Gartner Forecasts IT Spending to Hit $6 Trillion in 2026

Global IT Spending Set to Exceed $6 Trillion for First Time

Worldwide IT spending is projected to reach $6.08 trillion in 2026, marking a significant 9.8% increase from 2025 levels, according to the latest forecast from Gartner, Inc. This milestone represents the first time global IT expenditure will surpass the $6 trillion threshold, driven primarily by continued investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and device upgrades.

AI Infrastructure and Devices Fuel Growth

The forecast reveals that data center systems and devices will be the primary growth drivers, with AI-optimized infrastructure leading the charge. 'The uncertainty pause that began in the second quarter of 2025 started to alleviate in the third quarter and a significant budget flush is anticipated before the end of the year,' said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. 'Despite being in the trough of disillusionment in 2026, GenAI features are now ubiquitous across software already owned and operated by enterprises and these features cost more money, aligning with this flush.'

Data center systems spending is expected to grow by 19% in 2026, reaching $582 billion, while devices spending will increase by 6.8% to $836 billion. The software segment shows the strongest percentage growth at 15.2%, reaching $1.43 trillion in 2026.

Market Segments Show Varied Performance

Not all IT segments will experience uniform growth, according to Gartner's analysis. 'Software and services spending growth in 2025 does not recover in the same way as devices and data center systems,' Lovelock noted. 'For instance, vertical-specific software spending has been slightly more affected, as vertical-industry-level software buyers are more sensitive to the policy changes and business uncertainties.'

The IT services market is projected to grow 8.7% to $1.87 trillion, while communications services will see more modest growth of 4.5% to $1.36 trillion. The overall IT market growth of 9.8% represents a slight deceleration from the 10% growth projected for 2025.

AI Devices Drive Consumer and Enterprise Spending

The availability of AI-enabled devices has significantly boosted overall spending, adding more than $30 billion to the devices market in 2025 alone. 'This growth in 2025 is mainly driven by stronger-than-expected spending on mobile phones,' Lovelock explained. 'The availability of AI devices has also boosted overall spending by more than $30 billion. With the replacement cycle unchanged, the stronger performance in 2025 will result in a lower relative growth rate for 2026, as demand has been pulled forward.'

The race to build AI infrastructure has further increased demand for data center servers, particularly AI-optimized server racks. However, server demand growth remains limited by supply constraints, indicating potential challenges in meeting the accelerating demand for computational resources.

Methodology and Market Context

Gartner's IT spending forecast methodology relies on rigorous analysis of sales by over a thousand vendors across the entire range of IT products and services. The research combines primary research techniques with secondary research sources to build a comprehensive database of market size data.

The forecast comes at a time when organizations worldwide are navigating the complexities of digital transformation and AI adoption. The findings were discussed during the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo in Orlando, where technology leaders gathered to address emerging trends and strategic priorities.

For more detailed analysis and access to the complete forecast data, Gartner clients can refer to the Gartner Market Databook, 3Q25 Update.