Global IT spending is poised to reach $6.08 trillion in 2026, an impressive 9.8% hike from the previous year, as projected by Gartner, Inc. This prediction was shared during the ongoing Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo. According to John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, "The uncertainty pause that began in the second quarter of 2025 started to alleviate." He noted a significant budget flush expected by year's end, partly driven by growing costs associated with GenAI features embedded in existing enterprise software.
However, Lovelock highlighted disparities, stating, "Not all segments will experience this flush uniformly." While software and services see varied recovery, devices and data centre systems continue to thrive. For instance, specific industry software segments are more sensitive to policy and market changes.
Table 1. Worldwide IT Spending Forecast (Millions of US Dollars)
- Data Centre Systems: $582,446M - 19.0% growth in 2026
- Devices: $836,275M - 6.8% growth in 2026
- Software: $1,433,037M - 15.2% growth in 2026
- IT Services: $1,869,269M - 8.7% growth in 2026
- Communications Services: $1,363,058M - 4.5% growth in 2026
AI is a primary driver behind this growth. The robustness of mobile phone and PC shipments supports strong performance in the devices market. As Lovelock remarks, "This growth in 2025 is mainly driven by stronger-than-expected spending on mobile phones." The availability of AI devices even spurred over $30 billion in additional spending. Despite slowing growth for 2026, demand for devices remains strong.
Data centre systems, meanwhile, experience growth from the surge to build AI infrastructure, focusing on AI-optimised server racks. Supply constraints, however, curb rapid expansion.
Gartner’s forecasting method includes the scrutiny of sales from over a thousand vendors, covering the IT spectrum. Primary and secondary research bolster its thorough analysis in building a market database upon which forecasts are based. Quarterly reports provide unique insights into IT spending across segments, assisting Gartner clients in comprehending market dynamics. Access to the latest research is available in the Gartner Market Databook, 3Q25 Update.
