Your Guide to Gartner Data & Analytics Summit Orlando 2026

The countdown is on! The Gartner® Data & Analytics Summit returns to Orlando March 9-11 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already mapping out your strategy to maximize every minute. With hundreds of sessions, keynotes, roundtables, networking opportunities, and—let’s be honest—some much-needed caffeine breaks, there’s a lot to juggle.

Tamr has attended this event for years, and we’ve learned that the magic happens when you balance the official agenda with those spontaneous hallway conversations and after-hours connections. So grab your conference app, and let me walk you through my personal can’t-miss list for Orlando.

Block Your Calendar: My Top Picks 

With so many sessions to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are a few I’m prioritizing:

Advance Your AI Strategy for Success in an Era of Constant Change

Monday, March 9 | 11:00 AM 

Speaker: Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner

Why it matters:

This session tackles one of the biggest challenges facing data leaders today: transforming AI from a promising technology into a critical competitive differentiator. If you are struggling to demonstrate AI ROI—or elevate AI beyond productivity gains—this session, led by one of Gartner’s most influential analysts, is for you. You’ll discover how to operationalize AI for sustained differentiation. 

Ask the Expert: Core Data Management Components to Support AI Readiness

Monday, March 9 | 12:45 PM 

Speaker: Michael Gonzales, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner

Why it matters:

Before you can deploy successful AI, you need the right data management foundation. This interactive session challenges “rip-and-replace” thinking and promotes a use-case-driven approach to data management maturity. 

If you’re wondering which data management components are truly foundational versus which ones are nice to have—or if you’re looking to avoid costly mistakes in building your AI-ready data architecture—this session should provide the practical frameworks you need.

Generative AI’s Invisible Undercurrents: 10 Blind Spots CDAOs Aren’t Watching but Should

Tuesday, March 10 | 10:30 AM 

Speaker: Arun Chandrasekaran, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner

Why it matters:

Most organizations are laser-focused on the obvious GenAI challenges including business value, security, and data readiness. But it’s the second- and third-order effects that tend to catch enterprises off guard, and the consequences can be severe: disrupted operations, ethical missteps, security vulnerabilities, and stalled value realization.

Chandrasekaran is one of Gartner’s foremost voices on AI strategy—in fact, you may recognize him from Monday’s opening session. Here, he goes deeper, surfacing the hidden risks that don’t always make it onto the executive agenda until they’ve already become expensive problems. If your organization is scaling GenAI and looking to stay ahead of the pitfalls that derail even well-resourced programs, this is a session worth prioritizing.

Tamr: The MDM Journey—From Transactions to Trusted Data in the Age of AI

Wednesday, March 11 | 11:15 AM 

Speakers: 

• Luke Mellors, Vice President, Technology, CNA Canada
• Anthony Deighton, CEO, Tamr

Why it matters: 

Only 22% of organizations trust their own data—yet AI success depends on it. This session offers practical insights into how enterprises can meaningfully improve data trust and customer experiences, drawing on real-world lessons from across industries. You’ll also get a closer look at agentic data curation, how it accelerates and automates the work of data stewards, and what it looks like in practice. 

If you’re wrestling with data quality or AI readiness and how to navigate your own MDM journey, this session helps connect strategy to operational execution.

More Must-Sees

Be sure to pay attention to the case study sessions, too. Hearing how other organizations have tackled similar challenges often provides the most actionable takeaways. And don’t underestimate the value of the analyst Q&A sessions. Getting face time with Gartner analysts with relevant domain expertise is worth its weight in gold.

‍Explore the Expo Hall

Exhibit halls are where strategy meets real-world execution. They’re often where the most practical and valuable conversations happen. Away from the high-level theory of the keynote stage, the expo floor offers you the opportunity to challenge vendors and learn about and even see different solutions in action. It’s also where a chance encounter with a peer or a deep dive with a product engineer can help turn a major data challenge into an actionable plan for your organization.

Plan to Wander

Some of the best discoveries happen when you stop by a booth you weren’t planning to visit and end up in a fascinating conversation about solving a problem you didn’t even know you had.

The expo hall on the lower level is organized into themed villages by focus area—Data Governance, AI & Analytics, Data Management, and more—making it easy to zero in on the conversations most relevant to your priorities. 

Gartner’s Innovation Zone showcases emerging technologies, and the Peer Connect lounges offer quieter spaces for one-on-one conversations when you need a break from the expo floor buzz.

Networking Receptions‍

Monday and Tuesday evenings offer opportunities to reconnect with peers, meet new people in similar roles, and expand your product knowledge in the exhibit hall. The official networking receptions are always well attended. Not only do they provide great opportunities for vendor conversations, but they also offer the chance to enjoy a drink and some tasty appetizers before heading off to dinner.

Interactive Experiences Offered by Tamr

• Master Data Quest game: Tamr’s Engagement Zone on the main floor (where the sessions are held) is leaning into experiential engagement with “Master Data Quest,” a fun and educational video game with premium prizes including a desktop robot, hoverboard, and power bank for the top finishers.
• Custom hats: During the evening receptions, stop by Tamr’s booth #927 downstairs in the expo hall to get a hat customized just for you! Design your own hat by selecting a fun, unique data-themed patch and then have it pressed on-site while you watch!

Fuel Up: Coffee Stops You Need to Know

Let's talk about what really keeps us going during three days of back-to-back sessions: Coffee!

On-Site Options 

The Gaylord Palms has several convenient on-site options. 

• The Cocoa Bean serves Starbucks coffee and bakery items, perfect for a quick grab-and-go before morning sessions. 
• If you’re looking for a non-coffee option, Jamba is located right on-site at the resort, offering plant-based smoothies, acai bowls, and fresh juices that make a refreshing alternative to your third espresso of the day.

Nearby Options 

If you need an escape between sessions, Lineage Coffee Roasting is just a short ride away in Old Town Kissimmee. Their espresso is legitimately excellent, and the change of scenery might be exactly what you need to process everything you’re learning.

And sometimes, the best move is simple! Grab a coffee at the event, find a quiet corner near the expo hall, and catch up on emails or jot down what you’ve learned before diving back in.

Making the Most of It

The Gartner D&A Summit consistently delivers on its promise to help leaders and practitioners navigate the future of data and analytics. And as AI reshapes our industry, the insights and connections you’ll gain in Orlando matter more than ever.

Start Planning Now 

If you’re attending, now’s the time to map your strategy. Pick your priority sessions, schedule real breaks (your brain will thank you), and leave room for serendipity. Some of my most valuable conference moments have happened because I chatted with a vendor I didn’t originally plan to meet, I was waiting in line for coffee, or I was just sitting in the hallway charging my phone.

See you there!