Global enterprise IT spending is projected to reach $4.96 trillion by 2026, driven by 16.3 million businesses worldwide actively investing in software, services, hardware, and communications, according to HG Insights’ IT Spend Report: The Ultimate B2B Market Forecast for 2026.
Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, enterprise IT investment remains resilient. Growth is being fueled by accelerated AI adoption, sustained cloud expansion, and continued modernization across core technology stacks.
Key highlights from the 2026 forecast:
- $1.39 trillion in IT software spend in the enterprise and $143.3 billion for SMBs
- $1.95 trillion in IT services, accounting for over 43% of total enterprise IT spend, with cloud services making up 36.9% of spend for enterprises, and 37% for SMBs
- AMER (United States, Central, and South America) alone represents ~$1.98 trillion in IT spend, accounting for almost 44% of global enterprise investment
Together, IT software and IT services now represent a larger share of enterprise technology spending than hardware and communications combined, signaling a continued shift toward cloud, platforms, and subscription-based models.
What’s new in 2026?
For the first time, our IT Spend forecast includes both enterprise and SMB spend data, giving businesses deeper insights into the entire market landscape. Further, the report also includes insights from TrustRadius, a B2B buyer intelligence platform, including verified reviewer insights on popular products, and first-party intent data that shows how buyers are researching their software purchases.
Why this matters for GTM and revenue teams
Unlike broader industry forecasts that include consumer technology purchases, HG Insights’ forecast includes granular insights into both enterprise and SMB spend. That distinction matters.
For revenue, marketing, and strategy teams, getting an accurate picture of the entire market enables:
- More accurate TAM, SAM, and SOM modeling
- Better regional and category prioritization
- Stronger alignment between GTM strategy and real buyer demand
Having this detailed, B2B-focused data ensures GTM strategies are based on the actual spending and buying behavior of businesses, leading to better resource allocation and higher-value market prioritization.
What’s driving IT investment in 2026?
There are two big drivers in IT investment this year:
- Generative AI acceleration, increasing demand for data centers, servers, and infrastructure
- Tariffs increase the cost of investing in all kinds of hardware
Since enterprises are evaluating vendor roadmaps and AI capabilities in their purchasing decisions, vendors must reinforce the importance and development of AI-enabled solutions and supporting infrastructure in their IT markets.
What’s inside the full report?
The full IT Spend Report: The Ultimate B2B Market Forecast for 2026 includes:
- Detailed forecasts across 130+ IT categories
- Regional and vendor-level insights
- Enterprise install base and spending intelligence
- Data to support account prioritization and GTM planning
👉 Download the full report for access to the complete dataset so you can plan your 2026 growth strategy with confidence.
