The Future of Web Development: Trends to Watch in 2026 and Beyond

An Interview with Jared, Web Developer at DuBose Web.

As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways we design, build, and maintain digital experiences. To get an inside look at what’s shaping the future of web development, we sat down with Jared, a Web Developer here at DuBose Web, to talk about accessibility, AI, and how businesses can prepare their websites for what’s next.

Q: How have you seen the web development landscape change in the last few years, and what lessons from that are shaping the future?

Jared:
Besides AI, I think accessibility is the thing that’s changing the web the most. Everything has to be accessible—content, design, and code.

We’ve moved from asking “Can we add accessibility features?” to “How do we build this to be accessible from the start?” It’s no longer about retrofitting code at the end—it’s baked into design systems and the frameworks we choose.

Companies are realizing that accessibility lawsuits are just the tip of the iceberg; the real cost is in excluding users and creating technical debt from inaccessible code.

Q: How do you see AI and automation tools impacting the way websites are built and maintained?

Jared:
Right now, AI has had a bit of a placebo effect on web developers. There was a study done by METR where developers said AI helped them save time—but in reality, many tasks took about 20% longer with AI.

In our own tests, we’ve found AI to be very helpful with troubleshooting and data manipulation, but not yet as proficient as a human when writing front-end code from designs. I think that will change soon, as models are trained specifically for that task and design tools like Figma improve their AI capabilities.

Q: What should businesses be doing now to prepare their websites for the changes coming in 2026?

Jared:
Regardless of the year, the most valuable thing a company can do is continue to optimize the content, UI, and UX of their website specifically for their audience.

Deliver what customers are looking for when they land on your site—in as few clicks as possible. Sometimes a new feature looks cool or trendy, but you have to stop and ask: Does my audience even want this?

If a website doesn’t create value for the customer, it’s just a virtual business card. With AI being used by virtually every company now, you have to be more in tune with your customer than ever before.

Q: If someone invests in a new website in 2025, how can they “future-proof” it to stay relevant through 2026 and beyond?

Jared:
The most important thing is choosing an agency or developer that understands CI/CD—Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery.

When a website launches, development shouldn’t stop there. The needs of your audience will change, and your website should evolve alongside them. With CI/CD processes in place, your site can have a long, healthy lifecycle—and deliver the best possible ROI.

Q: What’s one web development trend you’re personally most excited to explore in your work?

Jared:
I’m a bit of a systems and processes nerd, so I want to keep going down that rabbit hole.

Over the past year, we’ve automated offsite backups, improved our CI/CD workflow, configured uptime alerts, and set up a new support ticketing system. Anything that adds value for our clients without requiring constant manual work—that’s where I want to focus.

Q: Is there a current “buzzword” in web development you think might fizzle out before 2026?

Jared:
“Vibe coding.”

I don’t think it’ll completely disappear, but whether you’re using AI or not, you still need to understand the fundamentals of coding to create a production-ready application.

Using AI in your coding workflow is like pair programming with an intern—it’s fast at the easy stuff, but still needs a lot of guidance.

One interesting area I’ll be watching is Spec Driven Development, where developers feed AI models detailed specification documents to define what needs to be built. It’s a more structured approach that could really change how we collaborate with AI.

Q: How do you see DuBose Web adapting our development practices to stay ahead of these shifts?

Jared:
The key for us will be staying focused on what matters most:

• Keeping our core audience in mind
• Focusing on the specific kinds of functionality we want to offer
• Continuing to optimize our build and QA processes
• Not reinventing the wheel—just refining it
• That’s how we’ll stay competitive and continue delivering the kind of quality, reliable web experiences our clients expect from us.

Closing Thoughts:

The future of web development is about more than just new tools—it’s about how we use them to serve people better. As accessibility, automation, and AI continue to shape the digital space, DuBose Web remains focused on building thoughtful, future-ready websites designed for real users and long-term impact.

Technology changes fast but clarity and connection never go out of style. If you’re ready for a website that puts people first and keeps pace with what’s ahead, let’s start the conversation.