Conference News: New Auto Show; Sundances into Colorado; SXSW Sessions
Evanta Rebrand: Evanta has been rebranded to Gartner C-level Communities. According to their official announcement, they will “remain committed to their unique by C-levels, For C-levels™ model and to offer members the best opportunities to connect with C-level peers to share perspectives, validate strategies and solve challenges together.” While Evanta joined Gartner eight years ago, this is a new transition that the organization leaders believe will enhance their ability to serve their executives communities and sponsors.
New Event: European Motor Show (EMS) – There will be a new conference and expo coming to RDS Dublin from 31 January – 1 February 2026. The European Motor Show (EMS) will bring together leading motor brands, industry commentators, seasoned collectors, pioneering innovators and superfans to showcase the latest developments in the automotive sector, from luxury vehicles and cutting-edge electric and hybrid models to high-performance cars. EMS will include an expo and car show as well as a conference. The conference component agenda will include topics covering “cutting-edge world of motorsport engineering; how AI, autonomous driving, and electrification are revolutionising the automotive landscape; which cars will be tomorrow’s collectors’ pieces; highlight stories of innovation, legendary achievements, and the changing landscape of racing.” While it is a new event, they expect approximately 5000 attendees, who will be a mix of consumers, top automotive brands, industry executives, collectors, technologists, policymakers, and media.
Sundance Sunsets Park City Location: Earlier this week, it was announced that the Sundance Film Festival will no longer be held in Park City. After more than 40 years in Utah, the iconic festival will be moving to Boulder, CO in 2027. According to Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford “As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. This move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences.” While it’s not technically a conference, this is big news in the event industry as several gatherings have sprung up around Sundance in recent years.
Submission Opportunity: SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, has a mission to empower people and workplaces by advancing HR practices and by maximizing human potential. SHRM Inclusion conference will take place from 26 – 29 October in Louisville, KY. If you have a case study that aligns with one of this year’s conference tracks (Untapped Talent Pools; Inclusive Hiring & Talent Development; Employee Well-Being & Mental Health; Accessibility & Universal Design; Inclusive Leadership; Conscious Inclusion & Bias Reduction; Equity & Belonging; Inclusion & Diversity Strategy), then suggest a talk before the 25 April deadline.
Lunchtime Learning: Last month, we mentioned that SXSW had just wrapped its 2025 festival and released plans for their 40th anniversary next year. Although the PanelPicker for 2026 won’t open until June, fans of SXSW can relive this year’s featured conference content on demand. Check out this interview of Meredith Whitaker President of the Signal Technology Foundation (whose subsidiary messaging app has been in the headlines of late) by Guy Kawasaki on the state of personal online security and confidentiality. Too busy to watch the full hour? SXSW’s Hugh Forrest shared this cool session visualization of Whitaker’s session, created by TwoLine Studios. Other SXSW highlights include an interview with Bluesky CEO Jay Graber on the future of social media (and corresponding visualization) and conversation with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna on quantum (and corresponding visualization).
Coming Up Next Week: TED – which began in 1984 in California as the Technology, Entertainment & Design Conference, before moving to its current host city of Vancouver in 2014 – kicks off 7 April. TED 2025 will focus on the theme Humanity Reimagined and pose the question “What are humans for?” in the midst of AI’s astonishing rise. The National Association of Broadcasters’ annual NAB Show will be held 5-9 April in Las Vegas and explores the latest advancements that are reshaping the world of media, entertainment, and technology. ASU+GSV Summit (5-7 April) runs alongside the AI Show @ ASU+GSV (6-9 April) in San Diego this year. The Summit (San Diego Convention Center) will continue ASU+GSV’s longstanding tradition of gathering “PreK to Gray” education and workforce learning leaders, while the AI Show (Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego) is expected to draw an even larger audience of educators, workforce, and edtech innovators to cover all things AI in EDU. The purpose of the Great Place to Work® For All™ Summit – which gets underway 8 April in Las Vegas – is right there in the name, offering attendees new strategies to meet the changing needs of their people. And on 10 April in NYC, Groundbreaking Women Summit’s theme Rise and Lead celebrates the resilience and leadership of women who push boundaries in their fields.