As new technologies emerge, business executives are keen to learn how these tools can assist their organization and generate revenue, and technology leadership finds themselves in the forefront as they constantly evaluate and implement new solutions to meet business expectations.

Foundry’s 25th annual State of the CIO research details how the role of the CIO continues to evolve and elevate in today’s business climate and defines the CIO agenda for 2026. This definitive benchmarking survey outlines the business and technology initiatives IT leaders expect to focus on in the coming year and where they expect to be more involved.

Like in past years, we consistently see the CIO increasingly leading business and technology initiatives (83%) while also planning to have more time for strategic tasks in the future. Much of their time is currently spent on working more closely with business leaders on potential AI initiatives and learning, emerging technology, and creating a framework and organizational structure to support AI initiatives. This year’s research found that 79% of CIOs agree that they’re working more closely with line of business on AI applications.

Key takeaways:

  • The CIO role continues to be elevated due to the current state of the economy, putting a new level of pressure on heads of IT. These individuals remain optimistic about tech budget growth and also anticipate technology budgets that live outside of IT to switch ownership to IT.
  • CIOs have a strong educational partnership with the CEO/board of directors. In fact, 65% of line of business view the CIO as a consultant or business leader, and 43% of LOB plans to work more closely with IT when determining the business need this year.
  • Throughout the upcoming year, CIOs anticipate hiring talent in technology-related areas like AI/machine learning, cybersecurity, and data science/analytics. However, CIOs also anticipate having difficulty finding appropriate skill sets in these same areas as well.
  • CIOs continue to strive towards a business strategist role, and report to be spending more time aligning IT initiatives with business goals and redesigning business processes compared to last year.
  • Additional investments in AI/machine learning projects and/or products/services is the #1 reason for tech budgets increasing in 2026 and 34% say that staff and skills shortages are most often forcing them to redirect their time and focus away from strategic and innovative tasks.
  • Due to its perceived automation and efficiency benefits, AI is constantly being explored and implemented. 76% of CIOs anticipate their involvement in AI/machine learning will increase over the next year, and another 70% expect their involvement in Agentic AI to increase.

Regional insights

Who is the North American CIO? View this infographic.

Marketing to EMEA CIOs? View this infographic.

What’s on the APAC CIO’s agenda? Find out in this infographic.

About the research

Foundry’s 25th annual State of the CIO survey was fielded online with the objective of understanding the current parameters of the CIO role and how it may be changing over time. To be considered qualified, respondents must have identified themselves as the head of IT for their company or a division within it. Results are based on 662 qualified IT respondents, and 249 LOB responses. This study was fielded globally, with the response base being 36% North America, 20% EMEA, 42% APAC, and 1% LATAM.

Better understand the CIO audience

Explore how to sell to the CIO

It’s not always easy to sell technology. Here’s a guide for tech marketers to best understand who the CIO is, what they are focused on, and how to engage with them throughout the purchase process. View Foundry’s Selling to the CIO page.

Listen to what CIOs have to say

Our study outlines how the CIO role continues to evolve in today’s business climate, and explores their business and tech initiatives as they navigate the impact of the current economic climate. See what they think.

How to market to CIOs around the world

Is your marketing scope region-specific? If so, it’s important to tailor your messaging – their priorities, responsibilities, and challenges may be very different in North America, EMEA or APAC. Check out these research findings.