Gartner forecasts global IT spend to grow 13.5% in 2026

• Data centre systems spending is set to see the largest growth in 2026 at 55.8%.
• IT services are forecast to see the largest overall spending, surpassing US$1.87 B in 2026.
• Device spending is also rising, reaching an estimated US$856 B.

Worldwide IT spending is expected to reach US$6.31 T in 2026, up 13.5% from 2025, according to Gartner, a business and technology insights company. 

“This latest forecast underscores the accelerating momentum in AI infrastructure and advanced memory,” said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. 

“As AI workloads scale, data centre investment is ramping rapidly, which in turn is driving increased demand for high‑performance compute. This dynamic is creating meaningful growth opportunities for companies delivering AI‑optimised processors, accelerators, and enabling technologies.”

Data centre systems spending is set to see the largest growth in 2026 (55.8%). IT services, including application implementation and managed services,  infrastructure implementation and managed services, and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), is forecast to see the largest overall spending, surpassing US$1.87 B in 2026. 

Worldwide IT spending forecast (millions of US dollars) 

	2025 spending	2025 growth (%)	2026 spending	2026 growth (%)
Data centre systems	505,634	51.6	787,990	55.8
Devices	791,663	9.7	856,189	8.2
Software	1,254,449	12.8	1,443,621	15.1
IT services	1,715,650	6.2	1,870,197	9.0
Communications services	1,296,409	3.3	1,358,553	4.8
Overall IT	5,563,805	10.5	6,316,550	13.5

Source: Gartner (April 2026)

“Robust demand combined with supply constraints has resulted in record price increases for high-bandwidth memory. This surge positions the memory segment as a lucrative area for semiconductor manufacturers,” said Lovelock. 

“These trends collectively make AI infrastructure the most attractive segment for capitalising on the robust expansion in IT spending.”

Projections were revised upward due to demand for AI infrastructure, software and device hardware, Gartner said. Compared to Gartner’s previous forecast, the current prediction is for stronger‑than‑anticipated growth in global IT spending, driven by sustained momentum across AI infrastructure, software, and IaaS. These shifts are reinforcing a multispeed IT market*, with hyperscaler purchases and AI‑centric software segments significantly outperforming more traditional categories. 

Hyperscale cloud demand is fuelling a sharp increase in server and data centre investment, Gartner said. Spending on data centre systems is projected to surpass US$788 B in 2026 with growth accelerating well beyond prior expectations. At the same time, generative AI (gen AI) continues to drive outsized gains in software, particularly in gen AI model development, where spending growth is forecast to more than double year-over-year.

Device spending is also rising, reaching an estimated US$856 B, though growth is being moderated by higher memory costs that are lifting average selling prices and constraining replacement cycles in lower‑margin segments.

“Together, these dynamics highlight a widening divergence across IT markets, as AI infrastructure and gen AI software see substantial upward revisions while device growth reflects ongoing cost and pricing pressures,” said Lovelock. 

The Gartner quarterly IT spending forecast delivers a unique perspective on IT spending across the hardware, software, IT services and telecommunications segments. These reports help Gartner clients understand market opportunities and challenges. The most recent IT spending forecast research is available to Gartner clients in Gartner Market Databook, 1Q26. 

Gartner’s IT spending forecast methodology relies heavily on rigorous analysis of the sales by over a thousand vendors across the entire range of IT products and services. Gartner uses primary research techniques, complemented by secondary research sources, to build a comprehensive database of market size data on which to base its forecast.  

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More information can be found in the complimentary on-demand Gartner webinar, IT Spending in 2026: Pruning the AI Garden.

*A multispeed market is one where the ideal speed for task completion varies depending on the market segment considered.