As AI reshapes enterprise priorities, global IT spending is set to reach $4.96 trillion in 2026, according to the HG Insights 2026 Global IT Spend Report. The forecast includes $4.5 trillion in enterprise investment and $460.5 billion in SMB spending – this is the first time HG has quantified SMB spend at this scale – signaling broad-based acceleration in technology investment.

This year’s report incorporates buyer intelligence from TrustRadius, acquired by HG Insights in June 2025. By integrating verified reviews and first-party intent data, the report connects spending forecasts with real-world buyer behavior, offering insight not only into where organisations are investing, but how they research, evaluate, and adopt technology solutions. 

“GTM leaders are operating in one of the most volatile technology environments we’ve seen in decades,” said Rohini Kasturi, CEO of HG Insights. “AI is accelerating investment in some areas, while increasing scrutiny in others. The organisations that win will be those that understand precisely where budgets are shifting and why. Our 2026 IT Spend Report provides that clarity.”

According to the HG Insights 2026 Global IT Spend Report, worldwide IT investment is projected to reach $4.96 trillion over the next 12 months.

Market Size and Segmentation

Over 16 million organisations are projected to spend $4.96 trillion on IT hardware, software, services, and communications.

Enterprise organisations account for the majority of the spend, accumulating $4.5 trillion, while SMBs are expected to invest $460.6 billion.

Regionally, the Americas are projected to reach $1.98 trillion, with APAC forecasted at $1.42 trillion, and EMEA expected to total $1.1 trillion.

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Software and Services Dominate

Software and IT services dominate, representing about three quarters (74%) of enterprise IT spending.

In enterprise software spend, $1.39 trillion is proected, while enterprise cloud services is the largest projected segement within IT services, forecast at $716.7 billion.

Communications, led by mobile and fixd data services, is projected to reach $295.5 billion.

What’s Happening with AI?

IT hardware investment is rising due to global AI infrastructure expansion.

Spending in this realm is concentrated in servers, components, and data centre infrastructure.