2026 Global Facility Management Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

Wayne Whitzell, Christa Dodoo, and Maria Gonzalez-Burgos explore key global facility management trends, challenges and opportunities influencing regions such as Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe in 2026.

What will facility management look like in 2026, and how does that future differ across regions?

In this episode of the Connected FM podcast, host Wayne Whitzell, Second Vice Chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors, is joined by IFMA Global Board of Directors Chair Christa Dodoo and facility management leader Maria Gonzalez-Burgos for a global conversation on the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the profession worldwide. The conversation examines how technology adoption, workforce skills, and leadership expectations are evolving differently across regions, while reinforcing the universal importance of soft skills, data, and strategic thinking as FM professionals prepare for 2026 and beyond.

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:28 Meet the Hosts and Guests
• 04:19 Global Trends in Facility Management
• 05:46 Regional Insights: Africa and Middle East
• 10:44 Regional Insights: Latin America
• 16:02 Challenges and Opportunities in Facility Management
• 22:44 The Future of Facility Management
• 39:02 IFMA's Role in Global Facility Management
• 44:22 Conclusion

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