
AdTech & MarTech
The 2026 Retail Media Walled Gardens
Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Uber, Target, Instacart, DoorDash, Costco. The fastest-growing major ad category in U.S. history — who runs it and what brand teams need to know.

Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Uber, Target, Instacart, DoorDash, Costco. The fastest-growing major ad category in U.S. history — who runs it and what brand teams need to know.

Shopper marketing in 2026 is a $60B+ engine running on retail media networks (Walmart Connect, Amazon Ads, Target Roundel, Kroger Precision, Instacart Ads), agencies (Catapult, TPN, Geometry, Arc Worldwide), and the mystery-shopper measurement tier. Walmart Connect alone cleared $4.4B+ in 2024.

Spring 2026 marketing — Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Coachella, Masters, Kentucky Derby. Plus the $60B retail media networks shift: Walmart Connect, Amazon Ads, Target Roundel, Kroger Precision, Instacart Ads.