Archive · 26 Dec 2025
2025 Advertising Trends and Future Predictions
In 2025, the advertising world went through big changes.
One standout ad was Dream11's 'Champions ka Game,' but the company faced trouble when real money gaming was banned, which hurt sports sponsorships like the IPL.
Advertising agencies pushed for brand building over performance marketing, but many clients still focused on short-term sales.
Big ad networks merged and restructured to keep up with digital and AI trends.
The year also saw job losses and the end of some well-known brands.
Despite these challenges, global advertising revenue grew by 8.8%, and India's advertising revenue is expected to reach $22.74 billion in 2026.
Experts predict that 2026 will be a year of rediscovery, with brands focusing more on emotional connections and gentler persuasion as consumers get tired of too many commercial messages.
The ban on real money gaming impacted the advertising industry, especially sports sponsorship and the IPL, by as much as ₹5,000 crore.
Ad agencies advocated for brand building over performance marketing, but clients continued to prioritize short-term sales.
The merger between Omnicom and Interpublic Group (IPG) created the largest ad network, leading to job losses and the retirement of marquee brands like FCB, DDB, and Mullen-Lowe.
Global advertising revenue grew by 8.8% in 2025, reaching $1.14 trillion, with continued growth expected in 2026.
Indian advertising revenues are projected to reach $22.74 billion in 2026, driven by digital, social, and commerce advertising.
- Who
- Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO of FCB India (now McCann), Naresh Gupta, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bang in the Middle ad agency
- What
- Discussion on 2025 advertising trends, the impact of the ban on real money gaming, and future predictions for the advertising industry
- When
- 2025
- Where
- India
- Why
- To address the dramatic changes and future of advertising, including the impact of new trends and regulatory changes
- CEO
- Dheeraj Sinha
- Company
- FCB India (now McCann)
- Parent Company
- Interpublic Group (IPG)
- Merged With
- Omnicom
- Key Trends
- Defragmentation of media, rise of influencer marketing, consolidation of networks, ban on real money gaming, AI-generated ads backlash
- Expected Normalization
- 2028
- Global Advertising Revenue Growth (2025)
- 8.8%
- Projected Global Advertising Revenue (2025)
- $1.14 trillion
- Projected Indian Advertising Revenue (2026)
- $22.74 billion (₹2 lakh crore)
- Expected Growth in Indian Advertising (2026)
- 9.7%
Sources
We are going through a phase of storming, norming and forming, says CEO of FCB India
Adscape 2025-2026: The big challenge for brands is not what to say but where to say
A big bang merger, end of RMG and march of AI
A big bang merger, end of RMG and march of AI
End of an Era? 40 million Indian homes quit paid TV in 6 years
