Retail and commerce media investment is continuing to grow in Australia, but the market is also entering a new phase of maturity, with buyers demanding sharper standards as they increase investment and retailers strengthening their measurement offers and expanding formats and channels, according to new research from IAB Australia.

Australian shoppers are doing more research before they buy, as cost-of-living pressure continues to shape where they spend and how they choose products, according to new research from IAB Australia and Pureprofile.  The sixth wave of the annual Commerce & Discovery Report 2026 found 71% of Australian online shoppers have changed their retail choices and spending because of rising costs, while 69% rely on online research to feel confident before buying.

Australia’s digital advertising and ad tech industry is navigating a significant structural shift as entry-level pathways narrow, AI reshapes day-to-day work and employers place a higher premium on senior, commercially minded and strategically capable talent, according to IAB Australia’s 2026 Digital Advertising and Ad Tech Industry Talent Review.

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The Australian internet advertising market has recorded its strongest ever March quarter, reaching $4.9 billion in Q1 2026, according to the IAB Australia Internet Advertising Revenue Report released today.

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As Australian businesses accelerate their use of AI across marketing and advertising, IAB Australia has released a new framework to help the industry use generative AI more safely, consistently and effectively.

Video advertising continued to demonstrate strong growth and strategic importance in the broader Australian advertising market over the last twelve months reaching 29% share of the total market for 2025 at a growth rate of 19% year on year.  The IAB Australia 2026 Video Advertising State of the Nation Report also noted an uplift in agencies and marketers looking to invest more in brand video advertising, and that investment intent remains strong across an increasing diversity of types of video ad formats and environments. 

IAB Australia’s DOOH Council has elected Michael Whiteside, QMS National Sales Director, Advanced Trading and Jacqueline Ingram, National Head of Client Development advanced DOOH at WPP Media as Council co-chairs.  They replace Brad Palmer of JC Decaux and James Lambert of WPP Media who have been co-chairs for the last two years.

Brands and agencies report that affiliate and partnership marketing activity is delivering strong commercial results for brands in Australia and showing clear signs of maturity according to the IAB Australia 2026 Affiliate and Partnership Marketing State of the Nation Report.

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IAB Australia has opened speaker submissions for MeasureUp 2026, marking the 10th year of Australia’s leading media measurement and marketing effectiveness event.

IAB Australia has commenced work on a Future of Measurement industry initiative to examine the media and advertising measurement ecosystem focusing on the datasets used for planning, the signals used to capture advertising delivery, the frameworks used to link media activity to business outcomes, as well as IAB Australia industry led infrastructure.

The digital audio market is growing, innovating and broadening its strategic role according to IAB Australia’s Digital Audio State of the Nation Report, and the recently released IAB Australia Internet Advertising Revenue Report. However, the Digital Audio State of the Nation Report also found that the market’s future scale and investment will depend heavily on the industry’s ability to deliver improved measurement sophistication, provide clearer evidence of effectiveness, and responsibly adopt new technologies including AI.

The Australian internet advertising market grew 11.5% year-on-year to reach $18.4 billion for the full calendar year 2025, according to the IAB Australia Internet Advertising Revenue Report (IARR) released today.

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IAB Australia and IAB Europe have launched an Australian Retail Media Certification Program which allows retailers to undertake an independent audit of their retail media measurement practices. Retailers that meet the required industry-agreed criteria will be awarded a certification badge, which can be used to signal their compliance and leadership in measurement maturity.  Coles 360 will be the first Australian retail media network to start the certification audit process.

IAB Australia has announced that it will host a practical Advertising Regulation and Compliance 101 webinar to walk members through the key government regulations and industry self-regulatory frameworks that will underpin advertising compliance in Australia this year. 

IAB Australia has launched a community access pass initiative which will offer those in the industry who are between jobs or recently made redundant, the opportunity to attend IAB Australia’s events, free of charge.  A limited number of spots will be made available at each event and those interested must complete a registration form at the IAB Australia website.