2026 Conference Tracks

2026 Conference Tracks at a Glance

The 2026 agenda delivers the latest technololgy, strategy and leadership insights most critical to CDAOs, AI leaders and their teams. 

Track A: Leadership

A track designed for CDAOs and data, analytics and AI leaders tasked with delivering business value through data, analytics and AI. These leaders delivery value and mature a data-driven culture by building trust and managing data while evolving technology capabilities.

Hot topics:

  • Strategy and operating models

  • Delivering business value

  • Talent development

  • Building a data-driven culture

  • Evolving technology capabilities

Track B: Artificial Intelligence

This track covers everything you need to be successful with AI, including: AI strategy, responsible AI, AI governance, agentic AI and AI agents, generative AI, LLMs, retrieval augmented generation, AI engineering, prompt engineering, AI architecture, data science, ML and scalability. This track is designed for D&A leaders and practitioners such as heads of AI, AI experts, AI architects and AI engineers.

Hot topics:

  • AI strategy

  • AI agents (and agentic AI)

  • Cost management

  • Responsible AI

  • AI risk and governance

Track C: Analytics

This track covers everything you need to be successful with analytics and business intelligence, including: self-service analytics, the adoption and impact of generative AI, agentic analytics, ecosystems, composability, natural language query, metrics and dashboards, data storytelling and decision intelligence. This track is designed for D&A leaders and practitioners such as heads of analytics, business analysts, analytics developers, analytics architects and engineers.

Hot topics:

  • Self-service analytics

  • Agentic analytics

  • Impact of GenAI
  • Decision intelligence
  • Data storytelling

Track D: Data Management

This track covers everything you need to be successful with data management. This includes topics, such as AI-readiness for data, federated data management, data management platform convergence, DataOps, data product management, cost optimization across the data management value chain, data fabric design for scalability, resilience and reliability of data management architectures.

Hot topics:

  • AI-readiness for data
  • Federated data management
  • Data management platform convergence
  • DataOps
  • Data products
  • Cost optimization

Track E: D&A Governance

A track designed for D&A leaders responsible for governance as well as those who take on governance roles like stewardship. This track covers everything you need to be successful no matter where you are in your D&A governance journey including: adaptive governance, achieving stakeholder buy-in, establishing your governance operating model, the impact of AI on D&A governance, the future of D&A governance roles and evolution of D&A governance platforms.

Hot topics:

  • Adaptive governance
  • Stakeholder buy-in for governance programs
  • D&A governance operating model
  • AI impact on D&A governance
  • Future of D&A governance roles
  • Evolution of D&A governance platforms

Track F: CDAO Circle Program

The CDAO Circle Program is an exclusive experience designed for both New To Role and experienced CDAOs to elevate their performance and brand.

Hot topics:

  • Leadership
  • Business value of D&A
  • Future of the CDAO role
  • Change management
  • Strategy and operating model

Spotlight Track: Heads of AI & AI Leaders

This track is designed for AI Leaders tasked to building a world-class AI strategy and organization. It covers AI use cases, developing robust AI systems and delivery models, including Agentic AI, while ensuring safe and scalable operations, through strong AI governance.

Spotlight Track: Executive Toolkit

These sessions are focused on helping you leverage Gartner’s tools as you plan and execute your D&A strategy. These sessions will help you craft concrete materials you can take back to your organization.

Spotlight Track: What's Next?

This track will highlight the emerging concepts organizations will need to build into their strategic plans as well as the latest best practices to solve problems old and new.

Spotlight Track: Create D&A Value

How to demonstrate and realize value from D&A investments by building a value competency that is part of every decision and action.