Each year, thousands of C-level executives across Gartner C-level Communities share their top priorities and investments for the year ahead in our Leadership Perspective Survey. As a sponsor, you gain exclusive insights into CIOs’ top priorities from our community survey, enabling you to refine your strategies and messaging for meaningful engagement with C-level decision-makers.
In 2026, CIOs are facing a rapidly evolving and ever more complex business landscape. As they manage shifting priorities, technology leaders are driving initiatives in AI, data, digital transformation, and risk management.
More than 1,100 CIOs from the world’s leading organizations have responded to our survey – here are highlights of the results.
CIO Operating Budgets Are Stable and Trending Up
In 2026, 43% of CIOs report that their operating budgets for the year increased, and another 38% say that their budgets are the same as last year. Nineteen percent of technology leaders cite budgets that declined year over year. These are similar results to our 2025 survey, but the percentage of CIOs saying they have more budget grew from 40% to 43%.
Planned Investments Set to Grow
Nearly half of CIOs (46%) report that their planned spending on technology and services is set to increase this year. Similar to their operating budgets, 37% of CIOs say that their spending will remain the same as in 2025, and only 17% anticipate that they will spend less this year.
CIOs Prioritize AI Investments
Notably, 67% of CIOs across our communities are planning to invest in AI and Machine Learning, and 54% of those plan to spend in the next six months. More than half (52%) of IT leaders plan to invest in the area of data and analytics, and 47% of CIOs will spend on cybersecurity solutions in 2026.
The #1 Priority for CIOs is Cybersecurity
For the third year in a row, CIOs’ top priority is “Cybersecurity and Risk Management.” After security, CIOs cite “Operationalizing AI” and “Data and Analytics Strategy” as two critical focus areas.
On the topic of AI, we introduced new survey responses in 2026, separating AI into “Operationalizing AI” for IT leaders who are embedding AI into workflows and scaling initiatives, and “Developing an AI Strategy” for those who are setting the direction and identifying high-impact use cases. “Operationalizing AI” moved into the second spot, up from the third spot last year, indicating progress for CIOs and their organizations on AI implementation.
Applications moved back into the top five priorities this year, and evolving IT models and governance retained its number five position for 2026.
Topics of Interest for CIOs
Along with their investment plans and top priorities, CIOs share what they most want to discuss with C-level peers and solution providers at upcoming community events. These are the trending topics for CIOs in 2026:
- Leading Artificial Intelligence Adoption
- CIO Role Evolution
- Shaping a Data-Driven Culture
- Aligning Business & IT Strategy
- Innovating for the Future
To learn more about sponsoring Gartner C-level Communities and events and how our proprietary survey insights can help you engage with C-level decision makers, contact us.
Based on 1,100 CIO responses from Gartner C-level Communities’ proprietary Leadership Perspective Survey, March 2026.
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