About the Event

The Handelsblatt KI-Summit 2026 is the flagship annual AI strategy conference for C-suite and senior decision-makers in the German business community, held on 16 and 17 November 2026 at the House of Communication in Munich. Organised by Euroforum Deutschland GmbH in cooperation with Handelsblatt, the event is editorially independent and curated by the Handelsblatt technology editorial team. The 2026 edition is themed "Agents & Agency -- The New Operating Model," marking what the organisers describe as the decisive turning point from AI efficiency gains to genuine enterprise-wide transformation. For the first time in 2026, the summit expands to two stages running in parallel, significantly broadening the programme depth and networking opportunities. The event brings together 600+ decision-makers from across industries for two days of keynotes, panel discussions, case studies, a start-up area, an AI exhibition, and an evening event.

Audience and Attendees

The summit is designed for C-suite executives, managing directors, heads of AI and data, transformation leads, strategy officers, and senior technology decision-makers from large and mid-sized German and international companies. Confirmed speakers for 2026 include Judith Dada, Co-CEO of Langdock and Senior Partner at Visionaries; Carsten Meywirth, Director of the Cybercrime Division at the Bundeskriminalamt; Dr. Florian Nielsen, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data at Miele; and Johannes Thomas, CEO of trivago. Additional participants and contributors include Marco Görgmaier, Vice President of Enterprise Platforms and Data at BMW Group; Dr. Axel Löber, Chief Communications Officer of Merck; Dr. Johannes Dick, Board Member for People and Data at Axa; Dr. Tina Klüwer, Executive Director of AI Nation; and the Handelsblatt technology editorial team. The attendee community spans automotive, manufacturing, financial services, retail, logistics, healthcare, and consulting sectors.

Programme Structure

The two-day programme is structured across two parallel stages for the first time in 2026. The TODAY stage addresses the immediate transformation challenge: how organisations move from isolated AI pilots to fully scaled, enterprise-wide integration, covering agentic AI deployment, governance and compliance, security and sovereignty, operating model design, and leadership in AI-driven organisations. The TOMORROW stage looks further ahead, covering the technology radar and future AI trends, strategic positioning for tomorrow's competitive landscape, data platforms and capability building, physical AI and autonomous systems, and new value creation and business model innovation. Surrounding the main stage content, the summit includes a curated start-up area and stage with idea pitches, an AI exhibition with live demonstrations, interactive session formats, high-quality catering, and a dedicated evening event on Day One. Team discount conditions are available for group registrations.

Main Topics

The 2026 agenda is anchored by the transition from AI as a pilot or efficiency tool to AI as the structural foundation of a new enterprise operating model. Key themes include the scaling of AI agents from proof of concept to enterprise-wide deployment; the design of agentic operating models and the reorganisation of processes, responsibilities, and governance structures to support them; lessons learned and best practice from real AI transformation programmes at German and European enterprises; AI governance, compliance, and the EU AI Act as a strategic framework; AI security and digital sovereignty in the context of European data and infrastructure independence; physical AI and the emergence of autonomous systems across industrial and logistics environments; data platform architecture and the organisational capabilities required for AI at scale; new business models enabled by AI beyond cost reduction, including revenue generation and market creation; the role of AI in communications, HR, and corporate functions beyond technology teams; the challenge of AI leadership and how executives can drive transformation rather than delegate it; and the competitive implications for European enterprises of the accelerating gap between AI-native companies and traditional incumbents.

Closing Session

The Handelsblatt KI-Summit 2026 concludes on 17 November at the House of Communication in Munich, closing two days of strategic AI debate, peer exchange, and live technology demonstration. The 2026 edition marks the event's expansion to a two-stage format, reflecting the growing scope and urgency of the AI transformation agenda for Germany's business leadership community.

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