Hochul to Deliver 2026 State of the State Address on Jan. 13 in Albany

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Key Takeaways

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul will deliver her 2026 State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 at 1 p.m. in Albany.
  • The speech will take place at Hart Theater at The Egg, continuing a recent shift away from the traditional Assembly chamber setting.
  • This will be Hochul’s fifth State of the State address and comes as she runs for a second full term as governor in the fall of 2026.
  • The address will outline her policy priorities for the 2026 New York state legislative session, just as lawmakers return to Albany.
  • Voters, advocates, and local leaders can use the speech as a roadmap to anticipate budget debates, legislative negotiations, and election-year positioning.

Table of Contents

Why the 2026 State of the State Matters

The State of the State address is one of the most consequential political events of the year in New York. It serves as the governor’s annual blueprint for policy, spending, and priorities as the new legislative session begins.

For residents, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments, this speech is an early signal of where Albany is headed on issues like:

  • Taxes and the state budget
  • Housing, infrastructure, and transit
  • Public safety and criminal justice
  • Climate, energy, and resiliency
  • Education, workforce, and cost of living

Because the address comes just as lawmakers return to the Capitol, it often shapes negotiations long before specific bills or budget lines are finalized.

When and Where Hochul Will Speak

According to reporting by Luke Parsnow of Spectrum News 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address is scheduled for:

  • Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
  • Time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Hart Theater at The Egg, Albany

This continues Hochul’s practice of using The Egg’s Hart Theater rather than the historic Assembly chamber, a shift that offers a more modern stage, flexible production setup, and a highly visual backdrop suited to contemporary broadcast and digital coverage.

State lawmakers are expected to return to Albany just ahead of the speech, meaning the address will effectively open both the 2026 legislative session and a high-stakes election year.

Political Stakes: A Reelection-Year Address

The 2026 State of the State is not just another policy speech; it arrives as Hochul is running for a second full term as governor in the fall. That makes this address a crucial platform to:

  • Define her record and highlight perceived successes
  • Signal to voters how she plans to tackle affordability, safety, and economic growth
  • Frame contrasts with potential opponents, even without naming them
  • Appeal to both the statewide electorate and key regional bases from New York City to Central and Upstate New York

For politically engaged readers, this speech will likely blend governing agenda and campaign narrative. It can be read both as a policy roadmap and an early message test for the 2026 race.

What New Yorkers Should Watch For

Because the article focuses on timing and context rather than specific proposals, it’s useful to think about what to watch for once the speech is delivered. Depending on your role, different elements may matter most:

For homeowners, renters, and local communities

  • Housing and property taxes: Any mention of building incentives, tenant protections, or relief for local tax burdens.
  • Infrastructure: Timelines and funding hints for roads, bridges, broadband, and water systems, especially outside New York City.

For small businesses and workers

  • Workforce and training: New programs for skills development, apprenticeships, or support for emerging industries.
  • Regulatory or tax changes: Signals about easing compliance burdens or adjusting business taxes.

For advocates and policy professionals

  • Top-tier priorities: Issues highlighted early and repeated typically forecast where the administration will invest the most political capital.
  • Links to the budget: Phrases like “record investments” or “multi-year plan” often foreshadow major budget line items.

Actionable tip: As the speech approaches, consider preparing a short checklist of your top three issues. During or after the address, note:

  • Whether they were mentioned
  • How specific the commitments were
  • Which agencies or legislative committees will be key in the months ahead

How You Can Engage With the 2026 Session

To move beyond passive watching and actively engage with New York’s 2026 agenda, you can:

By comparing year-to-year themes in these addresses, you can spot which priorities have remained consistent and which are new or election-driven.

About the Original Reporter

The information summarized here is based on reporting by Luke Parsnow, New York state politics digital content writer and producer at Spectrum News 1.

Parsnow is an award-winning writer and political columnist with prior experience at CNYCentral in Syracuse and The Post-Star in Glens Falls, New York. His background in state and regional politics helps place routine scheduling news—like the timing and location of a speech—into a broader understanding of how Albany operates.

For readers who follow New York governance closely, keeping an eye on reporters like Parsnow can provide continuity and context as the 2026 State of the State address approaches and the legislative session unfolds.

Source: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/12/23/hochul-will-deliver-2026-state-of-the-state-address-on-jan–13