Tech Predictions for a Bold 2026

It is that time of year: a time for predictions about what is going to come in the year ahead. What will 2026 hold? No one can truly answer that question, but some can try. One organization that does every year is Gartner with its strategic technology trends list for the year ahead, which deserves a look each year.

Although as Peggy Smedley has often pointed out on her podcast and in her blog, the analysts don’t always get it right. Still, a look at some of the predictions can give at least a glimpse into what is to come in the year ahead. So, let’s take a few minutes to unpack Gartner’s top strategic technology trends for 2026.

One of the three lenses Gartner uses to group its trends is The Architect—which are technologies that help build secure, scalable, AI-ready foundations.

Trends in this category ...