5 Big Digital Signage Trends to Watch in 2026!

With one year’s end comes another’s beginning. This is a good time to glance over growing trends we’ll likely see develop further into 2026. Some trends you’re likely familiar with, so we won’t go into detail talking about them. For example, businesses are progressively moving towards greater sustainability efforts. Adoption of e-paper tech is one indicator of this trend. There is also the aim towards content optimization and precise targeting. This is achieved both by industry standardization, tools for audience measurement, and AI.

Meanwhile, we’ll lock in on the four biggest trends we’re eager to see in 2026, as they’re most certainly going to make the biggest of splashes when it comes to trends.

Transformation through AI

AI is easily the most common word to appear in any post talking about trends, regardless of industry. It’s transforming everything, with the list of industries using it growing by the minute. For a start, with the world of Out-of-Home, AI stands out through content generation which is becoming more and more sophisticated. Then there is its ability to analyze large quantities of data in seconds. And the data in question can be quite literally anything. From audience measurements to weather patterns, it can plan out ideal times for ad placements, as well as help businesses determine strategies and adaptations.

In our digital signage news post for November 2025 we talked about another big impact AI has made on the OOH industry. It’s no longer just a tool but a current that is changing the ways businesses operate. Generative AI is just the beginning as businesses start to change their structure and teams to fit the shape of a standardized and scalable platform that is aiming to utilize AI to the max, aiming for that cutting edge advantage over the competition.

Lots of changes are surely coming in the next few years. The speed of development in AI is indeed a bit frightening, but it is inevitable, as industries do not want to miss out on the advantages it can provide.

Programmatic OOH

The word programmatic has been a big buzzword in the digital signage realm for many years. It has done much growth recently, however, to the point where it’s becoming commonplace, though its potential is yet to be fully unlocked.

In short, programmatic DOOH enables automated buying and selling of OOH ad placements, as opposed to the slow manual route. In essence, programmatic OOH transforms digital displays into the online variant of purchasing and selling ad slots. Display tech is advancing, digital signage software is adopting, developing, and improving the connection to programmatic services. We’ve accelerated significantly, and 2026 will most certainly show additional growth in this field.

Digital signage in stores

We’ve covered many uses of digital signage in physical businesses. Considering the rise of programmatic OOH and the overall awareness of the capabilities of digital signage, the wave of growth will inevitably push for more opportunities to make use of it. This will inevitably manifest in more digital displays entering physical locations, becoming pathways for programmatic purchasing.

We’ve seen increasing news of displays entering stores, which is a clear indicator of this trend.

Online and offline coming together

Programmatic OOH is one of several roads leading to this trend. Tools such as QR-codes and smartphone integration have also been around, with their use not truly reaching their full potential. As the need to bring customers from the physical and into the online world and vice versa rises, the use of any tool helping achieve it will undoubtedly rise.

Businesses are exploring different routes to reach new consumers, and this includes tapping into online trends. Whether it be through exciting offers or funny clips, the use of social media and making viral moments gets people talking and can indirectly channel traffic into the physical world.

Online and offline worlds have been merging for years, and we’ll see those connections intensify and new ones develop. Digital signage is going to become the gateway for that connection. As we noted, programmatic OOH is one example, which allows businesses to combine their online and offline strategies. It’s almost certain to say that this trend won’t reach its peak in 2026, but will certainly shift toward it.

One continuous trend that grows each year is certainly the overall adoption of digital signage technology and the CMS side of things. We’re very excited to see more of it. Content management through software is no longer a gadget or an addition to your business, but a necessity. OnSign continuously works on polishing existing features and adding new ones. If you’re not already a user, try it out for free!