Top Three Focus Areas for CDAOs in 2026

In 2026, the business landscape will continue to be shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). In response, organizations are rapidly advancing their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to drive efficiencies and maintain resilience amid economic headwinds. Supporting this digital transformation, the role of the Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) is more critical than ever.

As Gartner CDAO Communities prepare for another dynamic year of community programs, members are actively sharing their insights and experiences through annual surveys and interviews to inform the themes that guide our agenda. Each community gathering is driven By CDAOs, For CDAOs™, ensuring that data leaders are addressing their most critical priorities.

Looking ahead, three key themes have emerged for 2026: Scaling AI for Business Impact, Driving a Data-First Culture, and Building Trust Through Governance. Here’s a closer look at each theme:

1. Scaling AI for Business Impact

AI has remained the top priority for CDAOs over the past two years, and this focus is set to continue into 2026. This year, data leaders are moving beyond isolated pilots to deliver AI value at scale. Success hinges on establishing robust frameworks for enterprise-wide AI adoption, closely aligning AI initiatives with strategic business objectives, and ensuring that investments deliver measurable outcomes. As one CDAO community member noted, “AI is the constant, even in the environment that we are in. We know AI will continue to evolve, and data is the fuel for AI needs.”
 

1. Driving a Data-First Culture

Gartner emphasizes that “focusing on data governance, value communication, and analytics augmentation is vital, but addressing the human aspect is crucial for AI success.” CDAOs are empowering leaders to serve as data stewards and champion data literacy across all teams. This approach enables informed decision-making and helps break down organizational silos. As one CDAO shared, “We have a strong organizational focus on increasing AI literacy, particularly among the board and executive leadership, to clarify the differences between traditional AI and generative AI and to foster a data-driven culture.”
 

1. Building Trust Through Governance

Trustworthy, well-governed data remains the foundation of successful AI initiatives and has been a top priority for CDAOs since we started sharing results from our annual CDAO Leadership Perspective Survey in 2020. With a renewed focus on AI governance, CDAOs are doubling down on implementing governance practices that ensure data quality, security, and compliance, while providing the flexibility needed for advanced analytics and innovation. As one community member mentioned, “Success requires aligning governance tasks with business objectives and performance measures, spreading adoption incrementally, and connecting governance to business value at every stage of maturity.”

With our 2026 community gatherings on the horizon, we look forward to bringing data and analytics leaders together to address these critical themes and share actionable insights. If you are not yet a member of your local CDAO community, we encourage you to apply and join this dynamic network. Current members can sign in to register for upcoming community programs and continue to engage with peers on the issues that matter most.