6 Consulting Trends to Watch in 2026

The year 2026 promises to be an exciting one for the consulting industry. Big technological changes and a growing number of startups in the space are expected to accompany a period of client recalibration. To succeed, consulting firms will need to be adaptable—and will need to stay on top of industry trends. Flexibility in how you operate and how you approach clients can open new sources of revenue. And by boosting your tech savviness, you can offer better solutions, which could increase repeat and referral business. Here’s a look at some of the most notable consulting trends that will impact the industry in the year to come. 1. Niche specialists will be in greater demand than generalists There’s a growing shift away from generalist consulting firms and a greater demand among clients for specialists, who focus on specific areas of expertise. The growing number of independent consultants is filling that demand, with detailed sector knowledge and a firm understanding of that area’s regulatory frameworks, ESG compliance, or sector-specific nuances. Those companies typically offer faster turnaround times on projects, better insights, and improved impacts for clients. “Clients prefer boutique firms offering regulatory expertise, sector specialization, and competitive pricing, driving growth in niche consulting segments,” says research firm StartUs Insights. 2. Expect more competition, but new avenues of revenue It’s not the news that some firms want to hear, but the hard truth is 2026 will see a much more crowded consulting landscape. Professionals who were let go in 2025 (and will be this year) are increasingly turning to consulting as the job market becomes leaner, often giving well-established companies more competition than they were counting on. At the same time, client budgets are likely to be leaner, which could impact the number of jobs they commission. That doesn’t mean the work won’t be there. Greaux Consulting says flexibility will be key, as clients could look for fractional or on-demand consulting help. And while big corporations could reduce budgets, there’s likely to be more demand from small and midsize businesses for consulting expertise. Expect “a growing demand for business consulting services for small businesses, as this provides small emerging companies access to skilled, high-level experts to consult on operations, financial planning and projections, and marketing strategy,” says the company, which specializes in business process documentation, operational transformation, and executive coaching. 3. Localization will become much more important With the emphasis from the White House and Congress on domestic workers, many companies are foregoing working with international consultants or opting to work with those who have strong local networks. That could present an opportunity. Additionally, while there’s a lot of volatility in the economy now, some areas, especially in the Southeast, are seeing expansion, which will create more demand for consultants who know those regions, their regulations, market conditions, and workforce dynamics. Companies that are looking to expand to those areas will need expert insight into how best to grow and succeed there. 4. AI expertise will be in demand It likely won’t come as a surprise to hear AI will play a bigger role in client operations in 2026. As companies depend on it to assist with everything from analytics to forecasting, consultants who are fluent in these tools will have a competitive advantage. And those who can offer the tools to clients could have an even bigger head start. “Organizations that hire consulting services or a national consulting practice will see meaningful benefits from AI-driven tools to improve operations, customer segmentation, supply chain, and financial planning,” says Greaux. 5. There will be an increased focus on automation With businesses becoming even more focused on optimization in 2026 (a trend that has been growing for the past several years), consultants who can help guide them through reworking manual processes into automated ones could be in a position to thrive. There’s a growing need to reduce costs, increase productivity, and enhance efficiency, which opens up a niche for consultants. StartUs Insights says “the digital transformation consulting market [will grow] from $268.46 billion in 2025 to $510.50 billion in 2034.” 6. Personalizing client services will boost revenues While a one-size-fits-all approach might have worked for consulting firms in years past, there’s a growing movement toward selecting firms that offer a methodology that’s tailored specifically to the client or its industry, addressing their unique issues with adaptive, data-driven solutions. McKinsey says consulting firms that focus on personalization typically see revenues that are 10 to 15 percent higher – and, in some cases, up to 25 percent. They also have a higher client retention level. BY CHRIS MORRIS @MORRISATLARGE