All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 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 a long-term Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo attendee on why he keeps coming back.
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Monday, October 19, 2026

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

CIO Circle Roundtable: Opening Keynote Follow-On (Multi-Group)
Steve Du Plooy, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Brian Demski, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Craig Prall, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Tom Rad kiewicz, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Join this session to unpack the Gartner IT Symposium opening keynote themes and topics with your CIO circle peers. Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Insurance Roundtable: Impact of Vibe Coding and Citizen Development on the Technology Operating Model
Julia Davis, Executive Partner, Gartner
Mark Gregory, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Vibe coding and citizen development decentralize application creation, shifting the operating model toward distributed development with AI-augmented capabilities that accelerate delivery but introduce new security, compliance, and technical debt risks. How are you adjusting the IT operating model from sole delivery provider to platform architect and governance orchestrator? How are you enabling scaled innovation into distributed solutions while maintaining enterprise standards, security compliance, and visibility? ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Midsize Enterprise Roundtable: Managing CEO Expectations for AI in MSEs
Paul Garner, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Kathy Ameche, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Gartner's 2026 CEO survey found that CEOs rank technology adoption as its number one priority for growth. It also found AI as the number one technology to enable growth. Come ready to discuss your CEO expectations and how to manage them when operating in the context of a midsized enterprise.

Exclusive to Midsize Enterprise Program. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Roundtable: Enterprise AI Agents: Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Wave? (Multi-group)
Brian Baker, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Jon Bergersen, Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
Steve Bozzo, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Seth Gottlieb, Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
Tamara Skye, VP Program Director, Gartner
AI agents are rapidly moving from pilot projects to enterprise-scale deployment, but is your organization ready to harness their potential? In this roundtable, we’ll share experiences and dive into both the technology and organizational readiness required for successful adoption of enterprise AI agents. We’ll explore moving from experimentation to scale, challenges of change management, and the new skills and governance models needed. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

State and Local Government Roundtable: Controlling AI Token Costs: Strategies for State CIOs (Multi-group)
Christian Farland, Executive Partner, Gartner
Carie Zoellner, Executive Partner, Gartner
Mi Sou Gray, Executive Partner, Gartner
Steve Tedder, Executive Partner, Gartner
As generative AI adoption accelerates across state agencies, managing token-based pricing models is becoming a critical concern for both IT and finance leaders. Join your peers to share lessons learned and best practices in this evolving area of public sector technology management. We'll discuss practical strategies state CIOs can deploy to forecast usage, set guardrails, collaborate with CFOs on budget planning, negotiate vendor contracts—and ultimately prevent unexpected budget variances driven by unchecked AI consumption. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Women CIO Roundtable: No Is a Full Sentence (Multi-group)
Denise McCurdy, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Izella Dornell, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Monique Nolk, Executive Partner, Gartner
Carol Fawcett, Executive Partner, Gartner
This session will highlight the power of no can have the most impact. It's time for a shift in thinking about our most precious resource — time. The demand for IT services is relentless, but despite best efforts, IT can never keep up with it. Leaders need to think beyond calendar management and think spend time strategically. Join us to explore the skill and gift of being able to say no while staying connected, maintaining your brand and not alienating your executive peers. This session is open to all attendees. ... Show More Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Healthcare Provider Roundtable: Impact of Technology on Quality of Care and Patient Experience (Multi-Group)
Dan Dunkers, Executive Partner, Gartner
Kathryn McClellan, Executive Partner, Gartner
Steve Bozzo, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Mi Sou Gray, Executive Partner, Gartner
IT is positioned as a critical driver—not a support function—for improving the quality of care and patient experience. The challenge is that providers typically view IT as reactive cost management. Gartner's research shows that CIOs who shift to proactive, AI-driven automation and data-centric decision-making can directly impact the quality of care, patient outcomes and patient experience. Join this roundtable with peers to explore your role in helping reframe this conversation with executive leadership. ... Show More Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Oil and Gas Roundtable: Do You Have What It Takes to Govern AI? (Multi-Group)
Mark Bartram, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Beth Overhuls, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Brian Baker, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Steve Du Plooy, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Join this industry contextualized roundtable designed for Oil & Gas and Chemicals CIOs. Your organization has AI, but do you have the policies, controls and accountability structures needed to manage AI responsibly? Or are you suffering from unchecked model usage, data security concerns and regulatory exposure? In this lightly facilitated discussion, we'll discuss risks for organizations when governance frameworks are lacking or immature and share best practices in setting clear standards, oversight and ethical guidelines to ensure AI is deployed safely, transparently, and in alignment with business goals. ... Show More Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Roundtable: Is AI Stealing From Your Budget? (Multi-group)
John Baker, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Greg Chi, Executive Partner, Gartner
Jesse Oman, Executive Partner, Gartner
Grant Bridgewater, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Howard Berger, Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
David Kelley, Sr Executive Partner, Gartner
Steve Goldberg, Sr Executive Partner, Domains, Gartner
Steve Buckridge, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Join this lightly-facilitated peer discussion exploring whether investments in artificial intelligence are delivering enough value to justify their growing cost footprint. Weigh the benefits of automation, efficiency and competitive advantage against hidden expenses like implementation, maintenance, and workforce training. How are peer organizations balancing AI innovation with financial discipline to ensure AI spending enhances rather than drains their budgets? ... Show More Show Less

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"You have all of the CIOs in the world, all together. It’s a wealth of expertise and experience that I love to tap into and continue to stay connected with.”

Damon Frost
CIO, P&G Beauty, Proctor & Gamble

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