Look, we know you're busy. Your inbox is a disaster, you've got three Zoom calls stacked back-to-back, and someone just Slacked you "got a minute?" (spoiler: they need 30).
But here's the thing: You're about to drop serious money on an Enterprise Connect pass, flights, hotel, and probably some questionable late-night Vegas decisions. If you're investing ~$2,000+ to attend EC 2026, surely you can invest 15 minutes now to actually understand what you're getting into, right?
Bookmark this page. Seriously. Hit Ctrl+D (or Cmd+D if you're fancy). You'll want to reference this guide when you're:
- Building your session schedule
- Planning your expo hall strategy
- Explaining to your boss why this trip is worth it
- Standing in the Caesars Forum lobby on Tuesday morning thinking "now what?"
Think of this as your $2,000 insurance policy. Fifteen minutes of reading now = three days of maximum value later. Plus, we promise to make it entertaining. If you're going to read a conference guide, it might as well have personality.
Still with us? Good. Let's make sure you absolutely crush Enterprise Connect 2026.
Must Reads:
- ISE 2026 Event Guide: The Future of AV and Smart Environments Unfolds in Barcelona
- Powering Productive Workplaces: Why We’re Betting Big on EX in 2026
Enterprise Connect is going all-in on Las Vegas this year, and if you're heading to Caesars Forum March 10-12, you're in for the most transformative EC yet. We've analyzed every session, keynote, and exhibition to bring you this insider's guide to making the most of your three days in Sin City.
Spoiler alert:
This isn't your typical "walk the expo hall" conference. EC 2026 is where the industry confronts its biggest question: Can AI actually deliver on its promises, or are we all just burning budget on shiny tech?
Why EC 2026 is Different This Year
The Big Shift: Tuesday-Thursday Format
Finally, a conference that respects your weekends! The new weekday schedule means:
- ✅ No premium weekend hotel rates
- ✅ Easier flights and travel
- ✅ Back in the office by Friday
- ✅ Better work-life balance
The Theme: "All In on What's Next"
Vegas isn't just the location—it's a metaphor. The industry is placing its bets on AI, hybrid work, and CX transformation. EC 2026 is where you'll see who's bluffing and who's holding the winning hand.
What's Actually New
- First-ever event emcee (Justin Robbins) keeping energy high
- Five reimagined conference tracks focused on practical execution
- Strategic IT Leadership Roundtables (no vendors allowed—finally!)
- Flexible pricing from free expo passes to all-access
- Future Leaders Program spotlighting rising talent under 35
The Five Big Themes Dominating EC 2026
1. AI: Prove It or Lose It
The honeymoon is over. Vendors must demonstrate real ROI, not just flashy demos. Watch for:
- Agentic AI that actually works in production
- Trust and observability frameworks
- Security-first AI deployment
- Moving from pilot to enterprise-wide scale
The Uncomfortable Truth: There's literally a keynote panel called "What If AI Never Pays Off?" That's the conversation everyone's having privately—EC is bringing it to the main stage.
2. Hybrid Work Infrastructure is Permanent
Organizations are done experimenting. Now it's about:
- Meeting equity (no more "second-class" remote participants)
- Standardization without stifling innovation
- Interoperability across Zoom, Teams, Webex, etc.
- Making the office worth the commute
3. CX as Competitive Weapon
Customer experience is no longer a support function—it's the differentiator:
- AI-powered contact centers
- Agent experience (burnout is real)
- Cloud migration strategies
- Omnichannel orchestration
4. Security in the Deepfake Era
AI creates threats as fast as it creates opportunities:
- Deepfake detection
- Identity fraud prevention
- AI-driven cyber attacks
- Governance and compliance frameworks
5. Legacy Modernization Without Disruption
How to evolve without breaking what works:
- Maximizing ROI from existing investments
- Bridge strategies to newer tech
- Reliability engineering for mission-critical systems
Must-See Keynotes & Speakers
Tuesday, March 10
Opening Keynotes (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
Start strong with three power sessions:
"What If AI Never Pays Off?" Panel The most important session of the conference. Top AI vendors get grilled about whether their technology can actually deliver ROI. Expect fireworks, deflection, and hopefully some honest answers.
AWS: "Building Trust in AI with Amazon Connect" Speaker: Pasquale DeMaio, VP Customer Experience
Why attend: AWS is betting big on trust and observability. If you're considering Amazon Connect or worried about AI reliability, this is essential.
Best of Enterprise Connect Awards See what innovations are actually winning in the market (not just what vendors claim).
Wednesday, March 11
Morning Keynote: Heather McGowan (10:15 AM - 10:45 AM)
The Must-See Session of EC 2026
Heather is Forbes' Top 50 Futurist and doesn't pull punches. Expect:
-
- How AI transforms not just tools, but how humans work
- Why adaptability beats technical skills
- What the workplace looks like in 2030
- Frameworks you can actually use
Why you can't miss this: Thomas Friedman calls her insights an "oasis." In a sea of vendor pitches, Heather delivers independent, actionable vision.
Zoom: "Beyond Friction in Collaboration" (Time TBD)
Speakers: Kimberly Storin (CMO), Leo Boulton, Michelle Couture, Theresa Larkin
Why attend: They're presenting new Deloitte research on meeting friction costing billions. If you've ever thought "we have too many meetings," this validates your pain and offers solutions.
CX Panel: "Does More Technology = Happier Customers?" (11:10 AM - 11:30 AM)
The question everyone's afraid to ask. Spoiler: Sometimes more tech makes things worse. Learn when to deploy and when to hold back.
Thursday, March 12
RingCentral: "Enterprise Communications in a Secure, AI-Driven World" (Time TBD)
Speaker: Kira Makagon, President & COO
Why attend: Agentic AI is the future—autonomous systems taking actions without human intervention. RingCentral will show real customer deployments, not just concepts.
Collaboration Panel: "Securing and Advancing the Employee Experience" (11:10 AM - 11:30 AM)
How to balance security, user experience, and cost in hybrid environments. The eternal triangle—finally addressed head-on.
Conference Track Strategy: Pick Your Path
Don't try to attend everything. Choose your track based on your biggest pain point:
For Those Drowning in Legacy Systems → Legacy Unleashed
Best Sessions:
- "Reliability Engineering: When the Contact Center Can Never Go Down" (Wed 9:15 AM)
- "Platform Wars & Peace: Building Video Rooms That Work Across Ecosystems" (Thu 8:30 AM)
- "The Potential of Teams & Copilot: What You're Missing Out On" (Thu 9:15 AM)
Who should attend: IT leaders managing existing infrastructure who need to modernize without disruption.
For Workplace Strategists → Workplace Reimagined
Best Sessions:
- "Why Standardization is Critical for Your Conference Room Estate" (Wed 8:30 AM) - Peter Kolak, Intuit
- "How Workplace Experience and Tech Can Help Make the Office Better" (Wed 9:15 AM) - Stacy Foster, Mastercard
- "Hybrid Access and Inclusive Design: Making Meetings Accessible" (Thu 8:30 AM)
Who should attend: Those responsible for employee experience, hybrid work strategy, or facilities management.
For AI Implementers → Tech Disruption Zone
Best Sessions:
- "Forget the Moonshot: Build Your AI Strategy One Micro Win at a Time" (Wed 9:15 AM) - Sinead Aylward, Johnson Controls
- "The Economics of AI to Improve CX, While Reducing Costs" (Wed 8:30 AM) - Robin Gareiss, Metrigy
- "Cybercrime Has a New Superpower: How AI Is Supercharging Attacks" (Thu 8:30 AM)
- "Ethical Considerations for AI in Enterprise Communications" (Thu 2:15 PM)
Who should attend: Anyone deploying AI who wants to avoid expensive mistakes.
For Strategic Planners → Achieving Transformation
Best Sessions:
- "Your 3-5 Year Communications Roadmap: Getting It Right in a Time of Transition" (Thu 8:30 AM)
- "Network 'Plumbing' in the AI Age: More Essential Than Ever" (Wed 8:30 AM)
- "Journey Orchestration Beyond the Contact Center" (Wed 1:30 PM)
Who should attend: CIOs, CTOs, and senior leaders building multi-year roadmaps.
For Innovation Leaders → Future Shock
Best Sessions:
- "Can You Hear Me Now? Deepfakes, Trust, and the Future of Enterprise Communications" (Wed 8:30 AM)
- "How We Will Communicate as AI Transforms the Enterprise Workplace" (Thu 9:15 AM)
- "Understanding the Opportunities and Risks of Agent-to-Agent Communications" (Thu 9:15 AM)
Who should attend: Forward-thinkers who need to anticipate disruption before it arrives.
The Tuesday Summit Strategy
If you have an All Access or Summit pass, Tuesday morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) offers three intensive deep-dives. Pick ONE based on your top priority:
AI Acceleration Summit
Choose if: You're struggling to move AI from pilot to production You'll learn: ROI frameworks, security deployment, scaling methodologies Best for: IT leaders, data scientists, automation architects
CX Revolution Summit
Choose if: Customer experience is your competitive differentiator You'll learn: AI for CX, cloud migration, omnichannel strategies Best for: CX directors, contact center leaders, customer success teams
Sight, Sound, Success: AV/Collaboration Summit
Choose if: Meeting rooms and collaboration infrastructure are your headache You'll learn: Standardization, interoperability, meeting equity solutions Best for: AV specialists, UC architects, workplace coordinators
Pro tip: Summits include small-group collaboration sessions—bring your real problems to workshop with peers.
Strategic IT Leadership Roundtables: The Hidden Gem
Enterprise attendees only | Manager-level+ | Strict no-vendor policy
These off-the-record peer discussions are gold:
Tuesday 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Making AI Work Candid conversations about what's actually working (and what's not) in AI deployment.
Wednesday 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Cost-Effective Collaboration Systems How to do more with less in an era of budget constraints.
Thursday 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Driving CX Success Real talk about contact center transformation challenges.
Why these matter: No sales pitches. No vendor BS. Just peers solving real problems together. These sessions often deliver more value than entire conferences.
Expo Hall Strategy: 150+ Exhibitors
The Diamond Sponsors to Visit
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Why visit: If you're considering Amazon Connect or AWS infrastructure for communications. Their keynote sets up the booth conversations. Ask about: Trust frameworks, observability tools, migration support
Dialpad
Why visit: AI-native platform with strong real-time intelligence Ask about: AI CSAT scoring, real-time coaching, post-call summaries
RingCentral
Why visit: Agentic AI deployment and enterprise security Ask about: Voice AI capabilities, security frameworks, customer success stories
Zoom
Why visit: Friction reduction strategies and Deloitte research findings Ask about: AI Companion features, meeting analytics, hybrid optimization
The Platinum Sponsors to Watch
Cisco (Webex)
Why visit: If you're in the Cisco ecosystem or evaluating UC platforms Ask about: Webex AI integration, security features, hybrid work tools
Five9 & Genesys
Why visit: Cloud contact center leaders with mature AI Ask about: CCaaS migration paths, AI use cases, ROI proof points
NICE
Why visit: Workforce optimization and analytics leader Ask about: Agent experience tools, quality management, AI analytics
Vonage
Why visit: CPaaS and API-driven communications Ask about: Developer tools, integration capabilities, global reach
The Gold Sponsors with Specialized Solutions
Bandwidth, Sinch, Twilio
Why visit: If you're building custom communications solutions Ask about: CPaaS platforms, SMS/voice APIs, global coverage
Google (NEW Gold Sponsor)
Why visit: Google Workspace and Pixel for Business integration Ask about: AI features, enterprise security, device management
Nextiva
Why visit: Unified platform for SMB to enterprise Ask about: All-in-one solutions, pricing models, migration support
Verint
Why visit: Customer engagement and workforce optimization Ask about: Experience management, analytics, compliance tools
Expo Hall Navigation Tips
Tuesday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Opening reception—best for casual browsing and networking over drinks
Wednesday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Peak time—expect crowds but also best energy
Wednesday 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Booth Crawl—wine, beer, bites at participating booths
Thursday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Last chance—vendors are most willing to deal/commit
Pro Strategy:
- Tuesday: Scout the landscape, grab materials
- Wednesday AM: Attend sessions, research based on Tuesday findings
- Wednesday PM: Deep-dive demos with shortlist vendors
- Thursday: Final questions, get commitments, exchange contacts
The "Passport to Prizes" Game Plan
Pick up your passport card at Enterprise Connect HQ booth on Tuesday. Visit participating exhibitors to collect stamps. Submit by Thursday 2:00 PM for prize drawings.
Strategy: Use this as structured expo hall navigation. The passport forces you to visit booths you might otherwise skip—some hidden gems await.
Networking Events: Your Social Strategy
Tuesday Evening
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Expo Hall Opening Reception Prime networking opportunity. Everyone's fresh, energy is high, and the conversations flow with the drinks.
