The first half of the year has been a busy one for IAB Europe, bringing new research, practical guidance, industry collaboration, events and important milestones across our work.
Together with our members, Committees and Working Groups, we have continued to address some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing Europe’s digital advertising ecosystem.
From developments in AI, Connected TV and addressability to progress in Retail & Commerce Media, sustainability, policy and privacy, our work has focused on delivering practical resources and driving meaningful industry collaboration.
Below, we have brought together some of the key moments, outputs and conversations from the first half of the year.
This is only a snapshot of what has been delivered so far. You can explore more of our research, guides, event recordings and industry resources in our Knowledge Hub.
Our events brought together experts from across Europe to unpack new research, debate important industry questions and share practical insights on the topics affecting digital advertising.
AdEx Benchmark 2025
We unveiled the results of our latest AdEx Benchmark Report, providing a comprehensive view of digital advertising investment across Europe and the formats and channels driving market growth.
Attitudes to Digital Advertising Report
This event provided a detailed look at the findings from our new Attitudes to Digital Advertising Report, examining industry priorities, investment trends, opportunities and ongoing challenges.
Inside the Retail Media Certification Programme
We took audiences inside the Retail Media Certification Programme, explaining how the process works, what certification involves and how it can support greater transparency and consistency across the market.
The first half of the year also marked an important milestone for the programme, with Nectar360 becoming the first UK Retail Media Network to achieve IAB Europe certification.
Virtual Programmatic Day
Industry experts explored the key themes influencing the future of programmatic advertising, from transparency and measurement to emerging technologies and changing market dynamics.
The Great Debate: Retail Media
Expert panels and an Oxford-style debate tackling some of the most pressing questions facing this fast-growing part of the industry.
The Great Debate: Sustainability
This event explored the progress already made towards more sustainable digital advertising and the collaboration, standards and practical action still required across the ecosystem.
Our Committees and Working Groups bring together experts from across the digital advertising ecosystem to develop practical guidance, research, standards and industry solutions.
Our workstreams span Advertising & Media (including Addressability & Measurement, Artificial Intelligence, Connected TV and Programmatic Advertising), Retail & Commerce Media, Sustainability Standards, Policy and Privacy, including the Transparency & Consent Framework.
Here is a snapshot of some of the work delivered across these areas during H1.
Retail & Commerce Media
The latest update to our Commerce (incl. Retail) Media Measurement Standards continued our work to support greater consistency and comparability across the market.
Other highlights included:
Sustainability Standards
Our latest State of Readiness Report examined how prepared organisations across Europe are to measure and reduce the environmental impact of digital advertising.
The findings highlighted where progress is being made, where gaps remain and what the industry needs to prioritise next.
Other highlights included:
Addressability & Measurement
The Addressability & Measurement Solutions Map provides an overview of the tools, approaches and capabilities available to support advertising in a changing privacy and technology landscape.
The Working Group also focused on Trusted Servers, delivering a presentation with the IAB Tech Lab in April.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Our AI Prompting Guide provides practical support for advertising professionals looking to use generative AI tools more effectively and responsibly.
Other highlights included:
Connected TV (CTV)
Our 101 Guide provides an accessible introduction to the CTV ecosystem, explaining how it works, the key players involved and the opportunities available to advertisers.
Other highlights included:
Programmatic
Our Guide to Curation explores how curated marketplaces work, the value they can offer buyers and sellers, and the key considerations for using curation effectively within programmatic advertising.
Other highlights included Supply Chain Transparency: Questions for Partners, which provides practical questions to help organisations better understand their partners, improve accountability and strengthen transparency across the programmatic supply chain.
Policy
Our policy work continued to represent the digital advertising industry in important European regulatory discussions.
Getting the Digital Omnibus Right set out key considerations for ensuring that simplification efforts provide greater clarity and consistency while protecting Europe’s digital economy.
The Policy Committee also focused on:
Privacy and the Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF)
Our latest TCF Compliance Report provides an update on compliance across the Transparency & Consent Framework and highlights key areas requiring continued attention.
Our wider privacy and TCF work also included:
Our podcast series continued to bring together industry leaders and subject-matter experts for practical and insightful conversations on the developments influencing digital advertising across Europe.
Here are some of the standout episodes from H1.
Curation: Fact or Fiction?
This episode explored the growing role of curation in programmatic advertising, separating common misconceptions from the practical realities and potential benefits.
Trust as a Competitive Advantage
Industry experts discussed why trust is becoming an increasingly important commercial differentiator and how businesses can strengthen it across digital advertising.
AI in Retail & Commerce Media
This conversation examined how AI is being applied across Retail and Commerce Media, from operational efficiencies to campaign delivery, measurement and customer experience.
Why Non-Endemic Brands Are the Next Big Wave in Retail Media
The episode explored the growing opportunities for non-endemic advertisers and how Retail Media Networks can attract brands beyond their traditional supplier base.
From Cannes to Commerce: Inside Wolt Ads
Recorded around Cannes Lions, this episode went inside Wolt Ads to explore the company’s approach to Commerce Media and the wider opportunities emerging across the market.
The Convergence and Coexistence of Trade and Media
This discussion examined how trade and media teams can collaborate more effectively while balancing different objectives, measurement approaches and commercial responsibilities.
There are plenty of opportunities to contribute to IAB Europe’s work during the remainder of the year.
Existing members can get involved through our Committees and Working Groups, contribute to research and guidance, join industry discussions and take advantage of speaking, podcast and event opportunities.
If you’re interested in joining IAB Europe, you can learn more about how membership provides access to our network, knowledge and collaborative initiatives.
To find out more, contact the team at communication [at] iabeurope.eu.
