer journey,” he mentioned.
“Future momentum is not going to be decided by transactions alone, however by transformation that features rethinking how companies and shoppers work together. The actual alternative lies in constructing omnichannel journeys the place discovery, buy and post-purchase experiences are seamlessly built-in and each touchpoint provides measurable worth,” he added.
Ashwin Padmanabhan, COO, South Asia, WPP Media, mentioned: “The promoting panorama in 2026 will probably be outlined by outcomes and intelligence. AI-powered client engagement is accelerating performance-driven codecs. Fast commerce is at a tipping level, transferring from a gross sales channel to a key media alternative. Our success will probably be pushed by our capability to seize shoppers on the intersection of discovery and transaction.”
By channel, commerce-driven promoting is the quickest rising section at 24.2%, pushed by the convergence of retail media, fast commerce, and social commerce, in accordance with the report.
Different digital channels, consisting of non-search, non-commerce, grew at 11.1%, and location-based media reminiscent of OOH and flicks grew at 8.9%. Intelligence-driven codecs together with search (powered by AI), voice, and agent detection will register 8.0% progress.
The printing trade recorded 4.4% progress attributable to DAVP value hikes and sector relevance, whereas tv recorded 3.1% progress supported by related TV and addressable promoting. Audio follows at 1.5%, pushed by streaming platforms, in accordance with the report.
Total, digital (together with digital extensions throughout all media) now accounts for 68.1% of whole promoting income, with content-driven channels accounting for 70% and commerce quickly gaining share.
“India’s promoting market exhibits dynamism and maturity. With a progress fee of 9.7%, it is without doubt one of the quickest rising among the many prime markets,” mentioned Parveen Shaikh, Head of Enterprise Intelligence India, WPP Media.
“The story of 2026 is certainly one of convergence, the place media, expertise, and commerce change into homogeneous and out there to manufacturers. Manufacturers that embrace AI, information intelligence, privacy-first methods, and agile planning will seize a disproportionate share of this progress,” he mentioned.
On the class entrance, SMEs, expertise/communications, actual property, automotive and schooling have emerged as key progress drivers, in accordance with the report.
“A sustained rural restoration will contribute to progress, whereas Gen Z and Alpha, with their choice for personalization, immediacy and purpose-driven engagement, are shaping model technique and solidifying their place as a large digitally native client base,” WPP Media mentioned.
issued – February 18, 2026 10:25 PM IST
