Global ad market growth downgraded by $20bn due to growing market volatility: WARC releases Global ad spend outlook 2025/26 Q1 update

A new study from WARC, the experts in marketing effectiveness, has found that global advertising spend is now on course to grow 6.7% this year to $1.15trn, a downgrade of almost one percentage point (pp) from WARC’s November forecast due to growing market volatility. A further cut of 0.7pp has been applied to 2026, downrating growth to 6.3%. The underlying factors for these downward revisions are wide ranging, but core among them is the rising risk of stagflation – or outright recession – across major economies, compounded by heightened costs…

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WARC Rankings 2025: Effective 100 – The world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for effectiveness

The WARC Effective 100, the ultimate independent global benchmark of the world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for effectiveness, and the third and final WARC Ranking, is now released. Compiled by WARC Creative, helping companies deliver creative marketing that works, the annual Effective 100 Ranking is an aggregate of the results of the most important global and regional effectiveness awards of 2024. The shows tracked are determined in consultation with the WARC Rankings Advisory Board and by a yearly global panel survey. Anna Hamill, Senior Editor, WARC Creative, said: “The…

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WARC Rankings 2025: Media 100 is now released! The world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for media

The WARC Media 100, the ultimate independent global benchmark of the world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for media, is now released. Compiled by WARC Creative, helping companies deliver creative marketing that works, the annual Media 100 Ranking is an aggregate of the results of the most important global and regional media awards of 2024. The shows tracked are determined in consultation with the WARC Rankings Advisory Board and by a yearly global panel survey. Anna Hamill, Senior Editor, WARC Creative, said: “The WARC Media 100 are annual worldwide league…

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WARC Rankings 2025: Creative 100 revealed – the most awarded campaigns and companies for creativity

The WARC Creative 100, the ultimate independent global benchmark of the world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for creativity, is now released.   Compiled by WARC Creative, helping companies deliver creative marketing that works, the annual Creative 100 Ranking brings together the results of the most important global and regional creative awards of 2024. The shows tracked are determined in consultation with the WARC Rankings Advisory Board and by a yearly global panel survey. Anna Hamill, Senior Editor, WARC Creative, said: “The WARC Creative 100 are annual worldwide league tables of…

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Global TikTok advertising revenue is set to top $30bn this year but uncertainty remains in the US

TikTok, the ByteDance-owned video sharing platform, is increasingly seen as able to drive full-funnel outcomes – from discovery through search to purchase. However, concern over TikTok’s possible ban in the US is creating uncertainty among advertisers and creators.  Alex Brownsell, Head of Content, WARC Media, and author of the report, says: “On 18 January, US TikTok users were unable to access the video-sharing app for more than 12 hours due to regulation banning the app on the basis of national security concerns. A 75-day deadline extension to 5 April by…

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