All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner Procurement Conference 2026 dives deep into key topics for CPOs and sourcing, procurement, and vendor management leaders across direct, indirect, and IT, around AI, cost optimization, risk management and more to help you address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Conference Theme

Lead the Future of Procurement: Strategize. Optimize. Transform.

In 2026’s volatile climate, procurement must lead transformation amid disruption, AI, shifting priorities, and pressure to do more with less. Leaders must manage risk, optimize costs, and deliver greater value while adapting to new industry baselines and evolving needs. 

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

Editor Note:

Video can be used in place of image with the video description.

Pick one of the two options below and delete the other one before publishing. 

*This note will only show in the editor and will be hidden on the preview and live page. Feel free to delete this note after updating the section below.

Get a sneak peek from conference chair Jo Ann Rosenberger on how you’ll connect, learn and lead at the inaugural Gartner Procurement Conference. See what’s in store and watch now!
Find Conference Sessions

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 Conference Navigator.

Show Filters

Filter Sessions Cancel
Clear All See 20 Sessions No Results
Showing 20 Sessions
Clear All
Tuesday, September 15, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM PDT

9 Approaches to Optimize Short-, Mid- and Long-Term Technology Spend Costs
Yanni Karalis, Managing Vice President, Gartner
This session explains how CPOs and procurement leaders can optimize external technology spend using a time‑phased approach. It focuses on short‑term cost containment through inventory control, targeted negotiations and demand management. It also covers midterm savings via streamlined, data‑driven sourcing and vendor consolidation, and long‑term cost avoidance through AI contract optimization, team upskilling and total cost of ownership (TCO) discipline. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT

Contract Negotiation Clinic: How to Negotiate With Digital Giants Like AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce and ServiceNow
Yoann Bianic, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Digital giants often represent more than 80% of an organization’s software and cloud budget. They are large, assertive, well-capitalized and difficult to negotiate with. In this interactive clinic, we will review the critical steps for negotiations, as well as vendor differences and similarities to be aware of when negotiating, to achieve the most optimal contract. ... Show More Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:00 PM PDT

Negotiation Cheat Sheet: Tips & Techniques to Optimize Your Vendor Deals
Jo Ann Rosenberger, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
This session will walk you through how sourcing and procurement leaders can use a negotiation cheat sheet with 10 innovative and powerful negotiation tips/techniques as an integral part of the negotiation planning process. This cheat sheet can serve as your at-a-glance negotiation playbook for all significant technology negotiations for cost optimization and risk mitigation. Attendees will receive this cheat sheet as a take-away from this session. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:30 PM PDT

Contract Negotiation Clinic: 4 Steps to Negotiate and Optimize IT Outsourced Services Costs
Karl Rosander, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Very often, IT service vendor contracts have lopsided risk balanced in the vendor's favor. This session challenges leaders to break the cycle with a four-step process that ranges from recognizing key language in scope and pricing models, to accountability for optimized outcomes. Learn how to uncover hidden costs and clarify ambiguous T&Cs, and use measures with proper accountability to recognize value. Attendees will leave with a plan that embeds negotiation as a strategic, not just transactional function. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 04:00 PM PDT

Workshop: 4 Powerful Steps to Combat Price Hikes on Software and SaaS Deals
Jo Ann Rosenberger, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
This interactive session will walk through how to use a four-step approach for complex software and SaaS vendor renewals and new technology deals that appear excessive and cause budget overruns. This four-step framework will be demonstrated in group activities using client case studies. Attendees will learn how to use vendor and internal stakeholder checklists, economic indexes and a "vendorized" negotiation playbook for leverage and bargaining power during negotiations. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:45 PM PDT

Ask the Analyst: How to Become a Customer of Choice Through Effective Supplier Collaboration
Miguel Cossio, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Procurement teams want innovation and partnership but get stuck in transactional mode. Join this interactive session to get the latest insights on developing strategic partnerships, becoming a customer of choice and tapping into supplier-led innovation. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:45 PM PDT

Ask the Analyst: How to Negotiate Your Next SAP ERP Deal
Mike Tucciarone, VP Analyst, Gartner
Submit your most challenging questions regarding SAP ERP licensing and negotiation. This session will cover SAP’s evolving strategy, licensing models, indirect access risks, AI considerations and proven negotiation tactics to help you secure the best deal. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM PDT

Strategies to Minimize Buyer’s Regret in Vendor and Supplier Negotiations
Hannah Decker, Director Analyst, Gartner
In today’s rapidly evolving procurement landscape, post-purchase dissatisfaction can significantly impact organizational performance and stakeholder trust. CPOs and procurement leaders must proactively minimize buyer’s regret to maximize value and stakeholder confidence. We discuss actionable strategies for expectation management, supplier transparency and continuous performance improvement. Learn negotiation and risk assessment techniques to address total value, hidden costs and service delivery gaps. ... Show More Show Less
Wednesday, September 16, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Category Management: Leading the Dynamic Shift from Cost-Cutting to Value Creation
Alexis Boudreau, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Procurement organizations face extreme headwinds in managing cost, threatening their ability to drive their central value proposition. We now see category management teams pioneering new approaches to drive value creation alongside traditional cost optimization. We describe how the role of the category manager is changing and how to position them for success in meeting strategic business goals. ... Show More Show Less

... Show More Show Less
Items per page: 1 – 9 of 20 Items
1 of 2 Pages

Sorry, no sessions match your criteria. Please refine your filters to display sessions.

“Every session so far has been impactful, with a focus on sharing actionable insights, processes and knowledge that can be put into practice. It’s been really useful to see it in terms of real-world examples too, without any aspect of it feeling sales-y.”

2025 Gartner Conference Attendee

Discover what it’s like to experience Gartner Procurement Conference.

Learn more about Gartner Procurement Conference 2026.

Get our latest conference schedules, updates and insights sent straight to your inbox.

By clicking the "Continue" button, you are agreeing to the Gartner Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Contact Information

All fields are required.

      By clicking the "Submit" button, you are agreeing to the Gartner Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

      Back