DOOH Global Advertising Expenditure Increases 12% in 2025 Ahead of 2026 Rebound
DOOH global expenditure increased 12% in 2025 to $27.48 billion, according to PQ Media, with a 15.3% rebound projected for 2026 driven by elections and major events. Programmatic partners are developing inventory in Brazil and India, while leadership changes mark professionalization of the sector.
How fast is DOOH advertising growth?
According to research from PQ Media, digital out-of-home (DOOH) global expenditure increased 12% in 2025, slower than the 15.5% expansion recorded in 2024. Digital place-based networks grew 12.4% to $18.20 billion, while digital billboards and posters increased 11.3% to $9.28 billion. PQ Media Founder and CEO Patrick Quinn urges that brands are increasingly seeing DOOH as an integral part of omni-media campaigns, deciding AI and programmatic purchasing helping operators sharpen messaging and measure return on investment. The sector has now posted four consecutive years of double profit after pandemic-driven contraction of 26.0% in 2020. China becomes the largest OOH market at $16.65 billion in 2025, with Australia the fastest-growing major market at 9.7%, according to the same PQ Media forecast.
Why do elections and sports events attract DOOH?
PQ Media projects 15.3% rebound in global DOOH expenditure in 2026, triggered by federal elections