Influencer marketing has become a key component of digital marketing
strategies for brands worldwide. In Canada, businesses are increasingly leveraging influencers to connect with their audience, build trust, and drive sales. This article explores Canadian brands influencer marketing statistics 2026, including trends, adoption rates, top-performing influencer types, and forecasts for the coming year.
We also compare these insights to previous years and provide practical recommendations for brands looking to maximize ROI from influencer campaigns.
What Is Influencer Marketing?
Before diving into Canadian brands influencer marketing statistics 2026, it’s important to define influencer marketing.
Influencer marketing is a strategy where brands collaborate with individuals who have a significant social media following to promote products or services. Influencers can range from micro-influencers (1K–100K followers) to mega-influencers with millions of followers.
In Canada, influencer marketing is not just limited to Instagram or TikTok; it spans YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and niche blogs. Understanding how many brands use influencer marketing in Canada is essential for 2026 planning.
Influencer Marketing in Canada: Adoption Rates
According to recent studies, influencer marketing adoption in Canada continues to grow:
- Percentage of Canadian brands using influencer marketing: 82% in 2025, expected to reach 88% in 2026.
- Most common industries: Fashion, beauty, food & beverage, tech, and lifestyle.
- Primary goals: Brand awareness (65%), engagement (57%), and conversions (45%).
This shows that influencer marketing is now mainstream among Canadian brands, not just a niche strategy.
Canadian Influencer Marketing Statistics Over the Years
Here’s a comparison of influencer marketing statistics in Canada over the last few years:
| Year | Brands Using Influencers | Average Campaign ROI | Top Influencer Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70% | 4.5x | Micro-influencers |
| 2022 | 75% | 5x | Micro + Macro |
| 2023 | 78% | 5.2x | Micro-influencers |
| 2025 | 82% | 5.5x | Micro-influencers |
| 2026 (forecast) | 88% | 6x | Micro + Nano influencers |
Canadian brands are increasingly favoring micro and nano influencers, as smaller, highly engaged audiences often deliver better ROI than celebrity partnerships.
How Many Influencers Are There in Canada?
According to influencer statistics 2022 and 2023:
- Total influencers in Canada: ~48,000 active social media influencers
- Micro-influencers (1K–100K followers): 65%
- Macro-influencers (100K–1M followers): 25%
- Mega-influencers (1M+ followers): 10%
This provides brands with a diverse pool of potential collaborators and explains why Canadian brands influencer marketing statistics 2026 show growth in campaigns targeting smaller, niche audiences.
Who Is the Biggest Canadian Influencer?
Some of the most prominent Canadian influencers include:
- Lilly Singh – YouTube and TikTok content creator, millions of followers globally.
- NikkieTutorials (Canadian-born beauty influencer with international reach).
- Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) – Tech influencer, massive YouTube following.
Understanding these key players helps brands identify opportunities for macro campaigns while leveraging smaller influencers for micro-campaigns.
Influencer Marketing Statistics by Platform
Canadian brands are using different platforms based on audience demographics:
- Instagram – 68% of campaigns
- TikTok – 55% (fastest growth in 2026)
- YouTube – 45%
- Facebook – 30%
- LinkedIn – 15%
TikTok continues to rise in popularity due to its viral potential, making it a strategic platform for Canadian brands in 2026.
How Many Brands Use Influencer Marketing in Canada?
The data indicates strong adoption rates:
- 2021 – 70% of brands
- 2022 – 75% of brands
- 2023 – 78% of brands
- 2025 – 82% of brands
- 2026 forecast – 88% of brands
With nearly 9 out of 10 Canadian brands expected to use influencers in 2026, influencer marketing is now a standard part of digital strategy.
Types of Influencers Canadian Brands Work With
Canadian brands prefer different influencer tiers depending on campaign goals:
- Nano-influencers (1K–10K followers) – High engagement, lower cost, great for niche products
- Micro-influencers (10K–100K followers) – Ideal for both awareness and engagement
- Macro-influencers (100K–1M followers) – Brand authority and large reach
- Mega-influencers (1M+ followers) – National campaigns, costly but high exposure
Micro and nano influencers are expected to dominate campaigns in 2026 due to higher ROI per dollar spent.
Influencer Marketing ROI in Canada
ROI is a key metric for brands evaluating influencer campaigns:
- Average ROI in 2023: 5.2x spend
- Forecast ROI for 2026: 6x spend
- Engagement rates: 3–8% for micro-influencers, 1–3% for macro-influencers
Brands are now using analytics platforms to track conversions, clicks, and audience sentiment, which helps justify increasing budgets for influencer campaigns.
Canadian Influencer Marketing Statistics 2026 Forecast
Based on current trends:
- Budget allocation – 20–35% of digital marketing budgets allocated to influencers
- Focus on micro-influencers – 60% of campaigns target micro or nano influencers
- Influencer collaboration types – Sponsored posts (50%), product reviews (30%), affiliate marketing (20%)
- Expected growth – 10–15% year-over-year increase in influencer marketing adoption
This growth reinforces the importance of tracking Canadian brands influencer marketing statistics 2026 for strategic planning.
Challenges for Canadian Brands Using Influencers
Despite strong adoption, brands face challenges:
- Finding authentic influencers
- Ensuring compliance with advertising standards
- Measuring campaign ROI accurately
- Maintaining engagement over time
Brands need to invest in influencer relationship management and analytics to overcome these challenges.
Best Practices for Canadian Brands Influencer Marketing in 2026
- Prioritize micro and nano influencers for high engagement
- Use analytics platforms to measure ROI
- Maintain long-term partnerships rather than one-off campaigns
- Ensure content aligns with brand voice
- Leverage multi-platform campaigns – Instagram + TikTok + YouTube
These insights are helpful for marketers benchmarking their campaigns against industry data.
FAQs – Canadian Brands Influencer Marketing Statistics 2026
Q1: How many brands in Canada use influencer marketing?
A1: Approximately 88% of brands are expected to use influencer marketing in 2026.
Q2: Who is the biggest Canadian influencer?
A2: Lilly Singh is among the most prominent, with global reach across YouTube and TikTok.
Q3: What is the ROI of influencer marketing in Canada?
A3: Average ROI for micro-influencers is 6x, with nano influencers often outperforming larger accounts in engagement.
Q4: Which platforms are most popular in Canada?
A4: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook remain dominant, with TikTok growing fastest.
Q5: What trends should Canadian brands follow in 2026?
A5: Focus on micro and nano influencers, long-term partnerships, and multi-platform campaigns.
Final Thoughts
Canadian brands influencer marketing statistics 2026 indicate a clear upward trend in adoption, ROI, and reliance on smaller influencers for highly engaged audiences. Brands looking to stay competitive must invest in influencer marketing strategies, track performance, and collaborate with authentic influencers to maximize results.
With nearly 9 out of 10 brands adopting influencer strategies and a growing pool of Canadian influencers, 2026 is set to be a pivotal year for influencer marketing in Canada.
