All 2026 #GartnerAPPS Sessions

The 2026 agenda dives deep into key topics for enterprise application and software engineering leaders around AI, leadership, modernization, cost optimization and more to help address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Applications Conference Theme

Deliver the Future: Innovate, Lead, Act.

Applications and software engineering leaders are at a turning point where foresight must meet execution and business disruption is forcing dramatic changes. The 2026 conference empowers you to go beyond admiring the AI-enabled promising future — it's about actively building and delivering it. Learn how modern technology, visionary leadership and decisive action can transform your organization’s aspirations into reality. 

Explore our conference sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind. Join us to grow the skills and insights needed to deliver an adaptive and autonomous transformation journey.

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There are hundreds of 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, 14 September, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM BST

Enterprise Architecture Roundtable: Making Architecture Review Boards Actually Work
Join this roundtable for enterprise architecture leaders to discuss what good looks like in architecture review boards (lightweight versus heavy). In this lightly facilitated group discussion, we will explore where to place touchpoints, how to avoid becoming a blocker and how to measure value postreview. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM BST

Heads of EA Must Rewire EA for AI
Duncan Robson, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Heads of enterprise architecture (EA) who don’t proactively use AI to optimize EA activities will become a roadblock to increasing demand from business and IT stakeholders. This session provides a roadmap for heads of EA to reimagine their operating model and serve as exemplars in harnessing AI. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM BST

Overcome External Challenges to EA Success
Mark Cooper, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
There are many ways to structure an enterprise architecture practice and nearly as many ways to fail. In this session, we will discuss the most common factors that are external to the practice that you may not have thought of, such as how to align with the business strategy when there isn't one. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM BST

Emerging Technologies Adoption Radar, 2026
David Sugden, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
Emerging technology radars are visualization tools that support the enterprise technology portfolio and guide IT leaders in planning for disruptive technologies in 2026. The four themes include the AI-powered enterprise, security by design, efficiency first, and foundational and frontier technologies. ... Show More Show Less
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM BST

From Future State to Dynamic State Architecture
David Sugden, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
EA needs to move beyond static plans and become more adaptive. Traditional EA struggles to keep up with rapid changes in technology and business. Instead, EA should use real-time data to continuously monitor progress and adjust its designs as needed. This dynamic approach helps organizations stay aligned with their business goals, respond quickly to changes and even rethink strategies when necessary. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM BST

Architecture Leaders Workshop: Reference Architecture
Gilbert van der Heiden, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
A reference architecture is a key component of the enterprise architecture practice. It is the primary means to influence implementation decisions to align them with the future-state architecture. This workshop will provide you with a framework and templates to get started in defining a reference architecture for your organization that is consumable by your delivery organization. ... Show More Show Less

02:00 PM - 02:30 PM BST

Heads of Enterprise Architecture Must Drive AI Direction
Duncan Robson, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
The era of fragmented AI pilots is over. Regulatory pressure, escalating costs, poor return on investment and board-level scrutiny demand a unified enterprise AI direction. Heads of EA are uniquely positioned to lead by holistically connecting strategy, planning and execution, ensuring AI can deliver measurable business outcomes while managing risk and cost. By using these practical techniques, heads of EA can ensure AI becomes a repeatable, trusted capability rather than a fragmented liability. ... Show More Show Less

03:45 PM - 04:30 PM BST

Enterprise Architecture Roundtable: How to Prove EA Value Beyond "So What?"
Join this lightly facilitated group discussion with your EA peers to explore how to link EA to business outcomes, define metrics that resonate with CFOs and CIOs, and do it all by telling a story. Bring your real examples, highlights, and challenges for this group discussion. ... Show More Show Less

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“The discussion around AI agents and their practical applications was particularly engaging, providing a solid foundation for understanding how these technologies can be integrated into existing IT architectures. The session also did a great job of highlighting real-world use cases and anticipating future industry shifts, which made the material even more impactful.”

Federica Cavazzini
Solution Architect, Barilla

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