Gartner: IT Spending in Australia to Reach A$172 Billion in 2026

GOLD COAST, Australia, September 8, 2025 — IT spending in Australia is expected to reach A$172.3 billion in 2026, an increase of 8.9% from 2025, according to Gartner, Inc. a business and technology insights company.

"Despite an uncertain environment, investments in AI, cybersecurity and cloud will continue to drive new IT spending in Australia next year," said Andy Rowsell-Jones, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. "With AI firmly in the spotlight, Australian organisations are widening their focus from generative AI (GenAI) towards investments in other related AI technologies for real-time intelligence and operational scalability, helping ensure long-term success."

Gartner analysts are discussing the latest CIO investment trends this week at Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, taking place on the Gold Coast until Wednesday.

Investments in AI-related infrastructure will continue to surge in 2026. Gartner forecasts spending on data centre systems in Australia by enterprises and service providers will see the largest growth, increasing 22.5% to A$10.1 billion. Within this category, server spending will increase 30% to reach A$7.7 billion in 2026, driven by investments in AI-optimised servers to support GenAI adoption (Table 1).

"The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres for GenAI is driving huge demand for power, which utility providers struggle to keep up with," said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. "It is encouraging to see such strong growth continuing in data centre spending, as enterprises and service providers work together on solutions to support rapid GenAI growth."

Largest Spending Directed to Software

Software will be the largest IT spending category in Australia in 2026, overtaking IT services. Gartner forecasts software spending in Australia will reach almost A$60 billion in 2026, a 13.6% increase from 2025.

"Australian organisations are rapidly migrating to AI-enabled software and cybersecurity tools to enhance workflows, manage compliance and combat threats, which are both commonly delivered as software services," said Rowsell-Jones. "In particular, GenAI is transforming the software landscape by enabling more intelligent, efficient and personalised applications."

Technology vendors are rapidly integrating GenAI-driven capabilities into their products to capitalise on early monetisation opportunities and stay competitive as GenAI adoption becomes a key differentiator in software. Gartner predicts by 2028, 75% of spend will be on software with GenAI functionality, as emerging use cases unlock new efficiencies and capabilities in software solutions.

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.

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, 2Q25 Update.

More information on the forecast can be found in the complimentary Gartner webinar IT Spending Forecast, 2Q25 Update: Navigate the Complexities of the Current IT Landscape.

Gartner clients can read more in Competitiveness Will Drive Tech Investment as Enterprise Economic Confidence Erodes in 2Q25.

About Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo
Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo is the world's most important gathering for CIOs and other IT executives. IT executives rely on these conferences to learn how to amplify the impact of the technology, insights and trends shaping the future of IT and business. Follow news and updates from the conference on X and LinkedIn using #GartnerSYM, and on the Gartner Newsroom.

Upcoming dates and locations for Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo include:

October 20-23, 2025 | Orlando, FL
October 28-30, 2025 | Yokohama, Japan
November 10-13, 2025 | Barcelona, Spain
November 17-19, 2025 | Kochi, India

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