How software testing is evolving in 2026
Software testing in 2026 means continuous, risk-based quality assurance powered by automation. It is an integral part of the whole software development process. As software development accelerates and operating environments become more complex, testing and quality assurance must evolve alongside them.
In this blog, we explore how software testing is changing, and what that means for companies.
In 2026, software testing:
is no longer just a phase before production
is built on test automation and continuous testing
operates as an integral part of the entire software development process
requires the ability to anticipate change and respond to it effectively
Testing is no longer just a phase before production
In the past, software testing was often treated as a final step before release. Today, frequent deployments, faster development cycles, and constantly changing user interfaces demand new testing approaches.
When releases happen weekly or even daily:
manual regression testing does not scale,
the risk of defects increases without automation, and
testing must be integrated throughout the development lifecycle.
Testing is no longer a checkpoint; it is a continuous process.
Changes and defects create chain reactions
Modern architectures consist of integrated systems. A single change to a single component can create unexpected issues elsewhere in the system.
As a result, defects are rarely isolated bug reports. They are often complex scenarios with impacts that are often visible only in production.
The cost of testing and smarter prioritization
The cost of testing, and the value it delivers, is becoming an increasingly important topic. Organizations must understand what should be tested at different levels; as unit tests, integration tests, or end-to-end tests.
Without prioritization, testing can become heavy, expensive, and difficult to maintain, without delivering proportional value.
What’s next?
“Good test automation is resilient to change,” summarizes Valtteri, test automation specialist at Marvel Consulting. In 2026, the focus of testing improvement should be on anticipating change and responding to it effectively.
If your testing approach was built for an era of infrequent releases and simpler systems, now is the right time to reassess.
Ask yourself:
Does our testing model support our current release pace?
Is testing integrated across the entire development lifecycle?
Is our testing prioritization based on production data and risk assessment?
If your answer is “no” or “not sure,” reviewing and optimizing your testing processes can create significant value.
To help, we have created a guide for testing in 2026, which is now available in Finnish.
If you’d like to discuss your situation further, visit our contact page and send us a message — we’re happy to help! We can also find the test automation specialist you need to support your team in improving testing processes.
