All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference dives deep into key topics for CIOs and IT leaders around AI, executive leadership, cybersecurity, operating models and more to help you address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Conference Theme

Ignite Intelligence

AI is no longer a differentiator — it’s now part of the foundation. CIOs must take the artificial out of intelligence, combining human ingenuity with AI to unlock value, drive agility and navigate disruption. A human-centered approach is key to leading the intelligent enterprise.

Explore our conference sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind.
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There are many sessions happening each day. Filter to see sessions that align with your role and interests. After registering for the conference, craft your agenda and book priority sessions — all through Gartner Conference Navigator.

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Monday, 16 November, 2026

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM IST

Gartner Opening Keynote: Reaching Escape Velocity - Shaping an Effective Enterprise AI Economy
Nate Suda, VP Analyst, Gartner
Neha Kumar, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Hear Gartner’s unique "big picture" insights that will shape your perspective on your most critical priorities. Spark strategic discussions with your peers during the conference as well as with your colleagues throughout the year. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM IST

Demystifying the AI Agent Ecosystem: A Strategic Playbook for CIOs
Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
AI agents promise to make AI more autonomous and goal oriented. CIOs should join this session as we discuss and understand the benefits, risks, use cases and the evolving technology ecosystem for AI agents to create a robust strategy for agentic AI. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM IST

Is Your Organization Wired to Resist AI?
Lori Blickensderfer, Managing Vice President, Gartner
Bad data, legacy systems and passive resistance aren’t just obstacles — they’re signals your organization is wired to resist AI-driven change. In this session, we’ll diagnose and address organizational entrenchment: the deep-rooted routines and mindsets holding back your AI transformation. Leave this session with practical strategies to break free and unlock real progress. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM IST

Top Strategic Trends in Software Engineering for 2026
Manjunath Bhat, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Thriving in times of intense economic and social volatility requires organizations to find new ways to empower their software engineering teams to increase productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. This session will provide Gartner’s latest and best guidance on the actionable trends that software engineering leaders and their teams should be tracking in 2026 and beyond. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 03:00 PM IST

Ask the Analyst: How Do You Unify, Run, Manage and Govern Agents From Different Platforms?
Anushree Verma, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
By 2028, an average global Fortune 500 enterprise will have over 150,000 agents in use, up from less than 15 in 2025, generating significant agent sprawl, IT complexity and management challenges. Bring your questions to this interactive session, discuss them with peers and a Gartner expert. Questions may include: How to manage AI agents across the enterprise, and prevent it from becoming chaotic & unmanageable? How to unify, run, manage & govern agents to unlock the true transformative potential of agentic AI at scale? ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 03:15 PM IST

Contract Negotiation Clinic: Reduce Contract Risks in AI and GenAI Deals
Ishan Anand, Principal Analyst, Gartner
This session will explore the contractual risks associated with AI and GenAI software, as well as SaaS deals, including agentic AI. We will identify contract examples and negotiation strategies, examining contract terms from these vendors, LLM providers and IT services providers. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 02:45 PM IST

Don't Ask If AI Can Do This Job
Mary Mesaglio, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Don't ask, "Can AI do this job?" Instead, ask how AI can solve your client's problem. This is because of two people challenges CIOs and IT teams face when trying to get value from AI: scarcity mindset and the doorman fallacy. Learn how to avoid these challenges through practical applications in AI enablement strategies. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 02:35 PM IST

Magic Quadrant for Observability Platforms
Padraig Byrne, VP Analyst, Gartner
Take a walk through the Magic Quadrant for observability platforms. This presentation will unravel the latest trends, key players and groundbreaking technologies transforming how businesses harness observability platforms for strategic advantage. ... Show More Show Less

02:15 PM - 02:45 PM IST

Manufacturers: What You Can Actually Do Today With AI Agents
Sudip Pattanayak, VP Analyst, Gartner
Agentic AI is the most misunderstood promise in manufacturing today, and discerning high-value use cases from hype must be CIOs’ number one priority. This session identifies where agentic capabilities fit today, which use cases are worth the foundational data and infrastructure investments, and how to prioritize the opportunities that unlock real operational value rather than risk. ... Show More Show Less

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