2026 Accessibility Predictions

Accessibility doesn’t usually make a grand entrance. It sneaks in quietly, through better decisions, fewer shortcuts, and people finally asking whether it actually even works for users.

Looking ahead to 2026, here are a few shifts we’re seeing and why they matter. And yes, I am showing my age by using an image of fortune-telling ‘Zoltar’ from the Tom Hanks (1988!) movie ‘Big’.

Accessibility will be talked about earlier (Not bolted on later)

When inclusion shapes content, layout, and user journeys from the start, fewer compromises are needed later - and users feel the difference straight away.
Accessibility is slowly shifting from a final checklist item to an early design conversation. More teams are asking the right questions upfront: Who might struggle here? What assumptions are we making? What happens if someone can’t see, hear, read, or process this easily? 
Digital equality matters and accessibility decisions made early are cheaper, simpler, and far more effective. 
It’s not about adding more steps. It’s about making better ones earlier.

AI: Helpful sidekick, not the hero

AI tools are getting better at spotting patterns and speeding things up. Brilliant.
But accessibility still needs human judgement, especially when it comes to meaning, context, and real-life use. Think of AI as a very keen assistant, not the one signing things off.

WCAG 2.2 Becomes the “normal” one

WCAG 2.1 has had a good run. But 2.2 is quietly becoming the baseline, especially in procurement and redesigns.
Nothing flashy, just practical improvements that tackle everyday barriers. Which is kind of the point.

Accessibility debt = Actual risk

Accessibility issues don’t usually appear overnight. They pile up.
More organisations are now treating accessibility as ongoing maintenance, and understanding the importance of doing so - rather than a one-off fix. This saves money, time, and awkward conversations later.

User preferences take the lead

High contrast, reduced motion, zoom - users are already telling us what they need through their settings.
Designs that fight those preferences feel outdated fast. Flexible, responsive accessibility is where things are heading. 

In short

The future of accessibility isn’t dramatic. It’s practical.
Less hype, better defaults, smarter standards, and more respect for how people actually view and access online content.

At focusgov, we’ve been designing accessibility-first for almost a decade, pushing for digital equality long before it was fashionable. We’ll keep doing exactly that. The difference now is my Zoltar-senses feel like the rest of the digital world is trying harder to catch up.