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.

Hear from long-term Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo attendees on why they keep coming back.
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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 Conference Navigator.

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Monday, 09 November, 2026

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CET

Gartner Opening Keynote: Reaching Escape Velocity - Shaping an Effective Enterprise AI Economy
Daryl Plummer, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Kristin Moyer, Distinguished VP 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 CET

Decision Intelligence: Getting Value From AI Agents and Multiagent Systems
Pieter den Hamer, VP Analyst, Gartner
The AI operationalization phase is giving way to the next evolution of AI software based on composite AI and AI agents. AI agents need an enterprise view and a bigger picture to organize their collaborations. To build adaptable and resilient systems, organizations should explore this evolution — based on the decision intelligence discipline — to maximize the benefits brought by the AI agent wave. Join this session to learn more. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CET

How CIOs Are Cutting Costs With AI in 2026
Val Sribar, Senior Vice President, Gartner
Cost reduction remains the most immediate and scrutinized AI value pathway. But not all savings are durable. In 2026, leading CIOs are moving beyond isolated use cases to structural cost mechanisms that survive CFO scrutiny. We examine where cost reduction with AI is actually working across the enterprise in late 2026. Learn about the five mechanisms driving durable savings. We also analyze why many AI initiatives stall at “time saved” without P&L impact. ... Show More Show Less

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM CET

AI Agents: Cybersecurity Strategies for Enterprise Protection
Dionisio Zumerle, VP Analyst, Gartner
AI agents are emerging as organizations invest in customized generative AI applications for enterprise automation. This session will illustrate how CIOs can avoid cybersecurity failures by adapting identity management, secure development and runtime security practices to address new attack surfaces and risks from AI agents. ... Show More Show Less

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM CET

The Ripple Effects of AI on Work and Talent
Helen Poitevin, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
CIOs and executive leaders must decide where to give AI greater degrees of autonomy. We will explore what we call the ripple effects of these decisions: the downstream consequences of AI adoption that influence workforce needs, the number of employees required, the nature of their roles and how work is organized. Get ahead of blind spots so AI investments deliver. ... Show More Show Less

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM CET

Top Strategic Trends in Software Engineering for 2026
Joachim Herschmann, 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

03:00 PM - 03:45 PM CET

Ask the Analyst for Retail: Striking the Right Balance Between Agentic Humans and AI Agents in Retail
Max Panther Hammond, VP Analyst, Gartner
Human agents must remain the most agentic actors in the enterprise — especially in retail, where real-time decisions shape the customer experience. Retailers should design workflows around the decision points where humans outperform AI — judgment, critical thinking and creativity — then deploy AI agents to augment and scale everything else. For retailers, placing decision authority where it matters most while automating the rest is a deliberate design choice that creates competitive advantage. ... Show More Show Less

03:00 PM - 03:45 PM CET

Ask the Analyst: How to Solve Your Greatest AI Challenge (Exclusive to Midsize IT Organizations)
Alys Woodward, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
What is your greatest challenge: getting AI value, setting the AI strategy, AI literacy, AI-ready data, AI governance or AI technology? Join this interactive session to learn what is happening realistically in other midsize IT organizations. Bring your questions, which may include: How can you avoid the AI productivity trap and deliver AI value? How can you manage AI vendor sprawl and prevent lock-in? How can you persuade leadership to invest in AI-ready data alongside AI tools? ... Show More Show Less

03:00 PM - 04:30 PM CET

CIO Circle Workshop: Navigating the Tough Spots in Your AI Strategic Plan
No matter how fast or far you have gone on your AI journey, there is always opportunity to refine, adapt and improve your strategy for maximum business impact. This workshop will focus on steps you can take as a CIO to alleviate common roadblocks and governance challenges to unlock the transformative benefits of AI for your enterprise. ... Show More Show Less

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“I have found Gartner Symposium to be a fantastic way to update my knowledge base through information and networking. It’s a real crucial tool in developing my and my organization’s strategic direction.”

Ian Dickens
Director of  ITS, London Met

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