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.
Find Conference Sessions

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.

Show Filters

Filter Sessions Cancel
Clear All See 54 Sessions No Results
Showing 54 Sessions
Clear All
Monday, 09 November, 2026

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM CET

Magic Quadrant for Backup and Data Protection Platforms
Michael Hoeck, VP Analyst, Gartner
In this session, we will review the Magic Quadrant for Backup and Data Protection Platforms. A platform approach that now extends beyond backup of hybrid, multicloud and SaaS environments. It plays a critical role in cyber recovery, data protection, compliance, data insights and access use cases. Join this session to gain insights into which vendors are best positioned to meet these requirements. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM CET

Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge
Charlie Winckless, VP Analyst, Gartner
Gartner’s recent technology adoption survey shows that security service edge interest and adoption are top of mind for many chief information security officers. This session will summarize the findings and materials of the latest security service edge Magic Quadrant and Critical Capabilities, providing insights for clients looking to invest in this technology. ... Show More Show Less

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CET

The CIO 2027 Cybersecurity Radar
Leigh McMullen, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner
Gartner's annual cybersecurity radar for CIOs; we examine the hottest trends and emerging threats for cybersecurity to give you the just in time insight you need for your agenda for cybersecurity for the coming year. ... Show More Show Less

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM CET

AI Agents: Cybersecurity Strategies for Enterprise Protection
Dionisio Zumerle, VP Analyst, Gartner
AI agents are emerging as organizations invest in customized generative AI applications for enterprise automation. This session will illustrate how CIOs can avoid cybersecurity failures by adapting identity management, secure development and runtime security practices to address new attack surfaces and risks from AI agents. ... Show More Show Less

01:00 PM - 01:30 PM CET

Cisco: Autonomous, Not Uncontrolled — Defining the New Infrastructure Standard​
Chintan Patel, CTO and VP Solutions Engineering, EMEA, Cisco
Deploying agentic AI in Europe means balancing rapid innovation with strict regulatory alignment, from the EU AI Act to board accountability, so every autonomous action stays transparent, auditable, and compliant.

This session outlines the operational foundations for moving from theoretical AI to secure execution, using unified infrastructure, granular visibility, and fabric-fused security to preserve policy control without sacrificing speed.

 ... Show More Show Less

01:10 PM - 01:30 PM CET

Axonius: AI — The Next Frontier Rooted in Fundamentals
Leslie Forbes, SALES ENGINEER, Axonius
AI won't save a security program built on untrusted data. First, you need to know what you have. This session makes the case for getting back to basics: how accurate asset intelligence becomes the foundation for cutting through noise, managing exposures, and making decisions you can defend. Get the fundamentals right, and everything else - including AI - becomes easier to adopt with confidence. ... Show More Show Less

02:00 PM - 02:30 PM CET

Threatlocker: Defending Against Hidden Risks of AI Tools in the Workplace
AI tools have the power to transform organizational productivity while exponentially increasing risk. Join this session to uncover how workplace AI tools can expose sensitive data, bypass controls, and introduce new attack surfaces. We’ll also explore what you can do to mitigate these risks effectively without impeding innovation. ... Show More Show Less

02:35 PM - 02:55 PM CET

IBM: AI's New Mandate — Secure, Govern and Scale With Confidence
Nina Wilhelmsen, IBM EMEA Executive for Digital Sovereignty, IBM
The conversation has shifted from building AI to operating AI. As AI becomes embedded in mission-critical workflows, organizations need confidence that every model, workload, and decision is secure, governed, economically sustainable, and under control. Discover how to unify infrastructure, data, and AI on a trusted hybrid foundation to accelerate innovation, preserve digital sovereignty, and run AI where critical data and applications reside. ... Show More Show Less

03:00 PM - 03:45 PM CET

Ask the Analyst: Impact of Geopolitical Turmoil on Sovereign Cloud Strategies Across EMEA
Rene Buest, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
Nader Henein, VP Analyst, Gartner
Ongoing geopolitical turmoil and uncertainty intensify sovereignty concerns across the EMEA region. Government bodies and organizations worry about their reliance on foreign digital technology vendors and the sovereignty of their data, infrastructure and operations. In response, governments have issued sovereignty mandates to decrease dependencies on foreign tech and increase overall independence. ... Show More Show Less

... Show More Show Less
Items per page: 1 – 9 of 54 Items
1 of 6 Pages

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

"I think the most valuable aspect of coming to Gartner for me, is just the exposure to so much expertise in such a small amount of time. I can come for four days and get months worth of content in terms of the quality of insight"

Tracey Jessup
Chief Transformation Officer, De Montfort University

Discover what it’s like to experience #GartnerSYM

Learn more about Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 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