Your Strategic Calendar for 2026

The guide from geopolitical summits to trust and safety convenings, research reports and elections that will shape tech policy for years to come

Every January, the same thing happens: your inbox floods with event invitations, conference announcements, and calendar holds for summits you’re not sure you should attend.

By March, you’ve overcommitted. By June, you’re wondering why you’re on another plane to another ballroom for another panel that could have been an email.

The problem isn’t that there aren’t valuable events in 2026. The problem is knowing which ones actually matter for your work and understanding how they connect to each other.

I’ve learned that the most valuable strategic intelligence doesn’t come from attending everything. It comes from knowing what to track, when patterns converge, and how to read what’s coming before everyone else is scrambling to respond.

This calendar is different from the industry event lists you’ll find elsewhere. It’s not comprehensive—it’s strategic. I’m not listing every AI conference or democracy summit happening this year. I’m showing you the events, reports, and moments that will shape platform policy, regulatory direction, and the broader intersection of technology and democracy. A huge thank you to Ana Khizanishvili for helping me make this up to date.

Here’s how I’m approaching 2026 and how you can use this calendar to stay ahead instead of constantly catching up.