This study is the 15th IBM Institute for Business Value (IBM IBV) CEO Study. For the 2026 CEO Study, the IBM IBV, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, surveyed 2,000 CEOs from 33 geographies and 21 industries between February and April 2026. In addition to survey responses, insights were drawn from numerous client conversations, including a series of CEO interviews conducted between October 2025 and April 2026. These conversations focused on how leaders are preparing their organizations to thrive in the future, touching on topics including strategy and leadership, business models, technology, talent and culture, governance, regulation, industry disruption, partners and ecosystems, and the unique role of CEOs.