Havas Reports 2.5% Organic Growth in the First Half and Confirms Its 2026 Outlook

Havas has reported its financial results for the first half of 2026, posting 2.5% organic net revenue growth, a 30-basis-point improvement in adjusted EBIT margin, and reaffirming its guidance for the full year.

During the first six months of the year, the Group reported €1.416 billion in revenue and €1.362 billion in net revenue, in line with expectations. Adjusted EBIT reached €150 million, up 4.2% from the same period in 2025, while net income attributable to the Group increased 13.5% to €84 million.

Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO of Havas, said the results demonstrate “the resilience of our business model, the strength of our client relationships, and the continued success of our Converged strategy.”

“Havas delivered a solid first-half performance in 2026, achieving 2.5% organic growth and another improvement in our adjusted EBIT margin. We continue to see strong momentum in new business and are investing in high-growth areas such as sports marketing, experiential marketing, and corporate influence,” Bolloré said.
He added that the company remains confident that agencies closest to clients’ business needs, supported by its Converged.AI operating system and disciplined investments in artificial intelligence, will be best positioned to anticipate market challenges and drive future growth.

North America Leads Growth
By region, North America remained Havas’ strongest growth engine, delivering 6.9% organic growth during the first half, driven by both the Media and Creative business lines.

In Europe, which accounts for half of the Group’s net revenue, organic growth reached 0.7%, with strong performances in Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden offsetting softer results in France and the United Kingdom.

In Latin America, Havas returned to growth following a weaker first quarter. The region posted 4% organic growth in the first half and 7.7% in the second quarter, supported by solid business momentum.

Meanwhile, Asia Pacific & Africa continued to be affected by the slowdown in China and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, recording a 4.8% organic decline during the first six months of the year.

AI, Sports Marketing, and Expansion
As part of its growth strategy, Havas continued strengthening its capabilities through targeted acquisitions.

During the second quarter, the Group acquired Format, a French corporate influence and strategic communications agency; Archrival, a leading U.S. sports marketing and youth culture agency that will strengthen Havas Play; and MUT, a Spanish agency specializing in experiential marketing and sustainable events.

In July, Havas also announced the acquisition of a majority stake in SportVibes, a Dutch sports marketing agency.

At the same time, the company highlighted the progress of Horizon Global, its joint venture with Horizon Media, which continues to expand its commercial pipeline and win new business through an AI-powered, integrated offering.

Havas also increased its investment in Vurvey Labs, a next-generation agentic AI company focused on consumer research, investing €19 million to enhance its capabilities in behavioral analysis and AI-driven consumer insights.

Confident Outlook for the Second Half
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas reaffirmed its guidance for 2026.

The Group expects to deliver organic net revenue growth of between 2% and 3%, an adjusted EBIT margin of between 13.2% and 13.5%, and maintain a dividend payout ratio of around 40%.

Havas also confirmed its medium-term financial targets for 2028 and said it will continue accelerating the rollout of its Converged.AI operating system while investing in sports marketing, brand experiences, strategic advisory services, and AI-powered content production.

“Havas enters the second half of the year with confidence. Our integrated model, global footprint, and long-term client relationships give us a strong foundation to continue growing and investing in the capabilities that will shape the future of our industry,” Bolloré concluded.