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 Asparsh Sinha, managing partner, Open Strategy & Design, said:

"I believe that the most consequential consolidation will be around talent. As execution becomes increasingly automated and accelerated, the value of narrowly defined roles will lessen. What rises in its place are more integrated minds who can hold the whole problem at once.

There will be a real consolidation of talent: fewer people carrying more responsibility, more context and more influence. The industry has long leveraged headcount. But in a world of arguably infinite output, the scarce skill will be deciding what work should exist at all. Vision, taste and judgment will become critical. This shift will be uncomfortable. But it is also an opportunity to reclaim what this industry truly offers - setting and delivering big paths for growth.

The emerging theory that, in this new world, we will see billion-dollar companies run by individuals is something that could equally happen in our world as well. After all the dust settles, that will be a future to look forward to. 'Into the future, back to our origins', as the famous Muji campaign said."

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'Disney's catalogue and IP would be seamlessly extendable across Apple hardware and software'
'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'