Artificial intelligence went from a fringe topic at K-12 conferences to the headline session in less than two years. Superintendents are being asked for AI policies before their teachers have written their first prompt, and vendors are shipping new features monthly. The conferences in this category are where that pace becomes manageable. Some are dedicated AI summits — Stanford HAI's AI+Education Summit, EdTechTeacher's AI in Edu Summit, the ISTE / ASCD AI Explorations track, and state-level AI leadership conferences. Others are broader emerging-tech events that treat AI alongside XR, robotics, data science, and cybersecurity. Attendees range from ninth-grade CS teachers testing an AI tutor to district cabinet leaders drafting acceptable use policies with their legal counsel in the room. Sessions focus on real classroom implementation, teacher training, student data privacy, model bias, assessment integrity, and the workforce implications of AI-native graduates. Whether you're piloting your first AI tool or writing your district's third policy revision, this list groups the events best suited to your next step.
AI & Emerging Tech conferences (25 upcoming)
Past events
Frequently asked questions
What are the top AI in education conferences for K-12 in 2026?
Stanford HAI's AI+Education Summit (February), AI in Edu Summit by EdTechTeacher (April), state-level AI Leadership conferences like Maryland's K-12 AI Leadership Conference, and Lightspeed Systems' AI Roadshow city stops are among the most focused events. ISTELive, FETC, and CoSN also have deep AI programming.
Are AI education conferences aimed at teachers or administrators?
Both — but the split matters. Teacher-facing events (AI in Edu Summit, EdTechTeacher workshops) focus on classroom practice, lesson design, and student use. Leadership-facing events (Stanford HAI, state AI leadership conferences) focus on policy, procurement, data governance, and change management.
How do I evaluate AI vendors at an education conference?
Ask about data residency, student data privacy compliance (FERPA, COPPA, state laws), model provenance, and whether student prompts are used for training. Request the vendor's DPA template before the show so booth conversations can focus on fit and pedagogy instead of paperwork.
Do these conferences cover AI policy and guardrails, not just tools?
Yes. Most 2026 AI events now dedicate at least one track to responsible use, acceptable use policies, bias, and assessment integrity. Look for sessions labeled 'governance,' 'policy,' or 'guardrails' in the program.
Are there virtual AI in education conferences?
Many. Stanford HAI streams sessions, Lightspeed's roadshow has virtual companion events, and free vendor-hosted AI summits run monthly. Combine the AI & Emerging Tech topic filter with the Virtual / Online filter on the directory.