2026 will be a more definitive year for EDI than any other year to date, including 2020 (which was marked by COVID and the murder of George Floyd). That's a bold statement, but let me explain. There are a number of issues that are likely to converge around the central theme of 'what does it mean to be human' - it's a question that we've been asking ourselves internally and is increasingly important in the face of major shifts, such as:

• Artificial Intelligence: the automation of major (and minor) workflows will fundamentally change everything about how we work and live over the coming years. There has been a lot of talk about AI replacing jobs and potentially jeopardising futures. This will be even more pronounced in areas and communities that have historically experienced challenges and barriers to the workforce. The great AI will begin with lower paid roles and work its way to the top. The focus of EDI has historically been on entry level positions, AI will make the case for investment at this level more difficult.
• Divisive politics: the anti-EDI agenda has made waves across the world with several ruling and opposition parties using divisive sentiment as a means to garnish interest and popularity. This is having a tangible impact on people's experiences and bringing to the fore the fact that pairing back on EDI can be a slippery slope. What may start as exclusion of one group, can very quickly expand to negatively impact us all (as seen in the recent fatal killing of Renee Nicole Good). More must be done to protect the human rights of all.
• Inequality: the shift from traditional media to social is becoming ever more prominent, with the lines between reality and illusion becoming increasingly blurred. This has made it harder to identify those that are struggling and creates a false perception of the income divide, meaning the relative decline in living standards has become easier to ignore. The increasing prominence of 'influencers' calls into question the moral truths of those that have a voice and the algorithms that determine what gets seen and what is hidden.

Last year we have put forward our predictions for the year ahead and I hate to be arrogant, but we were pretty accurate - don't believe me, check out last year's blog, but fundamentally, we predicted:

1. Conflicts between US and UK approaches to EDI leading to a fragmented approach - correct: many UK based companies followed the US led erasure of EDI agenda
2. Public Failings in Regulated Sectors - correct: high profile failings across the NHS, the British Army and the Metropolitan police were the tip of the iceberg.
3. EDI Practitioners leaving roles - correct: several formerly celebrated heads / directors / partners of EDI left their posts and have since set up independently. 

 That being said, what does the next year have in store for EDI?

• Risk: The Cost of Neglecting EDI 

2026 marks a turning point where the systemic risks of neglecting EDI become harder to rectify, leading to potential crises. Organisations that previously faced public scrutiny now hold a strategic advantage, having already begun the difficult work of unpicking these issues. Conversely, the real-world harm caused by divisive anti-EDI rhetoric is becoming increasingly visible, making the link between politics and harmful outcomes impossible to ignore.

• Collaboration: Moving Beyond Competition

Sustained commitment is finally yielding results, with case studies highlighting both business success and improved human experiences. Rather than competing to "outdo" peers, leading organisations are now collaborating to "spread the load" and share best practices. This collective approach is accelerating progress on complex, cross-sector challenges, turning the industry "bandwagon" effect into a force for positive, shared momentum.

• EDI Exits: A Market Recalibration

The market is becoming increasingly critical of practitioners offering repetitive, low-impact solutions. As organisations realise that meaningful change is difficult, many ineffective consultancies are closing or pivoting to adjacent fields. This "self-awakening" is driving a return to foundational skills and a "back to basics" approach, as the industry learns that the most vocal practitioners are rarely the most effective.

Organisations that will make meaningful progress in EDI during 2026 will embed EDI as a common thread throughout their operations from strategic leadership right through to frontline delivery. They will use inclusion as a means to collaborate where they once competed, and partner with organisations and service providers that excel because of their focus on EDI, rather than in spite of their EDI challenges.

EDI risks will become more evident with changes in legislation (such as potential ethnicity / disability pay gaps, employment rights act and socio-economic duty) exposing organisations with superficial interests in EDI - this context will see forward thinking companies embed data driven and technology enabled solutions to managing risks. Where the last few years has seen reduced investment in EDI teams, organisations at the forefront will utilise budgets more effectively to meaningfully empower and upskill their people.

For those that need evidence that we have a keen grasp on movements in the EDI space, check out our predictions from last year and see for yourselves. 

As for The Equal Group, we have decided to quit EDI and will be hosting a webinar to share our reasons and rationale - please sign up to hear more. 

As always, we are keen to hear your views - what are your EDI predictions for 2026? What have we missed? What took you by surprise in 2025?