**Tech layoffs in 2026 are tracking well above 2025 levels, with trackers such as Layoffs.fyi and Layoffhedge reporting roughly 175,000–225,000 cuts year-to-date through early October, already surpassing the prior year’s full total.** Large public companies dominate the reductions, with Oracle, Amazon, Meta, Dell, and Microsoft announcing the biggest rounds. AI adoption is the dominant stated driver—cited in about one-third of events versus 1% in 2024—as firms redirect spending toward large language models and automation while trimming headcount to fund infrastructure and improve margins. Recent months show some moderation after a May peak, but cumulative figures and continued AI-related restructuring sustain the market’s strong “Up” consensus. A sharper economic rebound or broad rehiring wave could still alter the outcome before year-end.