After becoming a $1 trillion industry for the first time in 2024, a new forecast from Madison & Wall shows that total global ad revenue will reach $1.3 trillion by the year’s end—an 11% increase year-over-year.
The growth, categorized by the report as “unusually rapid,” is thanks to AI companies both creating tools that make ad buying more efficient while also becoming significant ad buyers themselves.
Global ad revenue grew by 12.9% in the second quarter of 2026. Excluding U.S. midterm political ads, Madison & Wall predicts revenues will increase by 9.8% in the third quarter.
Here are three key takeaways from the report:
AI is causing the boom, but may cause the bust
AI companies, flush with venture capital, are fueling ad growth in a circular way.
