Publicis Groupe reported 5% year-on-year organic net revenue growth in the third quarter of 2026, with Asia-Pacific recording 5.4% growth, supported by a strong performance in China.
The French advertising and communications group posted net revenue of €3.81 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, up 7.9% from €3.53 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Organic growth excludes the impact of acquisitions, disposals and currency movements.
Total revenue, including pass-through costs, increased 11.6% to €4.61 billion from €4.14 billion in the year-ago period. Organic growth in total revenue stood at 6.9%.
Asia-Pacific generated net revenue of €348 million in the third quarter, compared with €316 million a year earlier. The region recorded reported growth of 10.1% and organic growth of 5.4%. China delivered 10.6% organic growth during the period, according to the company’s October 13 results statement.
Publicis did not disclose India-specific revenue or growth figures.
Asia-Pacific posts 4.6% organic growth in nine months
For the first nine months of 2026, Publicis Groupe reported organic net revenue growth of 4.8%, taking the figure to €11.04 billion from €10.68 billion in the same period last year. Reported growth stood at 3.3%, partly reflecting a negative €276 million impact from foreign exchange movements.
Asia-Pacific recorded net revenue of €961 million for the nine-month period, compared with €920 million a year earlier. This represented organic growth of 4.6% and reported growth of 4.5%.
The region’s third-quarter organic growth of 5.4% was higher than its performance for the first nine months of the year.
Among other markets, Latin America led third-quarter organic growth at 23.8%. Europe grew 4.7%, while North America reported 4.4% growth. The Middle East and Africa recorded a 1.4% organic decline, which the company attributed to the ongoing regional conflict.
Connected Media drives growth
Publicis’ Connected Media business, which accounted for 62% of group net revenue, delivered high-single-digit organic growth in the third quarter. The company attributed the performance to market-share gains, rising demand for AI-powered products and services, and expansion into new addressable markets.
Intelligent Creativity, contributing 25% of net revenue, recorded low-single-digit organic growth, supported by new-business wins and expanded client engagements.
The Technology business, which accounted for the remaining 13% of net revenue, continued to contract at a low-single-digit organic rate globally. Publicis said clients remained cautious about capital-intensive enterprise transformation projects amid limited macroeconomic visibility, including uncertainty arising from the Middle East.
However, the group said its Technology business had returned to positive growth in the US and expects the segment to return to growth globally in the fourth quarter.
Group retains full-year guidance
Publicis Groupe maintained its full-year 2026 outlook, projecting organic net revenue growth of 4.5% to 5%. It expects its operating margin rate to be slightly above the 18.2% reported in 2025 and forecasts free cash flow of approximately €2.2 billion before changes in working capital requirements.
The group said new-business wins, strong client retention and growth across its client base had reinforced its confidence in achieving the targets.
Arthur Sadoun, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said the company remained confident in delivering its full-year guidance for 2026 and outperforming the market for the eighth consecutive year in 2027.
Sadoun also highlighted demand for AI-powered products and services, alongside the performance of Connected Media and Intelligent Creativity, as key contributors to the group’s momentum.
Publicis added that its recent new-business wins were expected to strengthen revenue visibility and predictability as it heads into 2027.
