2026 technology trends and predictions for IT leaders

While 2025 was full of change, our tech predictions for the year were pretty spot on.

To uncover 2026 technology trends, we consulted our community of 2,500+ expert authors and 1,500 tech executives, IT practitioners, and business professionals.

As an IT leader, these are the future workforce and technology trends your organization should be aware of going into 2026. 

Get the 2026 Tech Forecast for all of our predictions across AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software development.

There’s no shortage of new generative AI tools and technologies. While the hype will continue to some extent into 2026, tech leaders should focus on more specific advancements, rather than particular tools. 

Keep an eye on autonomous AI like agentic AI, MCP, and edge intelligence. Understanding the technology behind the latest solutions will allow you to determine what’s a fad and what can actually bring value to your organization.

Every organization uses some form of technology. That means your organization is a technology company, even if you don’t sell software. 

This isn’t a new concept, but it will only become more apparent as tech continues to advance. Organizations that aren’t already upskilling both technical and non-technical employees will need to prioritize this in 2026.

If you already have comprehensive upskilling initiatives in place, great. Make sure you look beyond engagement metrics to assess how learning and development impacts business goals. For example, look at time to proficiency for new hires, efficiency metrics, and employee turnover rates.

Uncover 17 metrics to track upskilling ROI.

95% of executives say building a culture of learning is a priority at their organization. Yet, for the past four years, lack of time has been the top barrier to learning for employees.

This reveals a gap between leader intent and actual execution. To overcome this gap in 2026, leaders need to create a culture of learning with tangible initiatives. That includes one-off activations like certification challenges and skill blitzes. 

It also means introducing efforts to build continuous learning into everyday culture and operations. For example, tie performance to learning initiatives, enable middle managers to upskill their teams, and create relevant learning paths for tech skills.

Learn how to develop continuous upskilling in your organization—get the Tech Upskilling Playbook.

New hire budgets are shrinking, and AI is taking on tasks that were once reserved for entry-level roles. Even as you embrace automation and adapt to wider economic conditions, hiring fresh talent is critical to your business in 2026. Here’s why.

First, new hires, whether they’re recent graduates or existing employees reskilling for a new role, drive innovation with fresh ideas. They also lighten the burden on your existing employees, reducing burnout and employee turnover.

When employees eventually retire or move on, you can then upskill your entry-level staff for more senior roles. That way, you avoid the competitive and costly hiring market.

If you don’t have a robust hiring budget, consider redesigning your process for tech jobs. Learn how Epsilon revamped their hiring process to identify high-potential candidates and increase their new hire retention rate from 75% to 98%.

While tech will continue to change, one thing is certain: Your people are the key to success. Invest in them and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. 

Upskill technical and non-technical teams, build learning into daily routines, and invest in new hires to get ahead of churn and ensure business continuity. 

Get a clearer picture of 2026 technology trends—download the 2026 Tech Forecast for all of the expert-backed insights.