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

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM EDT

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 - 12:15 PM EDT

Insurance Roundtable: Impact of Vibe Coding and Citizen Development on the Technology Operating Model
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 - 12:00 PM EDT

Make an Agile AI Strategy for a Radical Future
Whit Andrews, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
AI is driving the future of business through technology. But disruptions in the geopolitical and technological spheres make uncertainty the only sure thing. Organizations can establish deliberate approaches to critical aspects of their AI maturity to deliver meaningful outcomes no matter what happens. This session will include a look at the future, a one-page strategy template, and a plan for how to make maturity work. ... 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
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 Local Government Roundtable: Controlling AI Token Costs: Strategies for State CIOs (Multi-group)
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

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Healthcare Provider Roundtable
Join this roundtable session to discuss timely, relevant topics for technology leaders in your industry. Share learnings with peers during a Gartner-facilitated group discussion. Show Less

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Oil and Gas Roundtable: Do You Have What It Takes to Govern AI?
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
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

12:45 PM - 01:15 PM EDT

Process Orchestration and AI Agents - Aspirations and Reality
Marc Kerremans, VP Analyst, Gartner
Discover how integrating agent and workflow technologies can revolutionize your business. Unlock new levels of automation, adaptability and efficiency while reducing manual effort. Join this session to explore practical strategies and real-world value that can give your enterprise a powerful competitive edge. ... Show More Show Less

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“It really helps you get away from the operational things you’re doing every day, and think about what’s next.”

JR Williamson
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer, Leidos

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