Value will outperform volume as home-audio demand contracts again in 2026
Global home audio shipments are forecast to decline 8.2% year on year to 134.4 million units in 2026, following an 8.9% fall in 2025. Retail value is expected to grow, after falling in 2025.
- The difference between volume and value performance should not be interpreted as evidence of a broad premium replacement cycle. Category mix, reduced promotional activity and cost inflation can all support reported value even while consumers delay purchases or move towards more affordable products.
- Performance is increasingly polarised. Party speakers remain the clearest growth category, while Wi-Fi speakers, AV receivers and Hi-Fi continue to contract. Soundbars sit between these positions, with a near-term decline followed by modest recovery.
Vendors should prioritise categories and use cases that create new purchase occasions, while protecting affordability and margin in categories still dependent on replacement demand.