The Outlook For FM In 2026
As we kick off a new year, it’s the perfect time for facility executives to assess what worked and what didn’t work for their facilities over the last 12 months. Facility managers have focused on improving and maintaining their buildings, providing a positive occupant experience, ensuring spaces are safe and secure, all while keeping up with regulations and exploring new ways to make operational improvements.
According to JLL’s Global State Of Facilities Report 2025, the facilities management industry is worth $3 trillion. The top concerns facility managers have going into 2026 are managing operating costs and budget constraints, workplace safety, ensuring occupant well-being, and operational reliability and resilience. How to optimize building management operations with data-driven insights is also a major consideration for facility executives.
There are many opportunities and challenges that await facilities teams in 2026. This article highlights some of the major themes that facility executives can anticipate for the new year.
Optimization For Energy Efficiency
More facilities are under pressure to reduce costs and use energy in a more efficient manner, especially as power demands continue to increase with the rise of AI and increased automation. The strain on local grids and utility providers will continue to grow.
Increased Risk Of Cyber Threats
The cybersecurity landscape is becoming more complex. Schools, hospitals, retail stores, and many other industries were impacted by data breaches in 2025. The merging of IT and OT environments is also creating additional risk for facilities, especially as hackers find new and creative ways to breach sensitive systems. Organizations will have to update business continuity plans to factor in risks that interconnected technology may introduce.
Being Aware Of Third-Party Risks
Every industry is dependent on technology, and when systems are down, disruptions come at a significant cost. In 2025, both AWS and Cloudflare experienced outages that had a ripple effect. Third-party risks, and the impact of downtime, are a major concern going into 2026.
Focus On Executive Protection
Security is a critical element of facility management, but in 2025, there was an increased focus on ensuring executive security. This year, ASIS International introduced its Executive Protection Standard, highlighting the unique challenges faced by executive protection professionals.
Enhanced Capabilities With Emerging Tech
A McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook for 2025 finds that more autonomous systems will be utilized in spaces and new human-machine collaboration models will emerge. The report also highlights the potential scaling challenges on the horizon, given that Gen AI, robotics, and other building technology are putting more pressure on existing infrastructure. AI-powered surveillance systems, for example, offer improved situational awareness and weapon detection technology. This gives security teams enhanced monitoring capabilities to secure spaces, allows greater focus on high-priority areas, and improves response times if an incident does occur.
Preparing For Poly-Crises
Climate continues to be unpredictable, and over the next few years we can expect to see an increase in poly-crises. Facilities teams will need to prepare for the chance that multiple crisis scenarios may hit at the same time.
Supply Chain Uncertainty Will Continue
The introduction of tariffs in 2025 created an environment of uncertainty around the supply chain. Facility managers are considering how to best approach stocking inventory, from stockpiling parts or holding off on major purchases. Signs indicate that this uncertainty will continue into 2026, and facility managers will need to assess their buildings’ needs and make strategic decisions about investments moving forward.
Elevating The Occupant Experience
There are basic expectations every person entering a facility has, like seeing clean bathrooms, breathing clean air, and feeling comfortable in an environment that’s not too hot or cold. The human-centric approach to facility management is expected to continue, as teams look for new ways to make everything — from the reception desk to the parking lot – more seamless.
FM As An Competitive Advantage
As expressed at IFMA World Workplace, facility managers are seen as a strategic business partner for leadership—making critical building decisions to enhance efficiency and resiliency, ultimately elevating the organization’s reputation and overall success.
Continued Focus On Transparency & Trust
Moving forward, with the rise in AI automation, workers will continue to worry about their jobs. As facility executives, communicating with employees about intentions for artificial intelligence, and being transparent about the role employees will play moving forward, and can help manage change and ease concerns. Managing change for employees while balancing organizational needs remains a delicate balance for facilities teams.
By Facility Executive
From the December 2025 Issue
Read more facility management industry news on Facility Executive.
To learn more about the landscape for the year ahead, two Facility Executive editorial advisory board members shared their perspective on 2026:
“In 2026, facility leaders will need to think beyond the physical environment and operate as strategic partners in their organizations. FM teams will be expected to influence decisions, anticipate operational risks, and strengthen alignment across departments. The real shift won’t come from technology alone—it will come from leadership clarity, disciplined processes, and the ability to turn data into timely, meaningful action. Many teams are still structured for a reactive pace, creating an opportunity in the year ahead to modernize how work is coordinated, how people are developed, and how priorities are communicated. The FM departments that thrive in 2026 will be the ones that widen their operating lens—moving from maintaining assets to elevating performance, strengthening culture, and building sustainable organizational resilience.”
— Jose R. Edwards, MBA, FACHE, Founder & Principal, Edwards Advisory Group and Healthcare Facilities Manager
“Facilities management remains a fundamental priority because buildings and infrastructure need to be maintained. Yet as economic pressures and competing priorities continue to tighten operating and capital budgets, organizations will need to think differently about how they plan, fund, and sustain their facilities. In 2026, facility needs—and their impact on customer and employee experience—are not diminishing, so creativity in both budgeting and operational strategy will be essential.
Leaders will increasingly explore flexible approaches to capital and maintenance, including by leveraging partnerships that can provide new ways to address capital and deferred maintenance priorities. These partnerships provide a strategic lever to expand expertise, strengthen data quality, and free internal teams to focus on core priorities.
The outlook is optimistic for organizations willing to reimagine how facilities are funded and managed—opening the door to more resilient, efficient, and experience-focused FM in the year ahead.”
— Bronson Terry, District Manager, Sodexo Campus Facilities Management