WPP Media projects India ad market to cross ₹2 lakh crore in 2026, led by AI and quick commerce

South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar pegs ~10% growth in 2026, with AI, quick commerce, CTV and D2C channels driving spends despite volatility and a sharp pullback in online gaming advertising.

— Source publishedThu, 4 Jun, 2026, 10:19 IST·First seen Thu, 4 Jun, 2026, 11:19 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

WPP Media South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar projects India's ad market to grow ~10% and cross ₹2 lakh crore in 2026, driven by AI, quick commerce, CTV and D2C

Key facts

  • 10% growth
  • ₹2 lakh crore

Why this matters

The shift toward AI, quick commerce, CTV, and D2C creates M&A opportunities in performance marketing, retail media networks, and AI creative tooling, while gaming-ad assets may become available at distressed valuations.