What to Expect in 2026

With demand for interim managers rising throughout 2024 and 2025, many organisations are now looking ahead: what will the interim landscape in Europe look like in 2026?

Based on market data, cross-European research and sector analyses, several trends stand out — pointing to selective but meaningful growth.

1. Continued demand for specialist expertise

The strongest growth is expected in specialist domains where deep knowledge and rapid deployment are essential. These include:

• digital transformation and automation

• ESG and sustainability transitions

• supply-chain optimisation

• compliance, governance and risk

• major restructuring or integration programmes

Companies will increasingly use interim managers as a strategic external layer, rather than a temporary stopgap.

2. Public sector and regulated industries will drive a share of the growth

According to recent interim market reports, the public sector remains more stable than many private industries — and is expected to generate continued demand in 2026. Think of:

• sustainability and climate-related policy projects

• digital government initiatives

• regulatory transitions

• large-scale implementation programmes

In regulated industries (such as financial services, pharmaceuticals and energy), organisations anticipate capacity shortages and rising compliance pressure — both factors that typically increase interim use.

3. Increased demand for transformation and change leadership

European companies continue to face pressure to cut costs, innovate quickly and adapt to market uncertainty. In 2026, this is likely to translate into more interim assignments for:

• transformation directors

• programme and project managers

• operations leaders with turnaround experience

• digital and data specialists

• interim HR leaders focused on change and restructuring

The interim manager’s ability to deliver immediate clarity, direction and execution will remain a key differentiator.

4. Moderate market growth due to economic uncertainty

While the outlook is positive, experts expect moderate—not explosive—growth. Factors that may limit expansion include:

• ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty

• budget pressure in several European industries

• cautious hiring behaviour, especially in manufacturing and retail

• competition and rate pressure in mature interim markets

This means growth will be strongest in niche expertise areas, not necessarily across all sectors.

5. Cross-border interim recruitment will increase

As talent scarcity persists, organisations are increasingly willing to source interim experts from other European countries. This creates opportunities for:

• internationally experienced interim managers

• multilingual professionals

• specialists with regulatory or technical expertise that is scarce locally

For firms working internationally, this trend strengthens their competitive advantage.

Conclusion

The expectations for 2026 point to a European interim market that remains dynamic and opportunity-rich — but increasingly specialist. Organisations will rely on interim managers for high-impact projects, regulatory change and transformation initiatives where internal capacity or expertise is limited.

In short: 2026 will be the year in which interim management becomes more strategic, more cross-border and more expertise-driven.