The 2026 Industry
Pulse Report
Industry experts reveal what’s next for digital media in 2026
As we head into 2026, the digital media landscape is entering a defining new chapter. IAS partnered with YouGov to survey nearly 300 AU media experts across brands, agencies, publishers, and ad tech to uncover the opportunities and challenges that will shape the year ahead.

The 2026 Industry Pulse Report provides a first look at how advertisers and publishers are preparing for an era defined by AI, video-first consumer behavior, and a demand for quality.

Here’s a quick preview:
  • Connected TV (CTV) becomes the premium battleground for attention with 82% say measuring attention on CTV will be vital for evaluating outcomes in 2026.

  • Retail Media Networks evolve into full-funnel, quality-first ecosystems - 82% citing viewability as a core RMN KPI.

  • Social media surges, but transparency gaps and the rapid rise of AI-generated content threaten advertiser confidence with 83% of media experts citing Attention and Viewability as critical metrics for evaluating campaign performance.
Get ahead of the curve now and investigate possibilities to shape your future media strategy.

Unlock the full 2026 insights: Download the report today.

DOWNLOAD NOW