The NASCIO Top 10: How States Are Redefining IT Strategy for 2026

As state governments head into 2026, technology leaders are balancing rapid innovation with mounting operational, security, and fiscal pressures. NASCIO’s Top 10 State CIO Priorities for 2026 highlight a major shift: artificial intelligence—spanning GenAI, agentic AI, and machine learning—has risen to the #1 priority, driving an urgent need for governance frameworks, ethical safeguards and stronger data privacy practices.

At the same time, cybersecurity and risk management remain foundational, with states continuing to defend against escalating threats while modernizing aging legacy systems. New federal compliance expectations, including Department of Justice digital accessibility regulations, are also reshaping how agencies design and deliver resident-facing services.

This webinar will explore the strategies, policies and management approaches state CIOs are using to address this year’s most pressing priorities—from AI governance and identity management to IT consolidation, cloud solutions, workforce retention and cost control.

Attendees will gain actionable insights into how states are aligning innovation with accountability, improving service delivery and building resilient digital government operations for 2026 and beyond.

Key Discussion Topics