2026 Outlook Hub: Top Trends for Business Leaders
Insights from 2025. Strategies for 2026.
Over the last year, businesses faced seismic shifts across industries. From AI integration and privacy compliance to tariff uncertainty and global risk exposure, leaders had to adapt fast. Now, as we look ahead to 2026, understanding the trends shaping business decisions in every sector is critical for staying competitive. We’re forecasting what we think will pop up across the globe in 2026 for Energy & Infrastructure, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing.
What 2025 Taught Us
Many companies raced to adopt AI as a way to streamline workflows and reduce costs, but concerns about AI literacy and oversight grew alongside its rapid integration. Boards are increasingly prioritizing risk management and fiduciary duties as they navigate emerging technologies and their implications. At the same time, businesses faced persistent tariff and trade uncertainty, creating significant compliance challenges and driving demand for alternative supply chain strategies.
Industry-specific shifts added further complexity. The automotive sector saw major disruptions, including the cancellation of electric vehicle (EV) programs and tariff-driven supply chain realignments. Health care and pharmaceutical companies contended with heightened FDA scrutiny of telemedicine and advertising standards, signaling substantial regulatory changes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. designation of certain Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations introduced new liability risks for businesses with cross-border operations, underscoring the need for vigilant compliance in global markets.
2026 Trends to Watch
Across all sectors, including Energy & Infrastructure, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing, we are seeing developing trends that will reach throughout 2026 and beyond.
- Plan for market volatility: Position your company for opportunities in M&A, IPOs, and cross-border deals.
- Prepare for regulatory shifts: Privacy, environmental, and cybersecurity laws are evolving; get ahead of compliance.
- AI isn’t going anywhere: Balance innovation with governance to mitigate risk. In 2026, AI startup formation will surge, but capital will concentrate around teams with clear product-market fit and defensible IP. Investors will favor startups that demonstrate regulatory readiness and scalable infrastructure. As the IPO window cautiously reopens, expect a wave of strategic M&A and secondary transactions to provide liquidity ahead of public listings. The era of generic AI platforms is ending — survivors will be those delivering targeted, high-value solutions in regulated or operationally complex sectors.
Explore the Full Outlook
Dive deeper into sector-specific insights, regulatory updates, and strategic guidance for 2026.
The automotive industry is entering another pivotal year. From turbulent market conditions and shifting global supply chains to regulatory changes and the growing importance of vehicle data and AI, companies across the sector are facing a new wave of disruption.
