- inControl Summit 2026 debuts in Düsseldorf next June to explore AI’s impact on the event industry
- The Summit focuses on Experiences, Intelligence, and Automation to enhance planning, networking, and operations
- The event is limited to 300 attendees and features keynotes, panels, and AI‑powered networking sessions
- Organised by run.events, the Summit showcases the balance between AI adoption and human-centred event design
A new fixture in the event-industry calendar is set to make its debut this December: inControl Summit 2026, a focused, one-day conference dedicated to exploring how artificial intelligence is redefining the event ecosystem. The Summit will take place on June 2nd, 2026, at the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf, offering just 300 seats in an intimate, high-engagement format.
Unlike broad trade shows or vendor-driven expos, inControl Summit is purpose-built as a practitioner’s roundtable: a space for candid exchange, actionable insights and human-centred thinking in the age of AI. Organised by run.events, the European all-in-one event management platform, the Summit will gather event strategists, technologists, operators and thought leaders to confront the real opportunities—and challenges—of integrating AI into live experiences.
A Three-Track Focus: Experiences, Intelligence, Automation
The programme is built around three interlocking themes:
- Experiences — how AI can enhance personalization, networking and attendee journeys
- Intelligence — turning event data into strategic insight
- Automation — streamlining operational complexity so organizers can focus on what matters
Through keynote addresses, panel dialogues and structured peer networking, inControl Summit intends to merge theory and practice. Speakers include event innovators, AI practitioners, and experts pushing the boundaries of immersive design, data-driven decision-making, and systems automation.
Scale Meets Selectivity
With a strict cap of 300 participants, inControl Summit emphasises depth over breadth. The choice of the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf provides a top-quality facility and strong connectivity to regional and international transport hubs. This setting underlines the Summit’s ambition: a tightly-knit gathering of serious practitioners, as opposed to a sprawling spectacle.
Attendees will be matched via AI-powered algorithms to peers and conversations aligned with their interests, ensuring day-long relevance and networking impact. The agenda is structured to alternate sessions with breakout peer exchanges to maximize inspiration and connection.
Why the Event Industry Needs This Now
Events are inherently human, but now operate in a world awash with data, algorithmic possibilities, and automation tools. The real test for event professionals is not simply adoption of AI, but doing so in ways that preserve human agency, surprise, creativity—and emotional resonance.
inControl Summit enters the scene at a pivotal moment. As many organizations explore AI pilots in event registration, facial recognition, content suggestion, or staffing automation, the need is growing for conversation about safe, ethical, strategic deployment. The summit’s organisers argue that competitive advantage will go not to those who adopt fastest, but to those who adopt with deliberate intelligence.
By focusing on real use cases, peer learning, and long-term thinking, inControl Summit aspires to act less as a hype vehicle and more as a leadership forum—one that equips event professionals to wield AI thoughtfully and effectively.
As the events industry navigates the tension between automation and humanity, inControl Summit 2026 aims to serve as a proving ground—and a turning point. For event professionals, technologists, and strategic thinkers who are searching for clarity, connection and real outcomes in the AI era, this summit marks a compelling new option.
In a Nutshell
- When: June 2nd, 2026
- Where: CCD Congress Center, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Tickets here, Early Bird available at EUR 449 (use promo code ITKEY20 for 20% off)
- More information here
Kostiantyn is a freelance writer from Crimea but based in Lviv. He loves writing about IT and high tech because those topics are always upbeat and he’s an inherent optimist!
