China's Advertising Revenue Surpassed One Trillion Yuan in H1 2026

China's advertising industry generated a total revenue of 1,037.38 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, marking an 11.3% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The sector's growth was significantly propelled by the robust performance of digital advertising.

Revenue from internet advertising publishing alone reached 612.1 billion yuan, an substantial 25.3% increase year-on-year. This growth further solidified the dominance of digital media, which now accounts for 86% of all advertising publishing revenue.

Traditional media channels also saw moderate growth. Television advertising revenue reached 19.88 billion yuan, up 3.4% year-on-year, while newspaper advertising revenue was 1.22 billion yuan, an increase of 12.6%. Notably, advertising revenue from movie media experienced a multi-fold increase, indicating a resurgence and diversification within this segment.

Geographically, six provinces and municipalities—Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian—accounted for a combined 843.21 billion yuan in advertising revenue, representing a 12% increase year-on-year. These regions collectively contributed 81.3% of the national total advertising revenue.