All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference dives deep into key topics for CHROs and HR leaders around strategy, AI in HR, talent management, workforce planning and more to help you address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Conference Theme

Power New Possibilities: Lead the Transformation of Work.

The AI era is unlocking new possibilities as organizations rethink growth yet often overlook key enablers. In 2026, HR leaders have a pivotal opportunity to lead work transformation and prepare both work and workforce for success. 

Explore our conference sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind.

Discover why HR leaders call this the “most impactful HR conference.” Hear attendees share highlights from networking, forward-looking sessions and inspiring keynotes, plus the real-world take-aways they gained.
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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, October 26, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT

Roundtable: How Do You Create an AI-Enabled Workforce?
Russ McCall, Director Analyst, Gartner
Your board and CEO want an AI-enabled workforce and it’s up to you to deliver. Join this roundtable to discuss what has worked, and what hasn’t, when trying to define, build and maintain an AI-enabled workforce. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT

Roundtable: Tactics and Lessons for Strategic HRBPs
Jane Alancheril, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
This interactive roundtable brings HRBPs together to share practical tactics and real-world lessons for operating as strategic partners, navigating competing priorities, and driving business impact. ... Show More Show Less

01:00 PM - 01:45 PM EDT

Roundtable: The Rise of the AI-Ready Learner: How Should L&D Respond?
Meaghan Kelly, Director Analyst, Gartner
As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows, a new learner profile is emerging — employees who use AI instinctively, expect real‑time guidance, and learn continuously through intelligent tools. This roundtable brings together L&D leaders to explore how development models must evolve to support AI‑ready learners and the tools L&D should use to shape confident, responsible AI use across the enterprise. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:15 PM EDT

Roundtable: Whiteboarding Strategies to Manage Medical Cost Trends
Jan Bansch, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Medical costs continue to increase and may increase by double digits in 2026 with no relief expected for 2027. CEOs and CFOs will be looking to CHROs for proactive steps to contain costs. Companies will share their strategies and actions to attempt to control costs. ... Show More Show Less
Tuesday, October 27, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM EDT

Roundtable: Build Recruiter Skills for a High‑Tech, High‑Trust Future
Jamie Kohn, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Technology, business and labor market shifts are rapidly raising the bar for recruiters' skills. We need strategic talent advisors more than ever, but many teams are struggling to keep up. Join this roundtable to discuss how you’re redefining recruiter skills, upskilling teams, and supporting recruiters through continuous change. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

CHRO Circle Roundtable: Who Owns Enterprise AI Transformation: HR or IT?
Kabeh Vaziri, Managing Vice President, Gartner
AI is blurring the boundary of responsibilities between HR and IT. Capabilities once clearly owned are now shared. Neither HR nor IT can lead AI transformation alone, and traditional, informal collaboration models won't deliver on the depth and complexity of AI-driven work redesign. The next AI era demands a new partnership where HR and IT co-own capabilities at the tech-talent intersection. Join this roundtable to discuss how you're building your IT partnership, what you're partnering on and how you're enabling your teams to execute. ... Show More Show Less

02:00 PM - 02:45 PM EDT

CHRO Circle Roundtable: How to Build a High Performance Culture
Alistair Kidson, Director Analyst, Gartner
Many CHROs are being tasked with building a high performance culture, though many struggle to articulate precisely what that is and what they want it to deliver. This challenge is heightened by a volatile operating environment and the ongoing, AI-driven transformation of work. Join this session to hear from your peers how they are defining and delivering on a high-performance culture. ... Show More Show Less

03:00 PM - 03:45 PM EDT

CHRO Roundtable: Retaining Key Employees and Managing Culture Change During M&A
Mark Carroll, VP Analyst, Gartner
Loss of critical talent and mishandling of culture change during integration drive M&A underperformance. As deal activity accelerates and organizations acquire capabilities, people and culture become central to value realization. Yet CHROs are involved too late or are limited to execution roles. Learn how CHROs can identify and retain value-critical employees, make deliberate culture choices and guide leaders through uncertainty. Share learnings, practical interventions and governance approaches that elevate talent retention and culture management. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:45 PM EDT

CHRO Circle Roundtable: Balancing the Dual Mandate of Healthcare Cost Containment & the Employee Experience
Rachel Juley, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
CHROs have a dual mandate to contain escalating healthcare costs while simultaneously delivering competitive, high-quality benefits that attract and retain talent. The evolving healthcare landscape and continued cost pressures require CHROs to challenge the current approach to benefits administration by focusing on measurable outcomes, transparency and innovative solutions. Join this roundtable to discuss how organizations are implementing healthcare cost containment strategies with peer CHROs. ... Show More Show Less

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“Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo  provided a variety of sessions on many HR topics that allowed myself and my team to divide and conquer providing us with an opportunity to bring several new ideas, philosophies and technologies back to our organization.”

Head of Talent Acquisition, 1848 Ventures

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