All 2026 Conference Sessions

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ 2026 conference 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 long-term Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo attendees on why they keep coming back.
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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 Conference Navigator.

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Monday, 09 November, 2026

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM CET

Top Strategic Trends in Software Engineering for 2026
Joachim Herschmann, VP Analyst, Gartner
Thriving in times of intense economic and social volatility requires organizations to find new ways to empower their software engineering teams to increase productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. This session will provide Gartner’s latest and best guidance on the actionable trends that software engineering leaders and their teams should be tracking in 2026 and beyond. ... Show More Show Less

03:00 PM - 03:30 PM CET

How to Build Reliable AI Agents Out of Unreliable AI Parts?
Leinar Ramos, VP Analyst, Gartner
Reliability is the core challenge for AI agents. AI agents are systems whose components, such as LLMs, can be unreliable. This presentation will introduce CIOs to a set of principles and best practices to design AI agents with reliability as a key principle. ... Show More Show Less

05:00 PM - 05:30 PM CET

Hype Cycle for Agentic AI, 2026 (Inaugural Edition)
This session will introduce the innovation in AI agents and agentic AI using the inaugural Hype Cycle for Agentic AI. Show Less
Tuesday, 10 November, 2026

10:30 AM - 10:50 AM CET

Hype Cycle for AI in Manufacturing: Debunking the Hype
Alexander Hoeppe, VP Analyst, Gartner
AI in manufacturing is moving faster than organizations can invest, meaning CIOs are risk betting on the wrong capabilities at the wrong time. In this presentation, we’ll introduce Gartner’s new Hype Cycle for AI in manufacturing and detail what to deploy now, what to explore and what to avoid. ... Show More Show Less

02:00 PM - 02:30 PM CET

Healthcare: Engineering Trust With an AI-Enabled Infrastructure
Laura Craft, VP Analyst, Gartner
This session will focus on the health data management platform and the AI governance platform as two must-have components to successfully deliver AI. Show Less
Wednesday, 11 November, 2026

01:00 PM - 01:30 PM CET

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace: Reducing Cost and Improving Leverage and the GenAI Effect
Michael Silver, VP Analyst, Gartner
Microsoft 365 has dominated the desktop for over 30 years, but Microsoft is pushing costs ever higher and GenAI is changing the way people work, potentially upending the status quo. This session will explore the costs and benefits of revisiting one of the most expensive areas of the IT budget. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM CET

The CIO’s IT 2030 Roadmap: From AI-Ready to Agent-Ready to Democratization-Ready IT
As AI capabilities mature, CIOs face a new challenge: moving beyond simply being “AI-ready.” This session lays out a strategic roadmap for evolving your IT stack through three critical stages — AI-ready, Agent-ready and finally democratization-ready. Discuss what each stage requires in terms of architecture, governance and talent, and share actionable frameworks to help CIOs lead their organizations through this transformation. Expect practical insights, real-world examples, and a candid discussion of pitfalls and success factors. ... Show More Show Less
Thursday, 12 November, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM CET

Signature Series: Emerging Trends Vision 2027: Human-AI Relationships Will Reshape the World
Frank Buytendijk, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Every year, we pick one of the most important emerging trends and explore that deeper. For 2026, there is no doubt: human-AI relationships. AI brings agency to technology; how will that change the way we relate to AI? Should robots have rights and responsibilities? In a connected world, can you even own AI? How do we overcome fear? Within these new relationships, let’s keep it real: AI is not your friend or teammate, but a toolmate. ... Show More Show Less

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM CET

Physical AI: Your Next Blue Ocean Opportunity in the New AI Era
Erick Brethenoux, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Physical AI refers to tangible AI systems that sense and act in the real world: where digital rubber meets the physical road, bringing intelligence out of software and into real-world environments. Bridging IT and OT through innovative AI capabilities, physical AI brings new business opportunities beyond asset-intensive industries. This session aims to guide CIOs in integrating off-the-shelf solutions into "repeatable engineered outcomes." ... Show More Show Less

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“I have found Gartner Symposium to be a fantastic way to update my knowledge base through information and networking. It’s a real crucial tool in developing my and my organization’s strategic direction.”

Ian Dickens
Director of  ITS, London Met

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