



India’s creator economy 2026: From commerce to contracts, a year of maturity
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Dear reader, as 2025, a year of global tumult and volatility, rolls by, Mint's reporters and columnists look around the corner on what is coming in 2026—to help you know what to expect and prepare for it. Tell us what you think at [email protected].
In 2025, India’s creator economy went from strength to strength, expanding nearly 25% to touch ₹4,500 crore, up from ₹3,600 crore last year, according to India Influencer Marketing Report 2025 by The Goat Agency and Kantar. The boom was powered by India’s insatiable appetite for snackable digital content, smarter data-driven tools, and a growing audience base clustering around niche and vernacular creators. The momentum shows no signs of slowing as 2025 rolls into a new year.
As brand playbooks evolve, policy support emerges, and e-commerce partnerships deepen, the independent content industry is poised to enter a phase of strategic maturity and scale. Here are 10 trends shaping India’s creator economy in 2026, based on the early signals already coming into view. India’s creator economy, which already influences $350-400 billion in consumer spending, is on track to power over $1 trillion in creator-driven commerce by 2030, as per data from consultancy BCG.
While brand collaborations remain a key pillar, the real acceleration is coming from e-commerce and content platforms backing creators heavily to drive sales. Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and Nykaa are expanding their commission-based influencer programmes, while content giants are ramping up efforts around affiliate marketing models. YouTube, for instance, has already partnered with Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, and Purplle for its affiliate initiative and may soon bring
. Read on livemint.com