Google DeepMind opens our Conference Day. OpenAI closes it. And in between, two days packed with the people, ideas and hands-on sessions shaping how digital products are built in the age of AI.
On November 17 + 18, the Digitale Leute Summit returns to Cologne for its 9th edition – and for the first time, we are kicking things off with our brand new AI Deep Dive Day at the Smartvillage before coming together for our Conference Day at the Palladium.
Our 2026 schedule is live now. Time to explore what’s happening across both days and start planning your Digitale Leute Summit experience.
Two headline keynotes
Our Conference Day on November 18 opens and closes with two headline keynotes from two of the most influential names in AI – Google DeepMind and OpenAI.
Jonathan Evens, AI Product Leader at Google DeepMind & Chairman Evens Foundation.
Opening Keynote: Human Judgment in the Era of GenAI
Maximilian Hudlberger, Applied AI Engineer at OpenAI.
Closing Keynote: tba
New in 2026: AI Deep Dive Day
On November 17, we are introducing something brand new to the Digitale Leute Summit: our AI Deep Dive Day at Smartvillage Cologne.
It’s a full-day, bootcamp-style experience dedicated to putting AI into practice.
15+ industry experts. Three parallel tracks. 60-minute deep dives.
Across AI in Product Management, AI in Engineering and AI in Product Design, you will go beyond the AI hype and dive into the tools, workflows and approaches that are changing how digital products are designed, built and managed.
Confirmed speakers for the AI Deep Dive Day include:
Daria Tarawneh, VP Design at SAP. Ex-Miro and AWS.
Deep Dive: tba
Hans Reinl, Founder N+One. Ex-Seven.One, AXA and Rewe Digital.
Deep Dive: From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering: Designing the Modern SDLC
Alexander Sprogis, Product Engineer & Content Creator.
Deep Dive: From PM to Prototyper: How Product Managers are building their own designs
And that’s only a glimpse of what’s happening across the three tracks.
After a full day of deep dives, we will head to the Palladium for the official Digitale Leute Summit Opening Party.
Conference Day highlights
On November 18, our Conference Day takes place once again at the Palladium – bringing national and international leaders in Product Management, Engineering and Product Design to Cologne to share what they are learning while building and leading digital products at scale.
Here are some of the highlights:
Sven Peters, AI Evangelist at Atlassian.
Talk: AI won’t save your productivity – human–AI collaboration will
Elisabeth Reitmayr, Director of Engineering at dltHub (Berlin). Ex-Parloa.
Talk: From Coding to Cooking: Leading Software Engineering Teams through the AI Transition
Leonard Giura, Engineering Manager at YouTube.
Talk: Building the world’s largest stage in the age of AI
Maxim Salnikov, AI-Native Development Solution Engineer at Microsoft.
Talk: From Assistant to Actor: The New Security Risks of Coding Agents
Mirza Beširović, Director of Product, AI Agents at Zendesk.
Talk: Why AI Pilots Die: You Can’t Buy Your Way Out of an Org Problem
And that’s just a selection. The full Conference Day schedule brings together even more talks and interviews across Product Management, Engineering and Product Design.
More than the sessions
The Digitale Leute Summit isn’t just about what happens on stage.
Across both days, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet people facing similar challenges, exchange ideas and make new connections – from conversations between talks and encounters in our Expo area to social hours and our Opening Party.
Because some of the best conversations at the Digitale Leute Summit happen when the talks are over.
Our 2026 partners
None of this would be possible without the companies supporting the Digitale Leute Summit year after year. A huge thank-you to our partners who have already confirmed for 2026. Your commitment helps us bring our community together and continue growing the Digitale Leute Summit as we head into our 9th edition.
Make sure to visit our partners in the Expo area, discover what they’re building and meet the teams behind the products – including companies looking for their next colleagues.
Plan your two days
Now that the schedule is live, it’s time to decide how you want to experience the Digitale Leute Summit 2026.
AI Deep Dive Pass
Go hands-on with AI on November 17.
Conference Pass
Join our full Conference Day on November 18.
2-Day Summit Pass
Get the complete Digitale Leute Summit experience across both days – from the AI Deep Dive Day and Opening Party to our Conference Day at the Palladium.
Team Packages (5 for 4 or larger teams)
Bring your team and get 5 tickets for the price of 4. Planning to come with a larger group? Get in touch for a tailored package.
Not sure which pass is right for you? Explore the full schedule, find the sessions you don’t want to miss and choose your Digitale Leute Summit experience.
Ready to join us? Secure your ticket now.
See you on November 17 + 18 in Cologne!
Your Digitale Leute Team
