Weak Signals Report 2026

Welcome to the IFLA 2026 Weak Signals Report, the latest volume in the collection of materials linked to our 2024 Trend Report. ‘Weak signals’ is a term taken from Futures Thinking, used to describe early-stage trends. Unlike a ‘trend’, a weak signal is a development or phenomenon that is not yet generalised, and may never become so. However, if it does, it could have significant impacts on the theme being studied - in our case libraries and the broader knowledge and information environment. We look to identify weak signals in order to take account of possible future developments that could affect the appropriateness and success of our plans and strategies. Some - most - will not turn into full trends, but if we have considered the ones that do, we will be better ready for a world shaped by them. The collection here is the result of the work of the Emerging Leaders Grantees at the 2025 World Library and Information Congress, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 18-22 August. The Grantees were tasked with following the different presentations, discussions and posters at the Congress, and from what they heard, identifying potential weak signals. They then discussed these, before turning them into a description for each one, in line with a template shared by IFLA HQ. Finally, IFLA HQ supported with editing and putting together this final publication.