Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit

Overview

Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit is Gartner’s major event focused on enterprise applications and software engineering leadership, held in London, United Kingdom, on 14–15 September 2026. The summit brings together application leaders, software engineers, and technology decision makers to explore how to deliver value in the AI native era, align innovation with business goals, and drive cultural and organizational change while modernizing application portfolios. The event is positioned as an in-person experience with a focus on actionable insights, leadership, and collaboration across tracks, sessions, workshops, and interactive experiences. Attendees can expect a combination of keynote elements, track sessions, case studies, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to network with peers and Gartner analysts.

Date and Venue

The summit runs over two days, with sessions and activities concentrated in mid September in London. The event is categorized as an offline conference with on-site attendance. The venue is listed as InterContinental London The O2, located in London, United Kingdom. Attendees should plan travel and accommodation in advance, with the event calendar highlighting a dense programme of sessions and activities across tracks and experiential content.

Tracks and agenda

A core theme of the conference is Deliver the Future: Innovate, Lead, Act. Tracks are designed to help attendees translate AI vision into practical action and real outcomes. Representative tracks include:

• Leading Through Technological Change: Strategies for leaders to drive value when technology evolves rapidly, focusing on AI adoption, governance, and organizational alignment.
• Modern Software Engineering: Building AI-ready foundations, accelerating software development lifecycle productivity, and integrating intelligent applications into enterprise workflows.
• Spotlight: Enterprise Architecture: Guidance for heads of architecture on driving business value through AI initiatives, IT investments, and governance.
• Experience and Sessions: A collection of sessions that explore hands-on experiences, practical case studies, and interactive formats such as roundtables and workshops.

Speakers and content

The event features a mix of Gartner analysts and industry practitioners. Representative speaker highlights include Joachim Herschmann (VP Analyst at Gartner), Annie Hodgkins (Sr Director Analyst at Gartner), and Denis Torii (VP Analyst at Gartner). The programme emphasizes data-driven insights, strategic validation, and practical guidance for implementing AI-enabled capabilities within an enterprise context. In addition to keynote content, the agenda includes interactive content such as exclusive sessions, one-on-one meetings, and opportunities to network with peers and Gartner experts.

Format and attendee profile

The summit is designed for senior leaders in applications and software engineering who are seeking to translate AI ambition into concrete outcomes. Attendees should expect a mix of plenary sessions, tracks with focused content, and opportunities to engage through interactive experiences and networking. The event emphasizes practical frameworks, research-driven guidance, and actionable recommendations that attendees can apply within their own organizations.

FAQ and preparation

Estimated attendee count and registration details are typically published by Gartner on the event page. Given the nature of Gartner conferences, attendees often access Gartner Conference Navigator for agenda building and scheduling, including signups for interactive sessions and private meetings. The event emphasizes accessibility and inclusion, with provisions described by Gartner for attendees with accessibility needs and for ensuring an inclusive conference experience. Attendees are encouraged to register early and to review logistics prior to arrival to maximize the conference experience.

Who should attend

The summit is ideal for senior application leaders, software engineers, IT executives, architects, and developers seeking practical insights into delivering modern, AI-enabled applications and architectures that drive business outcomes.