2026 Video Ad Spend and Strategy Report
Streaming investments are rising, outcomes emerge as the most critical KPI, and AI is reshaping workflows. See what top marketers are saying about their video ad spend and strategies.
iSpot surveyed hundreds of marketing leaders to get a better understanding of how brands and advertisers are allocating video ad spend budgets in 2026, implementing AI marketing strategies, prioritizing key KPIs such as business outcomes and more.
As economic shifts prompt cautious spending, budgets are gravitating toward high-accountability channels where outcome-based KPIs serve as the primary benchmark for success. This “North Star” approach now applies even to traditional media like television, which is being held to the same rigorous, performance-driven standards as digital advertising.
Download the report to benchmark your strategy against your peers and uncover the massive opportunities currently hiding within the intersection of measurement and AI.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 70% of marketers anticipate flat or shrinking budgets this year.
- Over 50% of marketers plan to grow streaming and social video ad investments in 2026, with social platforms now the No. 1 ad-buying destination.
- Nearly half say business outcomes are the most critical factor in media buys, yet 46.5% rank outcomes as their biggest measurement challenge.
- Advanced audience testing leads emerging capabilities, with 46% of marketers active in the space.
- Almost 80% of marketers are using AI in video ad workflows, with measurement and media optimization leading adoption.