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 - 11:30 AM EDT

Signature Series: Top CHRO Trends & Priorities Shaping 2027
Mark Whittle, VP Analyst, Gartner
Each year Gartner surveys hundreds of CHROs about their challenges and priorities for the coming year. Join this session to learn the top CHRO trends and priorities for 2027 and how you can use these to inform your strategic plan. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 04:00 PM EDT

CHRO Circle Workshop: New-to-Role CHROs — A Structured Approach to Accelerate Speed to Value
Eva Johnson, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
New-to-role CHROs must balance near-term performance objectives while building for the future. Whether you are a first-time CHRO, new to the company or industry or a seasoned high performer, this session will help you drive success through a structured and practical approach to accelerating value in your role. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM EDT

HR Has an Image Problem
Alexander Kirss, Director Analyst, Gartner
HR sits in one of the most complex roles in the organization, caught between competing expectations—often seen as too business-centric for employees and too employee-centric for the business. As organizations evolve, the stakes are rising. If leaders aren’t fully confident in HR’s ability to lead the human workforce, will HR be trusted to lead the human-machine workforce? And if employee trust is uneven, how can CHROs drive transformation? Join this session to learn how top CHROs strengthen trust, expand influence in the boardroom, and better support employees at scale. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM EDT

Signature Series: CEO Concerns 2027: Implications and Actions for CHROs
Jessie Knight, VP Analyst, Gartner
CEO thinking is constantly challenged by events and each year Gartner conducts an in-depth survey of hundreds of CEOs to understand their shifting concerns and priorities. Come to this session to learn what CEOs are thinking for 2027 and what the talent agenda impacts are for CHROs. ... Show More Show Less
Tuesday, October 27, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

5 Things CHROs Should Know About CIOs to Drive AI Transformation Together
Katie Sutherland, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
CIOs are rapidly redesigning work and workforce due to AI, launching literacy programs and updating governance. Meanwhile, HR and L&D lead their own AI initiatives, causing fragmented or stalled decisions. To scale AI responsibly, CHROs and CIOs need shared ownership and clarity on decision rights. Join this session for insights on CIOs’ priorities, pressures and fears to help you partner effectively in enterprise AI. ... Show More Show Less

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

CHRO Circle Leadership Exchange: Top Trends & Priorities Shaping 2027 —CHRO Leadership Vision
Jessie Knight, VP Analyst, Gartner
Join peer CHROs for an interactive exchange exploring the top trends and strategic priorities shaping HR in 2027. This session will begin with a brief insights overview, followed by peer-driven discussion to share perspectives, challenges and forward-looking strategies. ... Show More Show Less

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

Why Risk Leadership Is Now Core to the CHRO Role
Dion Love, VP Analyst, Gartner
In today's volatile and uncertain environment, emerging risk management has shifted from a specialized concern to a universal mandate. In this breakout, CHROs will define their role as enterprise risk leaders; how to surface, prioritize and act on emerging risk categories, from risks rooted in talent to business, technology and regulatory risks with workforce implications that can put enterprise goals at risk. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM EDT

Future-Proofing the C-Suite: External Foresight, AI Orchestration, and Cost Stewardship
Ingrid Laman, VP Analyst, Gartner
Boards rank the inability of executive teams to lead through volatility as the top internal threat to shareholder value. This session provides a roadmap to help CHROs ensure current and future C-suite performance by introducing three emerging leadership capabilities: external-first foresight, AI transformation orchestration, and cost-conscious culture stewardship. ... Show More Show Less

05:00 PM - 05:30 PM EDT

Navigating the CEO’s “Urgent Era”: Why C-Suites Stall Under Stress
Mark Whittle, VP Analyst, Gartner
CEOs’ anxiety overgrowth targets and AI disruption is stressing the C-suite and stalling the very transformation they’re trying to drive. Join this session to learn how to tame the top floor and rebuild C-suite dynamics to achieve the enterprise transformation you need. ... 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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