REPORT

2026 State of Digital Government Report

Government agencies are gathering more data than ever — but the challenge is turning that information into meaningful action. The 2026 State of Digital Government Report cuts through the noise, revealing benchmarks, insights and best practices for growing and understanding audiences, accelerating digital service delivery, and increasing constituent satisfaction.

Your definitive source for:

Proprietary digital benchmarks from thousands of government organizations
Survey data from nearly 1,300 public sector professionals, analyzed with ath Power Consulting (APC)
Modernization best practices from real-world success stories from agencies like yours

Download the report to access the latest cross-government insights to inform and strengthen your agency’s service delivery strategy.

Reveal the priorities, budgets, and the biggest challenges shaping agency digital strategies.

Learn the best practices for faster service delivery, deeper engagement, and cost savings.

Compare your progress against peers leading the way in digital transformation.

Uncover real results and best practices from agencies already leveraging AI.

Get the full report

DIGITAL GOVERNMENT IN FOCUS

The data and insights shaping modern public service delivery

At Granicus, we help more than 7,000 public sector organizations connect and serve their residents and constituents, facilitating more than 30 billion digital interactions each year across our digital experience platform. The data generated by all those interactions, combined with survey data analyzed by APC, creates the insights for digital government found at the heart of the 2026 State of Digital Government and annual benchmark report series.

Download the complete report

Definitive industry benchmarks

Get the context, benchmarks, and data you need to deliver better government services.

Grow your contact lists

GROW

Big, contactable audiences = real outcomes

When agencies build large, contactable lists — then keep growing them across channels — participation and program adoption follow. Leaders should prioritize multichannel list growth tied to first-party data so critical messages reliably reach the right people.

A government engagement leader wearing glasses using a laptop, focuses on the screen. A circular graphic shows

Know your audiences

KNOW

Segmentation closes the “experience gap”

Granular segmentation and preference-based personalization dramatically lift engagement. The most effective government communicators standardize topic signups and behavior-based targeting.

Open hand with digital icons of people and checkmarks, symbolizing engagement. Text reads

Deliver seamless experiences

DELIVER

Unified, multichannel experiences cut cost and time

Integrating front-end experiences with back office workflows compresses timelines and reduces failure demand. Governments should provide streamlined end-to-end service journeys for residents, visitors, and businesses, as well as staff.

A smiling woman in an orange blazer holds a phone and coffee. Overlayed icons signify automation. Text reads

Measure metrics that matter

MEASURE

Shift from vanity to outcome metrics for real results

Moving to outcome-based KPIs — and monitoring them in real time — unlocks funding, sharper decisions, and visible impact. Dashboards should be tied to program outcomes instead of baseline metrics.

A person in a government office points at colorful bar charts on computer screens. Text reads

Leverage AI, responsibly

AI, RESPONSIBLY

Operationalize AI where it moves the needle

AI is delivering real value when agencies apply it to high-volume, high-friction workflows like permitting, case routing, and constituent inquiry management. Leaders should focus AI on these operational bottlenecks, where automation produces measurable time savings and better resident experiences.