Welcome to BizTrends2026 | Steer the Future | Read about seismic shifts in business and society, driven by AI.

Welcome to BizTrends2026 | Steer the Future
We are seeing seismic shifts in business and society, driven by AI, geopolitical and cultural factors, amongst others. This is changing the B2B environment to a new type of leadership and organisational strategies as well as how organisations work at the speed of warp.

We are at the tipping point of redefining human endeavours and creativity. Helping you to make sense of this is our #BizTrends2026 Steer the Future with a showcase of thought leaders from across 19 economic sectors.

The future is open for business on Bizcommunity.

#BizTrends2026 is made possible by our sponsors. Thanks to our headline sponsor, RAPT Creative, which also sponsors the Digital, Media and Marketing trends; Digicape, sponsor of the Advertising trends; Medshield, sponsor of the Healthcare trends; ASUS, sponsor of the ICT trends; Herold Gie Attorneys, sponsor of the Legal trends; and Trend Group, sponsor of the Property trends.

Look out for more trends over the next two weeks and the #BizTrends2026 final Special Newsletter in February.

VISIT #BIZTRENDS2026 SPECIAL SECTION>>
Enkosi Kakhulu, Enjoy!
The BizTrends Team
Inclusive digital transformation for Africa

LERATO MOTHOPENG

Nerdware’s Lerato Mothopeng says the critical question is not whether Africa is going digital, but who Africa’s digital future is being designed for…
The year B-BBEE transformation must deliver — not just report

YUNEAL PADAYACHY

Yuneal Padayachy, chief support officer at The BEE Chamber, considers whether B-BBEE transformation can translate into measurable outcomes for businesses... read
7 trends that will redefine education in 2026 and beyond

DUMISANI TSHABALALA

Dumisani Tshabalala, head of Academics at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, reveals seven intertwined trends that will redefine education in 2026... read
3 business trends SMEs should watch

MIGUEL DA SILVA

Miguel da Silva, group executive: business Banking at TymeBank, discusses key trends every South African SME should watch... read
Advertising trends
The Renaissance is back. Leadership must catch up.

GILLIAN RIGHTFORD

A much more synthetic world

JONTY FISHER

Collaboration is key for Africa

DANETTE BREITENBACH

The year of industry self-regulation

GAIL SCHIMMEL

Steering the future through digital architecture

ISSUED BY DIGICAPE

Digital trends
8 shifts opening new ideas, experience and growth
Continuous learning - digital marketing’s most powerful advantage

CHRIS BORAIN

Marketing trends
The influencer marketing cheat sheet

MICHAEL COST

What 2026 will demand of financial services marketers

ERICA BOPAPE

Brands in the new age of answering machines

CHARNE MUNIEN

Africa will ignite what is next

THABANG SKWAMBANE

While marketing talks about innovation, Africa built it

DAWN ROWLANDS

Don’t fall prey to the Arrival Fallacy

JACO LINTVELT

AI, creativity and media agencies

JOHANNA MCDOWELL

Why 2026 will be the year of orchestration for marketing

NICOLE DINICOLA

Tom Kaneshige on how CMOs seized strategy in an age of chaos

TOM KANESHIGE

Less is more

CESAR VACCHIANO

Media trends
5 key (D)OOH / DOOH trends to watch

JACQUES DU PREEZ

How OOH is reinventing itself

TOM GODDARD

Radio Trends in 2026

MPHO MOTHAPO, ISSUED BY MOTHERLAND OMNI

Designing engaging sponsorships

JUDITH MUGENI

PR & Communications trends
If employees don't believe, neither will the market

BRENDA KHUMALO AND ADENE VAN DER WALT

4 shifts redefining PR

KEVIN WELMAN

Leading into nostalgia, a communication signal

LEBO MADIBA

SA youth are wearing their values

SIKI MSUSENI


Education trends
Tremors and quakes - trends shifting education

MARIO LANDMAN

How AI and flexible education can unlock South Africa's potential

AUNYANA MOLOISANE

Reinventing education beyond the blackboard

SHAUN FUCHS

Girls are taking Stem by storm

ROBYN GOUWS

How edtech can unlock the future for African youth

NONKU NYATHI

Personalised learning is shifting from theory to reality

MATHEW KIRKLAND

A bumper year of growth, innovation and celebration at Afda in 2025

EARLE HOLMES, ISSUED BY AFDA

Agriculture trends
What will shape agriculture in 2026?

BRENDAN JACOBS

Why agriculture is set for a strong 2026

PAUL MAKUBE

Automotive trends
Lightstone's Paul-Roux de Kock on AI automotive trends

PAUL-ROUX DE KOCK

Top 4 Chinese automotive trends

HANS GREYLING

Top automotive trends for Chinese manufacturers

GEORGE MIENIE

Energy & Mining trends
The digital evolution of safety across Africa’s critical industries

ANTON FESTER

Top energy trends every South African business needs to know

JAKES JOUBERT

Why SA’s energy future begins at the tap

MURRAY CROW

Entrepreneurship trends
New workplace culture, entrepreneurship trends

LOUIS FOURIE

What every entrepreneur’s North Star will be in 2026

ADRIAAN GROVé

ESG & Sustainability trends
Gen Z and the future of influence in an always-on world

JESSICA GBEDEMAH

Waste management as a cornerstone to building climate resilience

JUSTIN BOTT

Key trends shaping South Africa’s NPO sector

FERYAL DOMINGO

Finance trends
SA's fight to stay competitive in a new economic frontier

FRANK BLACKMORE

Healthcare trends
Clean beauty is not a trend – it’s a responsibility

MAROEFAH SMITH

The trends set to shape beauty and wellness in 2026

MAROEFAH SMITH

How tech is transforming chronic care

JOHAN VILJOEN