With 2025 seeing the mega-merger between Omnicom and IPG now complete, WPP consolidating its media agencies under WPP Media, and more consolidations in the pipeline, for our year-ender series, we asked experts to share 'the one consolidation they see happening in 2026'.

Here's what Roopak Saluja, founder and executive chairperson, Bang Bang Mediacorp, had to say:

"The object of eternal speculation is back and this time it's more real than ever. Apple will buy Disney in 2026 - most, if not all, of it. It's been in the ether a number of times over the past couple of decades, with the strategic rationale shifting over time. The fact that Apple’s market cap is now 20x that of Disney makes it all the more plausible. This time it's about moving Apple out of the quality-over-quantity niche and cementing its long-term future as a mainstream entertainment player. Disney's catalogue and IP would be seamlessly extendable across Apple hardware and software. Think ESPN live sports on a Vision Pro and Elsa as Siri. What a time to be alive!"

Also read:

'India's next media consolidation will be regional, not corporate'

'Brands are consolidating their trust, budgets, long-term partnerships with independent agencies'

'Consolidation won't shrink agencies; it will rewire them'

'Creativity, culture, and taste won't consolidate; they'll collaborate'

'Legacy networks also stand to benefit the most'