Retail Media Network Growth 2026: Key Statistics for 2026
Retail media networks allow brands to advertise on retailer platforms using first-party shopping data. These statistics track the explosive growth of this advertising category.
Key Statistics
Retail media ad spending reached $62 billion in 2026, making it the third-largest digital ad channel
Source: eMarketer (2026)
Amazon Ads accounts for 75% of US retail media spend, followed by Walmart at 8%
Source: eMarketer (2025)
Retail media ROAS averages 4.1x, outperforming social ads at 2.8x and search at 3.2x
Source: Criteo (2025)
Sponsored product ads on retail media networks convert at 2.4% compared to 1.8% for display ads
Source: Pacvue (2025)
42 major retailers now operate their own media networks, up from 15 in 2020
Source: Boston Consulting Group (2026)
CPG brands allocate 15% of their total ad budget to retail media, up from 5% in 2020
Source: ANA (2025)
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Key Takeaway
Retail media networks have become a dominant advertising channel because they combine purchase intent with first-party data. Brands in CPG and e-commerce need retail media strategies to remain competitive.