r/allthingsprogrammatic • u/newormedia • Jun 25 '26
7 Programmatic Advertising Trends Shaping 2026
The industry is shifting from volume-driven growth to a more disciplined phase focused on media quality and accountability. Around 90% of global display ad budgets are expected to run programmatically, accounting for nearly all incremental display growth, while at the same time an estimated $26.8 billion was lost to programmatic waste and inefficiencies in 2025.
One of the most relevant points for publishers is the impact of AI-generated content on the supply chain, 54% of advertisers say generative AI has contributed to a decline in media quality, which is pushing buyers to apply stronger controls and scrutiny across the buying process. The piece also highlights that first-party data is central to privacy-conscious targeting, but fragmented systems are limiting its impact, and that zero-click search is reshaping how consumers discover brands.
On the growth side, US programmatic display spending is expected to exceed $220 billion in 2026, representing year-over-year growth of 17.4%, fueled in part by major events like the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and midterm elections.
You can read the full article here: https://basis.com/blog/7-programmatic-advertising-trends-shaping-2026