ICMCI Launches 2026 National Consulting Index (NCI®) Summary Report
4 June 2026
The International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) proudly announced the launch of the 2026 National Consulting Index (NCI®) Summary Report during its International Consultants Day 2026 celebrations, held under the theme “Mastering the Storm: Precision Strategy and the Future of Consulting Competence.”
The NCI® Summary Report provides valuable insights into the state, strength, and development of the management consulting profession across participating countries and regions. It serves as a unique global benchmark that enables stakeholders to better understand the contribution of management consulting to economic development, organizational performance, innovation, and business transformation.
Developed through the ongoing work of the ICMCI National Consulting Index initiative, the report presents an overview of consulting market characteristics, emerging trends, and comparative indicators that help measure the relative strength of national consulting sectors. The NCI® combines research-based analysis with economic and market data to provide a consistent framework for understanding the consulting profession on a global scale.
The 2026 Summary Report highlights key developments shaping the profession, including the increasing demand for strategic transformation, digital innovation, sustainability-focused advisory services, and the growing role of consultants in helping organizations navigate uncertainty and complexity.
“The National Consulting Index continues to provide important evidence of the value and impact of management consulting around the world,” said Nick Warn CMC®, Chair of ICMCI. “By measuring and comparing the strength of consulting sectors internationally, the NCI® helps professional institutes, policymakers, and industry leaders better understand the contribution of consulting to economic growth and organizational success,” said Professor Simon Haslam CMC®, Chair of the NCI® Taskforce.
The report also offers participating institutes and stakeholders a powerful resource for promoting the profession nationally, supporting policy discussions, strengthening industry recognition, and identifying opportunities for future growth and development.
The launch of the NCI® 2026 Summary Report reflects ICMCI's ongoing commitment to advancing research, thought leadership, and evidence-based understanding of the management consulting profession. Together with the launch of the 2026 White Paper, the Code for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Management Consulting, and the updated ICMCI Competence Framework, the report forms part of a broader effort to prepare the profession for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Since its inception, the National Consulting Index has evolved into one of ICMCI's most significant research initiatives, providing a valuable global perspective on the size, maturity, and development of management consulting markets. As the profession continues to evolve, the NCI® remains an important tool for understanding trends, benchmarking performance, and informing strategic decision-making across the consulting ecosystem.
About ICMCI
The International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI is the global organization representing management consulting institutes and professional bodies worldwide. Through the Certified Management Consultant (CMC®) designation, international standards, professional development programs, and thought leadership initiatives, ICMCI promotes excellence, competence, ethics, and professionalism across the management consulting profession.
For more information, visit www.cmc-global.org - Full Report Document