2026 Q1 Retail Media Benchmark Report

Benchmark your retail media performance with the latest quarterly data across Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, and Target.

Get a comprehensive view of how advertisers allocated budgets, optimized campaigns, and adapted to ongoing changes in the commerce landscape in the first quarter of 2026.

Pacvue’s Q1 2026 U.S. Retail Media Benchmark Report provides a detailed look at performance trends across major retail media networks. Learn how advertisers are strategizing around different ad formats, placements, and platforms, with insights on key metrics like CPC, ROAS, spend, and more.

This report equips brands and agencies with the data and context needed to identify opportunities, refine strategies, and stay competitive.

Amazon Ads Walmart Instacart Target

Q1 2026 Amazon Ads Trends

Sponsored Brands CVR improved (+25.6%) far more than Sponsored Products CVR (+3.9%) YoY, signaling that brand equity is playing an increasingly pivotal role in consumer purchasing behavior.

Download Report

Q1 2026 Walmart Connect Trends

Sponsored Brands saw dramatic ROAS growth (+40.5% YoY), powered by falling CPCs (-30.2% YoY) and rising CVRs (+40% YoY), steadily closing the gap with Sponsored Products performance.

Download Report

Q1 2026 Instacart Ads Trends

Both Sponsored Products and Display ads saw increased Click-through rates in Q1 (+16% QoQ and +5% QoQ, respectively). For Sponsored Products, this accompanied a +7% QoQ increase in ROAS, while Display ads saw returns dip –1% compared to Q4.

Download Report

Q1 2026 Target Roundel Trends

Target CPC was broadly stable YoY, increasing only 0.71%, while ACOS rose by 5.81% and ROAS declined by 5.49%, indicating softer efficiency versus 2025 Q1. At the same time, brand average daily spend increased by 20.12%, reflecting higher investment compared with the same period last year.

Download Report