Consumer spending on media in Australia is projected to grow 3.4% in 2026, according to PQ Media's Global Consumer Spending on Media Forecast 2026-2030.
This is an acceleration from 2.6% in 2025 to $US38.15 billion.
Per capita spending in Australia is among the highest worldwide, with the average consumer spending $US1,387.58 on media content and related technology in 2025, up 0.6% in 2024.
Global consumer spending on media content and technology is forecast to grow 3.7% in 2026, up from 2.8% in 2025, as the Winter Olympics in Italy and the FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico drive spending on video content and devices,
Total global consumer spending on media reached $US2.439 trillion in 2025, with digital media content and technology accounting for $1.854 trillion and traditional media $584.68 billion.
The US remained the largest consumer media market at $553.06 billion, while South Africa was the fastest growing of the top 20 markets at 6%.
Despite the 2026 acceleration, the longer-term picture is one of deceleration.
The share of discretionary spending allocated to media content and technology has fallen to 2.4%, the lowest since 1998, as geopolitical tensions, the Iran War and tariff-driven inflation weigh on consumer confidence.
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