Nearly $100B in Global ad Growth at Risk if Energy Crisis Persists: WARC

Nearly $100B in global ad growth at risk if energy crisis persists: WARC

Assuming a worst-case scenario, 4.2 percentage points of expected growth could be erased in 2026 as marketers struggle to preserve thin margins.

$49.9 billion at risk as Middle East tensions shake global ad growth

New Delhi: A staggering $49.9 billion in global advertising growth is at risk this year as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensify, according to a new study by WARC.  The impact could deepen further, with losses ballooning to $93.9 billion over the next two years under a severe crisis scenario, highlighting the fragile link between global stability and marketing investments. Even in a relatively mild disruption, the study warns that $…

Forecast: Gulf crisis threatens global ad spend growth

A study from WARC has found that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could threaten $49.9 billion (€43.2bn) of global advertising growth this year, and $93.9 billion over the next two years. A milder crisis still risks $19 billion this year, with residual impacts lasting well into 2027. James McDonald, Director of Data, Intelligence […]

Gulf crisis threatens up to $94bn of global ad spend growth over next two years

26 March 2026 – A new study from WARC, the experts in marketing effectiveness, has found that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could threaten $49.9bn of global advertising growth this year, and $93.9bn over the next two years. A milder crisis still risks $19.0bn this year, with residual impacts lasting well into 2027.  James McDonald, Director of Data, Intelligence & Forecasting, WARC, and author of the research, says: “Even in a containe…

Lengthy Middle East war 'to cost ad industry $93.9bn' - DecisionMarketing

US president Donald Trump might claim the war in the Middle East is already won but a prolonged conflict could threaten $49.9bn of global advertising growth this year, and $93.9bn over the next two years, while even a milder crisis still risks $19.0bn this year, with residual impacts lasting well into 2027. That is the worrying conclusion of a new study from WARC, based on data aggregated from 100 markets worldwide and using a proprietary neural…

Gulf crisis threatens up to $94bn of global ad spend growth over next two years: WARC

Mumbai: A new study by WARC has warned that a prolonged crisis in the Middle East could significantly disrupt global advertising growth, putting as much as $93.9 billion at risk over the next two years. According to WARC’s Global Ad Spend Forecast Q1 2026 update, global ad spend is currently projected to grow 10.4% this year to reach $1.32 trillion. However, an extended Gulf crisis could shave off up to 4.2 percentage points—equivalent to $49.9 …