Predictions 2026: Payments

The seeds of significant payments innovation will finally sprout in 2026. The seedlings? Agentic payments, stablecoins, next-gen biometrics, and better standardization. We expect that each will find its niche and will grow strong roots there. These disruptive forces will grow more slowly than the headlines (and the vendors) would have you believe. However, savvy leaders will plan and/or act now because 2026 — and 2027 beyond that — will be a significant turning point in the payments industry as we know it. In this report, we explore Forrester’s predictions for payments in 2026.