The data’s in: marketing is evolving fast — and top brands are blending AI, data, and creativity to stay ahead. Our 7th Annual Digital Advertising Trends Report reveals how marketers are optimizing channels, video, and measurement to drive stronger performance in 2026.
Built from insights from 450 marketing leaders worldwide, this report uncovers the bold trends set to define 2026, and beyond.
Inside you’ll discover:
- 46% of marketers now use AI to scale creative
- 33% run AI across creative, media, and measurement
- Up to 30% of marketing budgets are wasted, according to most marketers
- How marketers are planning to use video and setting budgets across various digital channels
Highlights at a Glance;
Dive Deeper in the Full Report
We wanted to provide you a couple more insights that didn’t make it into the full report. To uncover detailed benchmarks, global trends, and expert analysis on what it takes to lead in 2026, download the full report today.
Time to Launch is Still the Hidden Bottleneck
Marketers are moving faster, but not fast enough. According to our research with Reach3, 41% of marketers say it still takes three to four weeks to launch a digital campaign from asset creation to execution, while only 3.6% can go live in under a week.
What’s more telling? Most believe it should take less than half that time. The gap between what marketers expect and what they can actually deliver highlights how workflow friction continues to drain performance long before the first impression is served.
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Ad Waste Remains an Industry Blind Spot
Efficiency might be the new marketing mantra, but it’s not yet a reality. Respondents estimated that an average of approximately 20% of their annual digital marketing spend is wasted. This waste is attributed to factors like non-performing impressions, incorrect targeting, or bot traffic.
Meanwhile, "Precision-First Marketers," who are defined by diversifying across platforms and embedding AI in their workflows, demonstrate significantly lower waste levels. These high-performing marketers are 27% more likely to waste less than 10% of their media budget compared to the average marketer.
AI Tools Are Growing Fast, But So Is Overwhelm
Everyone is investing in AI, but adoption isn’t always smooth. Onboarding and learning new AI platforms remains a barrier, with 30% of marketers estimating that it takes one month or longer to onboard or learn a new AI platform or tool
Even as 95% of respondents test AI for creative production, widespread use still involves caution, as 42% of respondents who use Generative AI still classify their approach as "initial testing". The enthusiasm is there, but the operational readiness hasn’t caught up yet, suggesting 2026 will be the year marketers turn from testing to trusting AI.
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Marketers Want More Pre-Launch Intelligence
Perhaps the most consistent theme from the raw data: marketers want to predict success before campaigns go live.
When asked what they’d most like to do pre-launch, 31% said they want to use AI predictive models to forecast performance, 22% want AI tools to validate message fit, and 40% wish they could pre-test creative with synthetic audiences.
Originality with AI is the Next Creative Challenge
As AI tools become more common, marketers are growing wary of “sameness.” Three in four respondents said they’re concerned that AI-generated creative risks making brands look and sound the same, and 86% have already seen AI outputs that resemble content from competitors.
The opportunity ahead isn’t just faster creative production, it’s distinctive, brand-authentic creative powered by AI that enhances originality instead of eroding it.
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