As Managed Services Market Exceeds $600 Billion, MSP Summit 2026 Tackles Who Will Capture the Next Wave of Growth
Register now to attend the MSP Summit September 28-30 in Orlando; More than 1,500 high-performing MSPs and channel leaders coming together to discuss the industry’s top challenges and identify profitable growth opportunities
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 20, 2026 – Even as the global managed services market has surpassed $600 billion according to OMDIA, high-stakes forces like AI-driven automation, service commoditization, and pricing pressure are making growth harder to win and sustain. MSPs and leaders from across the global channel will confront these challenges head-on at MSP Summit 2026, Sept. 28–30 in Orlando.
To learn more and register, click here.
Global technology researcher Futurum Group projects that third-party software and services revenue through hyperscaler marketplaces will grow from $21 billion in 2025 to $25.7 billion — a 22% year-over-year increase — in 2026, as enterprises increasingly use committed cloud budgets to purchase and deploy technology solutions. For MSPs, that shift is creating a fast-growing route to market for building services around those transactions.
“MSPs have an enormous opportunity to capture more of this $600 billion-plus market, but doing so will require them to turn new technologies and partnerships into recurring-revenue services that deliver clear customer outcomes,” said Robert DeMarzo, MSP Summit’s Content Leader. “At this year’s MSP Summit, we’ll examine how industry leaders are using AI, marketplaces and new business models to scale efficiently, protect margins and create sustainable growth.”
Expanding MSP Profits by Prioritizing People and Partnerships
AI adoption alone is no longer a competitive differentiator. GTIA’s State of the Channel 2026 found that while 97% of IT service providers use AI internally, only 28% consider themselves “AI-driven”—with formal leadership, integrated processes, and AI embedded in their business strategy. For MSPs, the opportunity now lies in turning that widespread experimentation into operational and commercial results that drive sustainable growth.
“The dividing line now falls between MSPs experimenting with AI and those building repeatable services customers will pay for,” said Kelly Danziger, GM of Informa Channels which operates the MSP Summit. “At MSP Summit, leaders will compare where to build, buy or partner—and how to turn those choices into scalable offerings without putting margins or customer trust at risk.”
With an actionable two-day format, MSP Summit 2026 will give leaders a forum to learn from one another, pressure-test ideas, and leave with strategies and tactics they can put to work in their own businesses and for their customers.
"At MSP Summit, the conversation isn't whether AI works anymore, it's whether it's worth it," said Jason Rincker, Director, AI Business Development at New Charter Technologies. "That shift from tech to financial impact and customer experience is where the MSP community can lead. We have a real chance to show the industry what responsible, valuable AI adoption actually looks like."
MSPs Must Rethink Revenue Streams and Revalue Experience to Grow Faster
“Consolidation is forcing every MSP to make a strategic choice: build toward an exit, become an acquirer, partner with a platform, or remain independent and compete differently,” said David Raffo, Editor, MSP Summit and MSP 501. “I look forward to diving into this at MSP Summit with the leaders behind some of the industry’s largest holding companies and platforms, while also taking a practical look at M&A as a growth strategy for fast-growth minded providers.”
The conference agenda will focus on the forces reshaping the economics and competitive dynamics of the MSP business, including how to commercialize AI services and accelerate SMB adoption; how mega MSPs, private equity, and acquisitions are redefining the rules of scale; and how providers can move beyond traditional outsourcing to deliver digital transformation as a service.
Programming will move beyond AI hype to address the fundamentals that determine MSP performance and enterprise value, including customer retention, cybersecurity, operational efficiency, platform economics, and profitability. Attendees will hear from MSP executives, channel leaders, and technology providers on topics ranging from hyperscaler strategies and marketplace-led growth to M&A, brand differentiation, compliance, and governance.
Celebrating Success at the MSP 501 Gala
This year’s MSP 501 Awards Gala will take place on September 30 as an invite-only event to recognize leading MSPs and their achievements across the industry.
Register now to reserve your place among the MSP and channel leaders shaping what comes next.
About Channel Partners, MSP Summit and the MSP 501
Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit serve the global community of technology advisors, managed service providers (MSPs), channel partners, and technology suppliers. Through industry-leading events, educational programming, networking opportunities, and recognition programs, they help channel professionals build stronger businesses, forge valuable partnerships, and accelerate growth.
Channel Partners Conference & Expo is the world's largest independent channel event serving the entire indirect sales channel, while MSP Summit is the premier event dedicated to the managed services community. These events bring together thousands of technology advisors, MSPs, vendors, and industry leaders each year for expert-led education, business development opportunities, strategic networking, and insights into the technologies shaping the channel's future.
The Channel Partners and MSP Summit portfolio also includes several respected industry recognition programs, including the MSP 501, which honors the world's top-performing managed service providers; MSPs to Watch, recognizing emerging leaders in the managed services industry; the Circle of Excellence Awards, celebrating outstanding leadership and achievement across the channel; and the Channel Partners Tech Advisor Thought Leaders Awards, recognizing influential voices shaping the future of the technology advisor community.
For nearly 30 years, Channel Partners Conference & Expo and MSP Summit have served as trusted resources for the global channel community, helping technology businesses connect, grow, and succeed in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Learn more at channelpartnersconference.com and themspsummit.com.
# # #
Channel Partners Press Inquiries: