2026 Local Ad Market: Where Growth Is Headed & How to Win It

BIA’s Annual Trends Report

Local advertising is entering a pivotal year in 2026. Media consumption is fragmenting, platforms are multiplying, and advertisers are shifting budgets faster than ever.

In our annual trends report, 2026’s $182B Local Advertising Haul: Ten Emerging Trends that Spark Opportunity, BIA analysts examine the pivotal shifts redefining how local advertising dollars are being captured and deployed. The report identifies the 10 trends driving growth and outlines winning opportunities.

What we cover in the report:

• Cross-platform local video shifts reshaping media plans
• The verticals driving the biggest local growth in 2026
• Digital Out-of-Home (OOH) acceleration
• Localized media spending gains market-level importance
• Why hybrid CTV + broadcast strategies unlock more revenue
• Auto industry’s secret media weapons
• Political advertising’s impact on linear and digital video
• Social video’s growing role in local ad budgets
• Three verticals driving local digital shifts
• Radio’s continued strength through digital extension

Backed by BIA’s trusted market-level data and analyst expertise, this concise report delivers practical, actionable insights to help sellers, advertisers, and planners prioritize opportunities, anticipate shifts, and make confident decisions heading into 2026.

Who Should Read This

• Local media sellers building cross-platform packages
• Agencies planning market-specific media strategies
• Advertisers and brands reallocating budgets locally
• Executives and investors tracking structural shifts in local media

Why BIA

For more than 40 years, BIA has delivered the industry’s most trusted local advertising intelligence—forecasting spend by market, media type, and business vertical. To discuss your specific opportunities, email us at advantage@bia.com.