Predictions 2026: The Race To Trust And Value

After a turbulent 2025 marked by overly enthusiastic AI ambitions, deepening CX fatigue, and ongoing economic volatility, 2026 will bring a year of reckoning. AI missteps will demand a pragmatic reset as wary buyers seek proof over promises. Progress hinges on effective use cases for generative AI and agentic systems as well as renewed offline experiences. In 2026, successful firms will forgo the hype and focus on tangible outcomes, trust, and customer value.

Forrester clients: Take advantage of your exclusive access to our full suite of Predictions 2026 resources.

Predictions 2026

Blog

Predictions 2026: The Race To Trust And Value

Volatility and innovation will continue as leaders yearn for clarity and race to differentiate on trust and genuine value. Find out what’s in store for the year ahead.

Technology & Security

The volatility that technology and security leaders grappled with in 2025 will only intensify in 2026. As budgets get tighter, the margin for error shrinks. Technology and security leaders must step past tech experimentation and deliver measurable, secure business outcomes. The race to trusted business value is on.

Guide

Outcomes Win For Tech & Security: 2026 Predictions

What’s driving AI investment shifts? What direction will quantum security and neoclouds take? Forrester’s 2026 Predictions guide explores the questions that tech and security leaders must answer.

Webinar

Predictions 2026: Technology & Security

In 2026, technology and security leaders will be under pressure to deliver real, defensible value. Join us for a webinar to learn how trust, value, and evidence-based decisions will define your success.

Blog

Predictions 2026: Environmental Sustainability Enters An Era Of Authenticity

Environmental sustainability is entering a new era: Performative messaging is out, and authenticity is in. Find out what this means in Forrester’s 2026 predictions for environmental sustainability.
Blog

Predictions 2026: AI Moves From Hype To Hard Hat Work

In 2026, AI will trade its tiara for a hard hat as enterprises prioritize AI function over flair. This year’s AI predictions emphasize the importance of investing in areas such as training and governance while evaluating the ROI of AI more closely.
Blog

Predictions 2026: Cybersecurity And Risk Leaders Grapple With New Tech And Geopolitical Threats

In 2026, continued political instability coupled with technological advancements being used by cybercriminals will force cybersecurity and risk leaders to adapt their defensive technologies and prepare their workforce for big shifts. Find out more in our 2026 predictions for cybersecurity and risk.
Blog

Predictions 2026: Tech Leadership Will Be Wild — Bring Your Surfboard, Your Calculator, And Maybe A Clone

Technology leaders are about to face a year that’s part roller coaster, part chess match, and part improv comedy. Get a jump on planning with our 2026 predictions for tech leaders.

B2B Marketing & Sales

B2B leaders will face a reckoning in 2026: AI adoption has outpaced governance, and buyers are demanding proof over promises. Marketing, sales, and product teams must act fast to validate value, mitigate risk, and compete in a landscape shaped by empowered buyers and the emergence of AI agents.

Guide

B2B Strategy Gets Pragmatic: 2026 Predictions

Discover what will redefine buyer trust, reshape GTM strategy, and challenge how B2B leaders prove value in 2026. Forrester’s B2B Predictions guide reveals what’s coming.

Webinar

Predictions 2026: B2B Marketing, Sales, & Product

In 2026, B2B leaders and teams will face a reckoning. Join us for a webinar to learn how trust, transparency, and long-term value will differentiate winners from those who fall behind.

Blog

Predictions 2026: Trust Gets Tested For B2B Marketing, Sales, And Product Leaders

AI adoption, changing buying dynamics, and persistent volatility are rewriting go-to-market playbooks. Learn what B2B leaders and teams must do to navigate the year ahead.

B2C, CX & Digital

In 2026, B2C marketing, CX, and digital leaders must deliver real value. Consumers will reject surface-level personalization and fragmented experiences, demanding transparency, relevance, and trust. Success will hinge on operational discipline, evidence-based strategy, and the ability to connect authentically — online and off.

Guide

Trust Takes Over In B2C, CX, & Digital: 2026 Predictions

Consumers are leaving the open web. In 2026, display ad budgets will drop 30%. Download Forrester’s guide to see what B2C leaders must do next.

Webinar

Predictions 2026: B2C Marketing, CX, & Digital

In 2026, B2C marketing, CX, and digital leaders must move beyond surface engagement to earn trust and deliver real value. Join us to learn how trust, transparency, and long-term impact will replace performative tactics and short-term wins.

Blog

Predictions 2026: Marketing Agencies Resign Their Agency

By the end of the coming year, marketing agencies will have materially changed. For CMOs, agencies will no longer act solely as your agents but also as owners of solutions, resellers of technology partnerships, and developers of emerging capabilities.
Blog

Predictions 2026: CMOs Hunker Down But Don’t Retreat

B2C CMOs will be put to the test in a coming year that will be even more volatile than the current one. Adaptability and precision will be critical to success.
Blog

Predictions 2026: CX Teams Look To Escape The Orbit Of Dysfunction

Many CX teams are drifting dangerously close to the event horizon of metric obsession — a gravitational pull toward dashboards and KPIs that threatens to consume purpose and impact. 2026 will mark a critical decision point.

Industry & Region

Global regions and industries face distinct challenges, from sustainability pressures and shifting regulations to evolving consumer behaviors and workforce dynamics. Leaders must adapt fast, using localized insights and sector-specific strategies to navigate disruption, build resilience, and seize emerging opportunities.

Webinar

Predictions 2026 APAC: Technology & Security

Join us to discover Forrester’s top 2026 predictions for APAC tech and security. Learn how to build resilient strategies, balance innovation with sovereignty, and deliver measurable value in a region defined by complexity and momentum.

Webinar

Predictions 2026 APAC: B2C Marketing, CX, & Digital

2026 will demand more than personalization and promises. Join us to explore Forrester’s predictions on how B2C marketing, CX, and digital leaders can lead with trust, transparency, and measurable impact.

Blog

Predictions 2026: Europe’s Push For Simplification And Sovereignty Won’t Dislodge US Tech Dominance

Despite a desire to reduce dependencies on non-European firms, a break from the tech giants will be impractical in the near term. Learn what else we foresee for Europe in the year ahead.
Blog

Predictions 2026: APAC Leaders Choose Pragmatism Over Hype In The Age Of AI

Rather than being driven by hype cycles or geopolitical rhetoric, business and technology leaders in the Asia Pacific region in 2026 will focus on pragmatic strategies in response to the region’s complex economic, regulatory, and cultural landscape. Find out more in our 2026 predictions for APAC.

Upcoming In-Person Events

Join Forrester experts and peers at field events in your region to explore how our 2026 predictions are already taking shape. Below, you’ll find Q4 2025 events — with more coming worldwide in 2026.

North America

Contact namarketing@forrester.com for more information.

Boston: Tech Leaders, B2B Leaders, CX Leaders
December 2, 2025

EMEA

Contact marketingeu@forrester.com for more information.

More event details coming soon!

APAC

Contact marketingapac@forrester.com for more information.

Singapore: Tech Leaders
November 25, 2025

India: Tech Leaders, B2B Leaders
December 2-5, 2025

Guide

Outcomes Win For Tech & Security: 2026 Predictions

What’s driving AI investment shifts? What direction will quantum security and neoclouds take? Forrester’s 2026 Predictions guide explores the questions that tech and security leaders must answer.

Guide

B2B Strategy Gets Pragmatic: 2026 Predictions

Discover what will redefine buyer trust, reshape GTM strategy, and challenge how B2B leaders prove value in 2026. Forrester’s B2B Predictions guide reveals what’s coming.

Guide

Trust Takes Over In B2C, CX, & Digital: 2026 Predictions

Consumers are leaving the open web. In 2026, display ad budgets will drop 30%. Download Forrester’s guide to see what B2C leaders must do next.

Let’s Talk About What’s Next

Have questions about the predictions or how they apply to your business? Connect with us to explore tailored strategies that reflect your goals, challenges, and market realities.

0/500 Max characters reached

Thanks, we will be in touch soon.

Ready to learn more now? Give us a call:

Americas: +1 615.395.3401
EMEA: +44 (0) 2073 237741
Asia Pacific: +65 6426 7060

Top