Virtual Influencers Market Report 2026

The virtual influencers market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $11.22 billion in 2025 to $15.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to early adoption of digital marketing campaigns, rise of social media platforms, increased influencer marketing budgets, growth in consumer engagement metrics, development of 3d modeling and animation software.

The virtual influencers market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $62.67 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of ai-powered avatars, integration with immersive technologies, growth of e-commerce personalization, rising adoption of virtual customer service, increasing brand investments in digital experiences. Major trends in the forecast period include rise of social media engagement strategies, growth of brand-managed digital personas, expansion of virtual entertainment platforms, adoption of ai-generated content in marketing, increased consumer acceptance of non-human influencers.

The growing popularity of social media and influencer marketing is anticipated to drive the expansion of the virtual influencers market in the coming years. Social media and influencer marketing involve leveraging social platforms and influential personalities to promote brands, products, or services. As consumers increasingly trust influencers over traditional advertisements, they are more inclined to make purchases based on influencer recommendations. Virtual influencers support this trend by providing brands with complete control over messaging, consistent content delivery, and the ability to engage audiences without the challenges posed by human influencers. For example, in January 2025, Made in CA, a Canada-based online platform promoting Canadian-made goods and innovations, reported that Canada had 31.9 million social media users as of early 2023, representing a 91.3% penetration rate. This suggests that the vast majority of Canadians maintain at least one social media profile. Consequently, the growing influence of social media and influencer marketing is propelling the virtual influencers market.

Key players in the virtual influencers market are concentrating on advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, particularly by creating female virtual influencers to boost realism, interactivity, and audience engagement. These digital characters are designed to resemble human females and are AI-powered to produce personalized and adaptive marketing content. For instance, in August 2023, Xhadow Media Pvt. Ltd., a media and entertainment company based in India, introduced Sanvii - the first female virtual influencer on Instagram. Utilizing AI and 3D visualization, Sanvii connects with audiences through relatable lifestyle content while offering brands a consistent, cost-effective, and far-reaching promotional tool. Her mission is to transform influencer marketing by blending technological innovation with creative storytelling for immersive digital engagement.

In November 2024, 17LIVE Group Limited, a Taiwan-based interactive live-streaming company, announced the acquisition of Mikai Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Through this acquisition, 17LIVE aims to expand its V-liver services, enhance its virtual influencer capabilities, and tap into the growing global market for virtual entertainment and Japanese animation. Mikai Inc., based in Japan, is an entertainment startup that focuses on managing virtual YouTubers (VTubers) and developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content.

Major companies operating in the virtual influencers market are Meta Platforms Inc., LG Uplus Corp., Magazine Luiza S.A., SM Entertainment Co. Ltd., Balmain S.A., The Diigitals, Hololive Production, Superplastic Inc., Aww Inc., UneeQ Limited, Brud Inc., FUTR Studios Ltd., InfluencerFarm, AvatarOS, SynthLife, Virtual Humans Inc., Genies Inc., Soul Machines Ltd., Pinscreen Inc., Wolf3D OÜ, Hour One AI Ltd., Ready Player Me.

North America was the largest region in the virtual influencers market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the virtual influencers market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the virtual influencers market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The virtual influencers market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as brand promotion, content creation, and customer engagement. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The virtual influencers market also includes sales of high-performance computers, motion capture equipment, headsets, camera rigs, and green screen setups. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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