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May 28, 2026
Event date:
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May 29, 2026
Event end:
Overview
The Data Science Conference 2026 returns to Chicago as the industry’s premier “vendor-free, sponsor-free, and recruiter-free” gathering for data science practitioners. Established in 2015, this event has built a dedicated following by eliminating the sales pitches and aggressive recruiting common at typical tech summits. By stripping away commercial distractions, the conference provides a pure environment for high-level technical discourse and genuine peer-to-peer networking among the world’s leading data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI researchers.
The 2026 program features a rigorous agenda of practitioner-only presentations focused on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, deep learning, and predictive modeling. Attendees will participate in deep dives into technical architecture and algorithmic engineering, led by experts from global technology leaders. The atmosphere is intentionally academic and professional, prioritizing the sharing of methodologies and real-world results over the promotion of specific software tools or platforms.
Hosted at the University of Chicago’s downtown Gleacher Center, the event offers an intimate and exclusive experience with floor-to-ceiling views of the Chicago River. With a limited number of seats, the conference fosters a collaborative community where attendees are treated as fellow scientists rather than sales prospects. Whether you are optimizing neural networks or architecting semantic layers, the summit offers a rare opportunity to engage with the absolute frontier of data science in a quiet, focused, and intellectually stimulating setting.
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Event Highlights
- Practitioner-Only Presentations ensure that every session is a technical “how-to” led by working data scientists rather than marketing or sales teams.
- Vendor-Free Environment guarantees that no booths, advertisements, or sales pitches distract from the educational content of the conference.
- High-Level Networking allows for deep conversations with peers from top-tier firms like Google, Amazon, and OpenAI without the pressure of recruitment.
- Catered Executive Dining features exclusive breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks that serve as the primary hubs for technical brainstorming and collaborative discussion.
Why Attend
Attending this conference is a critical investment for data professionals who prioritize technical substance and professional integrity. It offers the most efficient way to stay updated on industry-standard methodologies because every speaker is vetted to ensure their content is informative rather than promotional. The “loyalty-driven” nature of the event means you will be surrounded by seasoned experts who return year after year, providing a stable and highly sophisticated peer network that is unique in the digital technology space.
The event is ideal for data scientists, machine learning engineers, and research leads who find traditional trade shows too commercial. The primary benefit is the ability to engage in “low-noise” learning, where the focus remains entirely on solving complex data problems. Participants walk away with actionable insights into model scaling, context engineering, and trustworthy AI systems, supported by a network of colleagues who value science over sales.
Date & Duration
- Event Date: May 28 to 29, 2026
- Event Duration: Two full days of technical sessions and professional networking
Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.
Ticket Information
- How Tickets Are Sold: Tickets are sold directly through the official event website using a secure Shopify-based registration portal.
- Admission Type: Single delegate pass providing full access to all keynote sessions, panels, and catered networking functions.
- Ticket Pricing: Single registration is $1,750 per person, while group rates for three or more attendees drop to $1,350 per person.
- Special Seating Options: Seating in the Gleacher Center auditorium is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis for all delegates.
- VIP Options: A loyalty discount of $150 is available for returning attendees, and special rates of $1,250 are reserved for government and academic employees.
Venue / Location
- City and Country: Chicago, USA
- Venue Name: Gleacher Center (University of Chicago)
- Google Maps Address: 450 Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Contact Information
- Email: info@thedatascienceconference.com
- Phone Number: +1 312 464 8787
- Official Website: https://www.thedatascienceconference.com/
- Social Media Links:
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-science-conference
Getting There
- Nearest Airport: Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) is approximately 18 miles away, while Midway International (MDW) is roughly 12 miles from the venue.
- Nearest Train/Metro Station: The Grand (Red Line) and State/Lake (Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple Lines) stations are within walking distance.
- Bus Routes or Public Transport Options: Multiple CTA bus lines including the 2, 3, 26, 143, and 147 serve the Michigan Avenue and Cityfront Plaza area.
- Parking Availability: Several public parking garages are located nearby, including the NBC Tower garage and the AMC River East self-park lot.
- Directions by Car: Accessible via I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) or DuSable Lake Shore Drive, with direct access to the Magnificent Mile district.
What is this event?
The Data Science Conference is an independent, practitioner-focused summit that gathers the global data science community for two days of intense technical knowledge exchange. It is uniquely defined by its strict policy against sponsors, vendors, and recruiters to maintain a pure learning environment.
The event covers a broad range of advanced topics including forecasting at scale, large language model reasoning, and Bayesian marketing mix modeling. It serves as a neutral ground where the brightest minds in AI can share discoveries without commercial influence.
Why is it popular?
The conference is popular because it respects the time and intelligence of data science professionals by providing a “pitch-free” zone. Attendees value the transparency of the organizers and the high caliber of speakers who come from the most innovative companies in the world.
Furthermore, its consistency and academic-style rigor have created a loyal following of attendees who prefer a quiet, high-value setting over large, noisy trade shows. The focus on “networking for scientists” rather than “networking for sales” is a major draw for the industry’s elite.
Tips before you go
- Make sure to bring your laptop or tablet for note-taking, as the presentations are highly technical and often contain complex formulas and architectural diagrams.
- Review the speaker bios and the detailed agenda online before you arrive so you can identify which practitioners you want to connect with during the lunch breaks.
- If you have attended a previous conference in this series, remember to use the loyalty promo code at checkout to save $150 on your registration.
- Dress in professional or business-casual attire, as the venue is a high-end executive education center and the atmosphere is formal and focused.
- Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early on the first day to enjoy the full breakfast buffet and get settled before the opening statements begin.
Attendee Experiences
- It is a breath of fresh air to attend a conference where nobody is trying to sell me a software subscription in the hallway.
- The quality of the presentations was outstanding; every speaker was clearly a master of their specific technical domain.
- Networking with other data scientists from the top tech firms in such an intimate setting was worth the price of admission alone.
Location
FAQ
What does the "sponsor-free" and "vendor-free" policy actually mean?
This means that the organizers do not accept any money from companies to display products, give "pay-to-play" presentations, or distribute marketing materials. Every person you meet at the conference is either a practitioner, a speaker, or a board member, ensuring that the environment is entirely focused on the science and application of data rather than the business of selling tech tools.
Are meals included in the ticket price?
Yes, the registration fee includes a full executive breakfast buffet, a professional networking lunch catered by Wolfgang Puck, and morning and afternoon coffee breaks with snacks on both days. The quality of the catering is a hallmark of the Gleacher Center experience, designed to keep attendees fueled and comfortable for a full schedule of technical learning and deep discussion.
Can I attend the conference virtually or via a live stream?
No, this event is strictly an in-person experience to facilitate the high-level, confidential, and technical networking that is the core of its philosophy. The organizers believe that the value of the summit lies in the face-to-face interactions between data science peers, so there are currently no options for remote attendance or digital-only passes for the Chicago 2026 event.
Is there a specific hotel block for attendees at the Gleacher Center?
The Gleacher Center is an executive conference facility and does not have its own sleeping rooms, but it is surrounded by over a dozen hotels within a five-minute walking distance. While the organizers do not manage a specific room block, they provide a map of recommended nearby hotels on their website, allowing you to choose the accommodation that best fits your budget.
How is the speaker list selected for the 2026 edition?
Speakers are invited by an advisory board of seasoned data science professionals based on their technical contributions to the field and their ability to present complex topics clearly. Because the event is sponsor-free, speakers are chosen solely for their expertise and the value of their case studies, rather than their company's marketing budget, ensuring a very high standard of content.
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